INTRODUCTION

WHAT IS A CRIME SCENE?

Crime scene is a location where a crime has been committed or any
other location where physical evidence of such crime is found. thus,
crime scenes may or may not be where the crime was committed. It
may extend to one or more places depending upon the nature of crime
committed.
In a criminal investigation, crime scene is a starting point for the
investigator which provides valuable information related to the victim,
suspect, and the series of events that surround the commission of a
crime.
Every crime scene is different and has different peculiarities. It
changes rapidly and cannot be preserved forever. Some of the evidence
gets lost soon after the occurrence. The other evidence disappears, gets
contaminated or altered with the passage of time.
CLASSIFICATION OF CRIME SCENE
The only thing consistent about crime scenes is their inconsistency.
Because of their diversity, crime scenes can be classified in many ways.
 First, crime scenes can be classified according to the location of
the original criminal activity. This classification of the crime
scene labels the site of the original or first criminal activity as the
primary crime scene and any subsequent crime scenes as
secondary. This classification does not infer any priority or
importance to the scene, but is simply a designation of sequence
of locations.
 Then other classification of crime scene is outdoor or indoor
crime scene-:
Outdoor crime scenes are the outdoor locations where a crime has
been committed or physical evidence of such crime is found. for
example, a road or fields or playgrounds etc. The outdoor crime
 scenes can be contaminated by the elements like rain, wind, any
animal activity which can lead in destruction of evidence. Such
crime scenes are difficult to investigate.
Indoor crime scenes are the indoor locations where a crime has been
committed or physical evidence of such crime is found. for example, a
car, house, office etc. Indoor crime scenes have a lesser chance of
contamination.
HOW TO LOCATE A CRIME SCENE?
 Accounts of eye witness etc.
 Marks of struggle
 Corpus delicti.
 Abondoned articles, impressions and prints, blood stains and
stains from other bodily fluents.
 Traces of carried over from the scene.
It is not difficult to locate the scene of occurrence but sometimes,
criminals stimulate the scene to avoid suspicion. Therefore, it is
essential that the crime scene is properly established.
 CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
Crime scene investigation is a systematic search, observation and
documentation of the crime scene; photography and sketching of the
scene, the identification, processing and collection, packaging,
transportation and documentation of physical evidence; and most
important, the interpretation of the circumstances surrounding the
occurrence of crime by reconstructing the incident to determine a
sequence of events.
Purpose of crime scene investigation
The purpose of crime scene investigation is to:-
 To establish corpus delicti.
 To provide a link between victim, criminal and the crime scene
itself.
 To evaluate the pattern of events.
 To indicate the modus operandi
 To establish the sequence of events.
 To know how the criminal and victim reached the crime scene.
 To know about the routes of entrance and exit.
 To know no. of criminals and victims.
 To know the time of occurrence of crime.
 To identify the offenders.
 To confirm or disconfirm information from other sources.
 To link other scenes & potential suspects to them.
Crime scene investigation has a vital role in solving and prosecuting
the crime. There is no substitute for A careful and thorough approach
to the investigation.
 STAGES OF CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
The fundamental task involved in any crime scene investigation is the
proper evaluation of crime scene and it needs proper planning, care and
diligence. In many cases, the success and failure of investigation
depends upon the handling of the crime scenes.
Each crime scene is unique, and the approach used to investigate the
crime scene is largely guided by the circumstances encountered at the
crime scene. A systematic approach to crime scene investigation
consists of the following stages:
