How to Investigate a Crime Scene

This workbook's objectives are to provide practical training in crime scene investigation, teaching students to sketch and document scenes, use photography for evidence preservation, and gain hands-on experience in collecting and labeling various types of physical evidence.

Lists of required and suggested materials for completing the workbook's crime scene investigation exercises, including common household items and specialized forensic tools to simulate evidence collection and documentation techniques.

Outlines safety measures and setup recommendations for conducting the workbook's crime scene investigation exercises at home, emphasizing cleanliness, protective gear, and proper supervision to ensure a safe and enjoyable learning experience.

A guide for creating crime scene sketches, covering techniques for accurately documenting layout, evidence locations, and measurements. It emphasizes the importance of sketches in investigations and courtroom presentations.

Demonstrates crime scene photography techniques using a smartphone, emphasizing the importance of capturing overall, mid-range, and close-up perspectives. This chapter guides you through setting up a mock scene, adjusting camera settings, and systematically documenting evidence.

Teaches fingerprint collection techniques, covering recognition, lifting from surfaces, and proper evidence handling. This chapter guides you through powdering, lifting, and securing fingerprints, emphasizing the importance of careful documentation and labeling in forensics.

Considers trace evidence collection, focusing on recognizing, collecting, and preserving small physical materials transferred between objects. This chapter guides you through identifying, documenting, and properly securing trace evidence.

Examines DNA evidence collection techniques, focusing on recognizing, collecting, and preserving biological materials. This chapter guides you through setting up mock evidence, photographing, and properly collecting samples using cotton swabs, with correct labeling and securing.

Covers bite-mark evidence-collection techniques, including recognition, lifting, and preservation. This chapter guides you through creating mock bite marks, powdering, lifting with tape, documenting, and securing the evidence, emphasizing careful labeling and photography.

How to collect and preserve footwear impressions using household materials. The chapter guides you through creating mock impressions, photographing, measuring, casting, and properly documenting and securing the evidence, emphasizing careful labelling.

A list of resources used to create this workbook.

Andrea Allen is Professor of Criminal Justice at Clayton State University. She received her PhD in Criminology & Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina. Prior to, she worked on staff at the University of South Carolina's Division of Law Enforcement and Safety ...