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U.S. Department of JusticeOffice of Justice ProgramsNational Institute of JusticeCrime SceneInvestigationA Guide for Law Enforcementresearch report

U.S. Department of JusticeOffice of Justice Programs810 Seventh Street N.W.Washington, DC 20531Janet RenoAttorney GeneralDaniel MarcusActing Associate Attorney GeneralLaurie RobinsonAssistant Attorney GeneralNoël BrennanDeputy Assistant Attorney GeneralJeremy TravisDirector, National Institute of JusticeDepartment of Justice Response Center800–421–6770Office of Justice ProgramsWorld Wide Web Sitehttp://www.ojp.usdoj.govNational Institute of JusticeWorld Wide Web Sitehttp://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nijCover photograph of man on the ground by Corbis Images. Other cover photographscopyright 1999 PhotoDisc, Inc.

Crime Scene Investigation:A Guide for Law EnforcementWritten and Approved by theTechnical Working Group on Crime Scene InvestigationJanuary 2000

U.S. Department of JusticeOffice of Justice ProgramsNational Institute of JusticeJeremy Travis, J.D.DirectorRichard M. Rau, Ph.D.Project MonitorOpinions or points of view expressed in this document are a consensus ofthe authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S.Department of Justice.NCJ 178280The National Institute of Justice is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance,the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the Office of Juvenile Justice andDelinquency Prevention, and the Office for Victims of Crime.

Message From the Attorney GeneralActions taken at the outset of an investigation at a crime scene canplay a pivotal role in the resolution of a case. Careful, thoroughinvestigation is key to ensure that potential physical evidence is nottainted or destroyed or potential witnesses overlooked.While many agencies have programs in crime scene processing, the levelof training and resources available varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction,as does the opportunity to practice actual investigation. To help theseagencies, the National Institute of Justice supported the development ofthis guide.I commend the hard work of the 44 members of the technical workinggroup that created this guide. They are representative of law enforcement,the prosecution, the defense, and forensic science, and their collectiveexpert knowledge, experience, and dedication to the task made this efforta success.The guide is one method of promoting quality crime scene investigation.The type and scope of a crime scene investigation will vary from case tocase. Jurisdictions will want to carefully consider the procedures in thisguide and their applicability to local agencies and circumstances.Janet RenoAttorney Generaliii

Technical Working Group on Crime Scene InvestigationThe Technical Working Group on Crime Scene Investigation(TWGCSI) is a multidisciplinary group of content-area expertsfrom across the United States, from both urban and rural jurisdictions,each representing his or her respective agency or practice. Each of theseindividuals is experienced in the area of crime scene investigation andevidence collection in the criminal justice system from the standpoints oflaw enforcement, prosecution, defense, or forensic science.At the outset of the TWGCSI effort, the National Institute of Justice(NIJ) created a planning panel—composed of distinguished law enforcement, legal, and science professionals—to define needs, to develop initialstrategies, and to steer the larger group. Additional members of thetechnical working group were then selected from recommendationssolicited from the planning panel, NIJ’s regional National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Centers, and national organizationsincluding the American Academy of Forensic Science, National DistrictAttorneys Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National Legal Aid and Defender Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Sheriffs’ Association, InternationalAssociation for Identification, and the American Association of CrimeLaboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board.Collectively, over a 1-year period, the 44 members of TWGCSI listedbelow worked together to develop this guide, Crime Scene Investigation:A Guide for Law Enforcement.National Crime Scene Planning Panel (NCSPP)Dr. Jose R. AlmirallAssociate Director andAssistant ProfessorInternational Forensic ResearchInstituteDepartment of ChemistryFlorida International UniversityMiami, FloridaSusan BallouForensic ScientistMontgomery County PoliceDepartmentCrime LaboratoryRockville, MarylandPaul CarrollSergeant (Ret.)Chicago Police DepartmentBig Pine Key, Floridav

Elizabeth FarrisChief Trial CounselHampden County DistrictAttorney’s OfficeSpringfield, MassachusettsJo Ann GivenASCLD/LABNaval Criminal InvestigativeServiceNorfolk, VirginiaMarjorie HarrisForensic Scientist, SeniorDepartment of Criminal JusticeDivision of Forensic ScienceRichmond, VirginiaLarry McCannSenior Special Agent (Ret.)Virginia State PoliceRichmond, VirginiaAnn TalbotASCLD/LABAlbuquerque Police DepartmentAlbuquerque, New MexicoDr. Joseph L. PetersonDepartment of Criminal JusticeUniversity of IllinoisChicago, IllinoisJames T. “Tom” ThurmanAssociate ProfessorCollege of Law EnforcementEastern Kentucky UniversityRichmond, KentuckyElliot B. SpectorDirectorCenter for Police and SecurityTrainingSuffield, ConnecticutAdditional Technical Working Group MembersHal R. ArensteinAttorney at LawLaw Offices of Hal ArensteinCincinnati, OhioDexter J. BartlettInspectorIllinois State PoliceCrime Scene Services CommandJoliet, IllinoisEric BuelDirectorDepartment of Public SafetyCrime LaboratoryWaterbury, VermontJeff CoverSupervisor, Crime Scene UnitAnne Arundel County PoliceDepartmentMillersville, MarylandElizabeth DevineSupervising CriminalistScientific Services BureauLos Angeles County Sheriff’sDepartmentLos Angeles, CaliforniaHenry EscobarDetectiveSan Antonio Police DepartmentSan Antonio, TexasJerry N. EstesDistrict Attorney General10th Judicial DistrictAthens, TennesseeviJames EstradaDetective InvestigatorHomicide UnitSan Antonio Police DepartmentSan Antonio, TexasRobert MullinsDetectiveInvestigative ServicesNew Haven Police DepartmentNew Haven, ConnecticutDrew FindlingAttorneyAtlanta, GeorgiaSteve NashDetectiveMarin County Sheriff’sDepartmentSan Rafael, CaliforniaNan Horvat/John SarconeAssistant Polk County Attorney/Polk County AttorneyDes Moines, IowaN. Michael HurleyRegional DirectorOregon State PoliceForensic Services DivisionSpringfield, OregonGary L. KaldunForensic Scientist, CrimeScene CoordinatorBureau of Criminal ApprehensionSt. Paul, MinnesotaJoe MarchanSupervising CriminalistTexas Department of PublicSafety Crime LaboratoryMcAllen, TexasJoseph John Moseley, IIDetectiveCentral Homicide EvaluationSupport SquadChicago Police DepartmentChicago, IllinoisKathryn NormingtonHollenbachSenior Forensic ScientistWyoming State CrimeLaboratoryCheyenne, WyomingGalen PaineAssistant Public DefenderPublic Defender’s OfficeSitka, AlaskaMichael J. RaffertyChief of ForensicsFlorida Department of LawEnforcementFort Myers Regional OperationsCenterFort Myers, FloridaEugene RifenburgSenior Investigator (Ret.)New York State PoliceInvestigator (current)Oneida Nation PoliceMunnsville, New York