 Recognition of crime scene
Recognition of crime scene begins with the initial search of the scene.
The search is an organized examination of the crime scene to locate
items of evidence to crime under investigation.
On the basis of information gathered from the witness and
circumstances of the scene, a plan of operation is developed to decide
the evidence-collection strategy.
Additional resources, equipment and other assistance may be necessary
to conduct the investigation.
 Securing the Crime Scene
The Locard Exchange Principle is the basis for linking physical
evidence from or to the victim, suspect, and crime scene. Anyone
entering a crime scene can alter or change the scene and its evidence,
so access to the crime scene must be restricted and, if possible,
prevented except for essential crime scene personnel. Any physical
barriers like vehicles or tapes that help protect the crime scene must be
established as soon as possible by the first responders. After scene
barriers have been established, one officer shall be designated as the
scene security officer. He or she will be responsible for preventing
entrance into the crime scene by curious onlookers. A contamination
log or security log should be kept to record all entries to and exits from
secure areas of the crime scene. Use of a multilevel security approach
can successfully prevent Multilevel crime scene security. unwanted
entries. Only in rare situations will the crime scene investigator be the
first responder. After he or she arrives, the first step is to evaluate the
established secure areas and change them if necessary.
 Survey of crime scene
When the crime scene security has been evaluated, the preliminary
survey is done. The preliminary survey records the condition of the
scene as it was first found. it is the first examination of the crime scene
to locate items of evidence related to the crime. The preliminary survey
helps in developing a general theory of the scene.
The survey also establishes the extent of area that needs to be searched.
And helps to determine what type of personnel and equipment may be
needed for the investigation.
 Crime Scene Documentation
After a crime scene has been evaluated by a preliminary scene survey,
the crime scene's condition must be documented. Documentation is
the most important step in the processing of the crime scene. The
purpose of documentation is to permanently record the condition of
the crime scene and its physical evidence. It is the most time-
consuming activity at the scene and requires the investigator to
remain organized and systematic throughout the process. Innovation
and originality are also needed. The four major tasks of
documentation are note taking, videography, photography, and
sketching. All four are necessary and none is an adequate substitute
for another. For example, notes are not substitutes for photography.
Documentation, in all its various forms, begins with the initial
involvement of the investigator. The documentation never stops; it
may slow down, but the need for documentation remains constant.
Taking Notes at the Crime Scene
Effective notes as part of an investigation provide a written record of
all of the crime scene activities. The notes are taken as the activities
are completed to prevent possible memory loss if notes are made at a
later time. Accurate crime scene note taking is crucial at sider the who,
what, when, why, and how, and specifically include:
• Notification information.
Date and time, method of notification, and information received.
• Arrival information.
Means of transportation, date and time, personnel present at the
scene and any notification to be made.
 Scene description
Weather location, type and conditions, major structure, containers
holding evidence of recent activities (ashtrays, trash cans, etc.),
clothing, furniture, and weapons present.
• Victim description.
In most jurisdictions a body should not be moved or disturbed until the
medical examiner has given approval, after which notes can be made
of position, lividity, wounds, clothing, jewelry, and identification
(presence or absence).
• Crime scene team.
Assignments to team members, walkthrough information, the
beginning and ending times and the evidence handling results.

