Guide to Crime Scene Investigation

Crime scene investigation is also termed forensic science. Forensic science encompasses a wide range of sciences to solve questions pertaining to the legal system. A Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) explicitly details documentation of a crime scene. Crime Scene Investigators must be fluent in photography, evident collection and processing, and must have excellent writing skills.

Crime Scene Response

• Crime Scene Investigation: A comprehensive guide to crime scene investigations with a section concentrating on responding officers.
• Association for Crime Scene Reconstruction: The organization is dedicated to researching, improving, and exchanging methods of crime scene reconstruction.
• High Tech Crime Investigation Association: The association focuses on promoting information and ideas on investigating methods and processes.
• Crime Scene Investigator: Description of duties and responsibilities of a crime scene investigator.
• Crime Scene: Explains the investigation process and duties of a first responder.
• Crime Scene Analysis: A detailed guide to crime scene response.
• Protecting the Crime Scene: D.H. Garrison of the Michigan Forensics Services Unit explains the importance of protecting the scene.

Evidence Collection 

• Evidence Collection: The West Palm Beach’s guide to collecting evidence.
• Crime Scene Evidence Collection: Advice for collecting evidence at crime scenes. Also list several types of items that may need to be processed.
• Crime Scene Procedures: A brief explanation on collecting evidence, methods of collection, and chain of custody procedures.
• Collection: The DNA Initiative chronicles collection and preservation procedures for collecting DNA.
• Evidence Preservation: A slide presentation on preserving evidence.
• Crime Scene Preservation: Explains the four methods to preserving crime scene evidence.
• A guide for Law Enforcement: An in-depth guide for protecting and preserving crime scene evidence.    

Crime Scene & Evidence Photography

• Processing Digital Evidence: A comprehensive handbook on digital evidence.
• Physical Evidence: The South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy provides a brief description of crime scene photography.
• Crime Scene Photography: Steve Pearson’s eight-section article on the basics of crime scene photography.
• Video: Lists five video taping techniques.
• Video Tape Evidence: Lists and effectively describes five practices for collecting videotape evidence.
• Audio and Video: A guide to identifying and collecting audio and video evidence.
• Photography and Sketches: Procedures for collecting and processing digital, video, electronic, and audio evidence.
• Target Photo: The PNP Crime Laboratory provides a brief history of crime scene photography and functions of photographers.
• Photography: The basics of crime scene photography.

Articles

• Dog Handlers: Guidelines for human remains detection for dog handlers.
• Impressions: A synopsis about footwear and tire impressions.
• Impression Unit: An article stating the importance of imprint evidence.
• Physical Evidence: Lawrence Chow describes what physical evidence is.
• Federal Rules of Evidence: The House of Representative Federal Rules of Evidence.
• DNA Evidence: This article gives comprehensive information on the essentials of DNA evidence for law enforcement.

Training & Employment

• Forensic Photographer: A career guide to forensic photography.
• Students & Educators: The Forensics Laboratory details the basic fundamentals of a Crime Scene Investigators functions.
• Crime Scene Investigation Certificate: University of California’s hands on crime scene program.
• Forensics: A career guide to forensics.
• CSI Career: An overview to crime scene investigating, work conditions and academic requirements.
• How to Become a CSI: The International Crime Scene Investigators Association guide to becoming a crime scene investigator.

Forensic Books

• Forensic Medicine: A summary of Forensic Medicine: Clinical and Pathological Aspect.
• Forensic Psychology: John J. DeFrancesco’s review of Joanna Adler’s book Forensic Psychology: Concepts, Debates and Practice.
• Forensic Discovery: Read Forensic Discovery in its entirety.
• Computer Forensics and Investigations: Gary Kessler reviews Bill Nelson, Amelia Phillips, Frank Enfinger, and Chris Stewart’s book Guide to Computer Forensics and Investigations.
• Crime Scene to Court: View a summary of Peter White’s book Crime Scene Court: The Essentials of Forensic Science.
• Forensic Science: Full text of Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States A Path Forward.