Gary A. RiniPolice Commander (Ret.)DirectorThe American Institute forPolice ScienceElkhorn, NebraskaHeidi RobbinsSupervising CriminalistScientific Services BureauLos Angeles County Sheriff’sDepartmentLos Angeles, CaliforniaDarrell RyanLieutenantNashville Police DepartmentNashville, TennesseeNorman ShapiroVice President, New YorkState Defender’s AssociationCounselor at LawLaw Offices of Norman ShapiroMiddletown, New YorkClarene ShelleyLieutenantLakewood Police DepartmentLakewood, ColoradoGregory SmithAssistant County ProsecutorOffice of the County ProsecutorCamden CountyCamden, New JerseyRichard StanekCaptainMinneapolis Police DepartmentMinneapolis, MinnesotaBrad TownsendSergeantCorona Police DepartmentCorona, CaliforniaLarry TurnerDirector of Forensic ServicesJackson Police DepartmentCrime LaboratoryJackson, MississippiStephen WeichmanCounty and ProsecutingAttorneyTeton CountyJackson, WyomingJames WiserCrime Scene Investigator/Evidence CustodianMount Pleasant PoliceDepartmentMount Pleasant, South CarolinaLarry WoodDetectiveMajor Case UnitSmyrna Police DepartmentSmyrna, GeorgiaJohn YarbroughSergeantHomicide BureauLos Angeles County Sheriff’sDepartmentCommerce, Californiavii

AcknowledgmentsThe National Institute of Justice (NIJ) wishes to thank the TechnicalWorking Group on Crime Scene Investigation (TWGCSI) for theirdedication and endurance. This 44-member network of experts from avariety of backgrounds gave their time to draft and review the guide,providing feedback from all areas of the Nation. The true strength ofthis document is derived from the commitment of the TWG membersto produce a guide that could be implemented across the country, fromsmall, rural townships to large, metropolitan areas. In addition, theagencies and organizations that employ each member of the group sharein this endeavor. Through their support, each member was given theflexibility needed to complete the project.NIJ also wishes to thank Attorney General Janet Reno, whose supportand commitment to the improvement of the criminal justice system madethis work possible. In addition, appreciation is extended to David G.Boyd, Director of NIJ’s Office of Science and Technology, and toRichard M. Rau, Ph.D., the NIJ Project Monitor, for his unwaveringsupport of, and guidance through, the process and production of thisguide.NIJ would like to thank all the individuals from various national organizations who responded to the request for nominations of experts with awide expanse of knowledge and experience in the field of crime sceneinvestigation. It was from their recommendations that the members wereselected. In particular, thanks to Jim Polley from the National DistrictAttorneys Association, Dan Rosenblatt from the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Stuart Statler from the National Association ofCriminal Defense Lawyers, Clinton Lyons from the National Legal Aidand Defender Association, Aldine N. “Bubby” Moser, Jr., from theNational Sheriffs’ Association, and Ronald C. Jackson from the International Association for Identification. NIJ would also like to thank MikeGrossman, Director of NIJ’s Technology Assistance Division, for hisnominations of law enforcement candidates and his help in obtainingix

recommendations from NIJ’s regional National Law Enforcement andCorrections Technology Centers (NLECTC), as well as the directors ofthose centers: James A. Keller, Robert Pentz, Chris Aldridge, John Ritz,Thomas Sexton, and Tom Burgoyne. NIJ would also like to thank themore than 120 individuals and organizations who were sent a copy of thedraft guide for review and comment.NIJ thanks CSR, Incorporated—particularly Tammy Kilgore, TerrylynnPearlman, and Stephanie Tiller—for their support in arranging all of themeetings necessary to develop this guide. In addition, special thanks areextended to Aspen Systems Corporation and its editors who participated:Michele Coppola, Gayle Garmise, Rita Premo, and Jackie Siegel.NIJ would like to express appreciation for the input Chris Asplen, JaniceMunsterman, Karl Bickel, Luke Galant, and Lisa Kaas gave the meetingsand the document and for the administrative support provided by CelesteDescoteaux, Todd Spires, and Heidi Prue.Special thanks to Lisa Forman, Carole Chaski, and Kathleen Higgins fortheir contributions to the TWG and especially their tireless patience.And finally, thanks to Anjali Swienton for her patience, dedication,endurance, and all around outstanding support.x