Searching in Stages to Prevent Destruction of Evidence at Crime Scenes
Greg Dagnan
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
Missouri Southern State University
See also the instructional video "Processing the Crime Scene"
They say that you don't really understand a topic until you teach it. I am never really sure who "they" are, but I can certainly attest after only two years as a university level instructor, that "they" are correct.
After 16 years of experience in law enforcement working countless crime scenes, I started teaching college students and cops the basics of crime scene investigation. I read every text I could find, performed countless "Google" searches and read every periodical I could get my hands on. I was finally ready to teach "crime scene search patterns." I taught lane searches, zone searches and the famous CWA search (the "Cop Wondering Around" search; not recommended, by the way).
My class full of officers seemed to understand the basics, so off we went to the crime scene "house" to practice what we learned. I watched officer after officer find a piece of evidence on the ground and then accidentally kick it, step on it or destroy it in some way while searching for other evidence. Officers would place tent markers on items of evidence to clearly mark them and then place junk out of a drawer on top of the items before they could be collected. Someone even lifted a mattress to look underneath and the mattress slid of the other side of the bed, crushing a piece of evidence! I realized then that all the methods I'd been teaching had failed and decided to come up with a way to search crime scenes that would keep evidence in tact. The solution: searching in stages. This seems to be easily understood by learners and more importantly, works solidly in the real world of CSI.
Level One Search: This is the most basic and superficial search. First, a search pattern is chosen that would be most effective for the crime scene environment to be examined. For example, a "zone" search would be chosen for a small apartment, while a "grid" search might be chosen for a large open outdoor area.
I always recommend switching officer positions and completing a search pattern a second time so that another set of eyes reviews every search. Additionally, the crime scene commander should not become a searcher, but should remain free to make evaluative decisions about what constitutes evidence and to coordinate the numbering of all found potential evidence.
As evidence is located, the commander makes a decision as to whether the item is potential evidence and if so makes a second decision concerning what number that particular piece should be. After this process, an evidence marking device is placed near the evidence. When conducting a level one search, the officer's eyes are the only tools used. Nothing is touched; therefore this is the least invasive form of search. The only items of evidence searched for are those that can be detected without moving any object in the scene.
Once all officers have completed the search and the pattern is double checked, all items are prepared for collection before the level two search. At a minimum this includes, a midrange photo (hopefully over-all photos were taken before the scene was searched or altered in any way), a close up photo (with ABFO scale) and measurement to the item from two fixed points for a sketch. Video taping may or may not fit in here depending on your department policy. Once all evidence items are collected and properly packaged, you can proceed to a second level search. What about the marking device? Leave it in place in case there is any question later about the interrelationship of the location of evidence items collected.
Level Two Search: Even when taking the search process to a more thorough level, crime scene integrity can still be maintained. A level two search consists of moving items that cause minimal intrusion into the scene. For example, when conducting a level two search closet doors are opened, furniture is searched underneath and some drawers may be opened. The idea of a level two search is to not be extremely intrusive, but to search in reasonable places in a way that does not totally disrupt your crime scene. As with a level one search, a search pattern is chosen and double checked. Items are marked with a number and then "caught up" with all the other items previously collected.
To explain the concept of "catching up" think about it this way. If level one evidence was subjected to:
- a midrange photo
- a midrange video shot
- a close up photograph
- a close up video shot
- a measurement from two fixed points for a sketch
- proper collection and packaging
you would then complete the exact same steps with the level two evidence. After the level two evidence is collected it is time for a Level Three Search. Again, you may leave the marking device in place.
Level Three Search: This third level is the most intrusive of all searches. This may include emptying every drawer in the scene and searching through every pocket of every piece of clothing in the closet. Turning over mattresses and looking through dirty clothes are commonly part of a third level search. As with the other levels, if anything is found it is marked and "caught up".
A significant difference when conducting a third level search as opposed to a first or second level search is the timing of evidence collection. Third level evidence is typically "caught up" and collected as it is found since a third level search is so intrusive. To illustrate, imagine that you are searching a drawer and you are taking out each item in the drawer piece by piece. An item of evidence is found and marked. Obviously you do not want to remove the rest of the items from the drawer until that evidence is collected. Level Three is also where you would conduct major latent print searches, tear out carpet or take out pieces of wall. You may also use chemicals such as Leuco Crystal Violet (a blood detection and enhancement chemical) and Luminol here if you have not done so up to this point.
Using this methodology insures that found evidence is properly documented and collected before there is any possibility of destroying the evidence. Other crime scene principles, such as a preliminary survey and final walkthrough are still recommended. This methodology is designed to supplement and enhance current accepted practices, not to replace them.
What if there is confusion as to what level a certain action fits into? For example, I recommend that on scene printing is done in level three because of the intrusive nature of fingerprint powder. Before you know it, that stuff is everywhere! But what if you would like to turn lights on in a particular room before you search? You know that the light switch should be searched for latents, but you are not yet at level three. I tell students that if turning on the lights would make your crime scene search more effective, then do it. If there is no particular advantage to doing it now and it can wait until level three, then wait.
A Crime scene investigation must be flexible. If, however, an investigator wants to powder an entire area "fishing" for latent prints, wait as long as possible because of the very intrusive nature of that action. Another quandary involves the use of chemicals at scenes. Chemicals are extremely invasive and can alter the scene in significant ways. I recommend level three for most chemicals. Suppose however, that a bloody footprint is found right inside the doorway during a level one search. Do we wait to use Leuco Crystal Violet because it is a chemical? No. The argument for processing this footprint immediately is apparent, especially in an area as sensitive as a doorway.
In such a case, the use of Leuco Crystal Violet becomes part of a level one search. What if you want to Luminol an entire floor in one room just to see what might appear? That should be done in level two or three, depending on the specific circumstances of your scene.
Unfortunately, though there is no single right way to search a crime scene, there are many wrong ways. Common sense and the professionally trained and ethical desire to preserve the integrity of evidence will guide you in these decisions at every unique crime scene.
Article submitted by the author
Article posted March 17, 2007