What Are the Three Challenges at a Crime Scene for Investigators?
As with any profession, crime scene investigation requires prompt and dutiful attention. The individuals engaged in this line of work are highly concerned with evidence preservation, especially preventing contamination. Additionally, investigators must be keenly aware of legal procedure and the expectations of the court system. Specific protocols must also be followed when a crime scene is exposed to hazardous or bio-hazardous substances.
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Identification
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The challenges present for crime scene investigators are numerous and can certainly exceed just three. However, three of the most critical involve the avoiding of different hazards found at the scene, the proper implementation of procedures and the exigency with which the scene is treated by those investigators. The failure to address each of these vigilantly could endanger law enforcement personnel, the legality of the investigation and the procurement of evidence.
Hazards
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First, a crime scene must be considered a potential site of bio-hazards, such as blood or other bodily fluids. It may be that the crime has caused other chemical or environmental hazards to be unleashed at a location, ones which place not only investigators but also local residents or workers at risk. Officials must respond immediately with the correct protective clothing gear. They must also contact the authorized crews to remove the materials. Investigators must preserve as much evidence at the crime scene as is necessary while also providing for safety concerns.
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Timeliness
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If investigators do not respond to a crime scene in a timely and organized way, vital evidence may be lost. This is known as properly securing a scene. The scene must be quickly isolated from bystanders. Additionally, critical witnesses may only be interviewed right after the event in some cases. For murder investigations, the position of the body, as well as other clues, might indicate the time of death or other information. Finding all the pieces of the puzzle immediately following the crime may allow investigators to set a correct timeline for the events, movements and behaviors which define that particular crime.
Procedure
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All arrests performed at a crime scene must be done through the administration of the Miranda Rights, ones which observe the detainee's essential civil rights. Additionally, great care must be taken in the collection of evidence, not only to avoid contamination or the obscuring of things like fingerprints, but so that the evidence is ultimately admissible in court. This is similarly the case with regard the protection of DNA evidence like hair fibers. Hard-fought cases can be lost due to misbehavior or negligence of the investigators at the original crime scene.
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References
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