Photographing the crime scene

The purpose of photography is to provide a true and accurate pictorial
record of the crime scene and physical evidence present. The
photographs allow a visual permanent record of the crime scene and
items of evidence collected from the crime scene.
The crime scene should be photographed as a matter of routine because:
1. It is rare for the judges or lawyers to visit the crime scene. Proper
photos bring the scene in court room and are much better than the
verbal or written description.
2. The pressure of the work may lead the officer to overlook certain
things. A photo of the crime scene also makes it easier to notice
details of crime scene may be crucial.
3. The perishable evidence is best recorded and preserved through
photographs.

Sketching of crime scene

A crime scene sketch is a permanent record of the size and distance
relationship of the crime scene and the physical evidence within it.
The sketch serves to clarify the special information present within the
photographs and video documentaries, because the other methods do
not allow the viewer to easily gauge distances and dimensions.
A sketch is the most simplistic manner in which to present crime scene
layout and measurements.

 Crime scene searches

The preliminary crime scene survey is an initial attempt to note the
evidence and it is done for orientation purposes before the
documentation begins. After the documentation is complete, an
intensive search is done for less obvious o0r overlooked items of
evidence.
Search patterns may vary but they have a common goal of providing
systematic and organized plan of action, to ensure that no item of
physical evidence is missed or lost.
  Handling clues
In this particular stage of investigation, the physical evidence should be
collected and preserved with utmost care. Physical evidence may
include- blood, semen and other body fluids; fingerprints/footprints;
weapon of offence, vehicles, fabric, documents, drugs etc.
The collection process will usually start with the collection of the
most fragile or most easily lost evidence. Special consideration can
also be given to any evidence or objects which need to be moved.
Collection can then continue along the crime scene trail or in some
other logical manner. Photographs should also continue to be taken if
the investigator is revealing layers of evidence which were not
previously documented because they were hidden from sight.
Most items of evidence will be collected in paper containers such as
packets, envelopes, and bags. Liquid items can be transported in non-
breakable, leakproof containers. Arson evidence is usually collected
in air-tight, clean metal cans. Only large quantities of dry powder
should be collected and stored in plastic bags. Moist or wet evidence
(blood, plants, etc.) from a crime scene can be collected in plastic
containers at the scene and transported back to an evidence receiving
area if the storage time in plastic is two hours or less and this is done
to prevent contamination of other evidence. Once in a secure location,
wet evidence, whether packaged in plastic or paper, must be removed
and allowed to completely air dry. That evidence can then be
repackaged in a new, dry paper container. UNDER NO
CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD EVIDENCE CONTAINING
MOISTURE BE PACKAGED IN PLASTIC OR PAPER
CONTAINERS FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS. Moisture allows
the growth of microorganisms which can destroy or alter evidence.
Any items which may cross contaminate each other must be packaged
separately. The containers should be closed and secured to prevent
the mixture of evidence during transportation. Each container should
have: the collecting person's initials; the date and time it was
collected; a complete description of the evidence and where it was
found; and the investigating agency's name and their file number.
Each type of evidence has a specific value in an investigation. The
value of evidence should be kept in mind by the investigator when
doing a crime scene investigation. For example, when investigating a
crime he or she should spend more time on collecting good
fingerprints than trying to find fibres left by a suspect's clothing. The
reason is that fingerprints can positively identify a person as having
been at the scene of a crime, whereas fibres could have come from
anyone wearing clothes made out of the same material. Ofcourse if
obvious or numerous fibres are found at the point of entry, on a
victim's body, etc., then they should be collected in case no
fingerprints of value are found. It is also wise to collect more evidence
at a crime scene than not to collect enough evidence. An investigator
usually only has one shot at a crime scene, so the most should be made
of it.

 Reconstruction of the crime scene

Reconstruction of a crime scene is a process which determines the
events/ actions occurred at the crime scene.
The basis of the crime scene reconstruction is the location and position
of the physical evidence, the analysis of the crime scene pattern and the
laboratory examination of the physical evidence. It involves set of steps
like data collection, conjecture, hypothesis formulation, testing and
theory formulation.
 CRIME SCENE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENTS
Following are the crime scenes tools and equipments-:
 Investigator’s kit
It is a collection of items required by the investigating officer at the
scene of occurrence. it contains-:
 Examination kit- it may .contain magnifying glass, mirror, torch,
forceps, tongs and a piece of rubber glass among other things.
 Making & breaking kit- Diamond pencil, scissors, scalpel, knife,
adhesive tape, kit containing screw drivers.
 Fingerprint kit- It includes ink slab, ink roller, thumb print, ink
tube powders etc.
 Casting kit- It contains talcum powder sprayer, POP, towels etc.
 Blood testing kit – Filter paper circles about 10cm in diameter,
spatula, scalpel, droppers etc.
 Collection paraphernalia- a set of damping with nuts & bolts,
screws, nails, cardboard boxes, rubber bands etc.
 Recording equipments- graph paper, noting sheets, carbon
paper, different forms etc.

 Mobile l.ab
It is a van which is used to collect physical evidence from crime
scene. It contains full range of equipments & personnel also.
 PROJECT OF FORENSIC SCIENCE

ON THE TOPIC

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION\

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:

MR. RUSHIL MANAVI MAHAJAN
B.COM LLB (HONS)
ROLL NO-219/18
SECTION-D
9TH SEMESTER
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In the present world of competition, there is a race of existence in which
those are having will to come forward succeed. Project is like a bridge
between theoretical and practical working. With this willing I joined
this project. It is great pleasure for me to undertake this project of
FORENSIC SCIENCE. I feel highly doing this project entitled-
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION.
I am grateful to my project guide- MR. RUSHIL, faculty member of
university institute of legal studies, Panjab university. This project
would not have completed without his enormous help and worthy
experience. Whenever I was in need, he was there behind me.
Although, this report has been prepared with utmost care and deep
routed interest. Even then I accept respondent and imperfection.
THANK YOU.
 CONTENTS

S.NO. TITLE PG.NO

1. Introduction- crime 1-2

scene and its
classifications

2. Crime scene 3-3

investigation-
meaning and its
purpose

3. Stages of crime scene 4-9

investigation

4. Crime scene tools 10-10

and equipments

5. References 11-11
 REFERENCES

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
DR. VP SINGH, FORENSIC SCIENCE (BHARAT LAW HOUSE
PVT. LTD, 2ND ED, 2022)

WEBLIOGRAPHY
https://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/
https://www.bing.com/
https://forensicfield.blog/

THANK YOU.
.