MCCCD Program Description

Crime Scene Processing

Course: AJS242

First Term: 2004 Fall

Lecture 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s) 3 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S

Description: Procedures and technology required to process crime scenes including how to protect a crime scene, collect information, search for, collect, and preserve physical and biological evidence, and conduct field tests. Practical experience in evidence collection and crime scene sketching and processing

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Explain the difference between primary and secondary crime scenes and microscopic and macroscopic crime scenes. (I) 2. Discuss the value and limitations of physical evidence. (I) 3. Discuss the transfer of evidence rule and linkage theory. (I) 4. List the types of evidence often found at particular crime scenes. (I) 5. Define crime scene reconstruction and crime scene investigation. (I) 6. List all possible sources of information found at or near crime scenes. (II) 7. Define the terms transient evidence, conditional evidence, pattern evidence, transfer evidence and associative evidence. (II) 8. List all possible sources of information about a crime found in databases and other records. (II) 9. Identify factors that must be considered in assigning personnel to a crime scene. (II) 10. Explain the importance of keeping current on new technology and equipment. (II) 11. Explain the importance and management of command posts, media relations, inter-agency cooperation, and resource allocation and sharing. (II) 12. List the benefits of establishing procedures and problems encountered when they are omitted. (II) 13. List the duties of the first responding officer at a crime scene. (III) 14. List the key elements of the initial crime scene survey. (III) 15. List all possible parties who need to be notified about the crime. (III) 16. Explain the legal issues that arise at crime scenes. (III) 17. Discuss when a crime scene may be released to its normal state. (III) 18. Explain the need for and methods used to document crime scenes. (IV) 19. List and demonstrate the general procedures common to all crime scene documentation efforts. (IV) 20. List and demonstrate the special additional procedures for video taping, photographing, and sketching a crime scene. (IV) 21. Explain and demonstrate the role and techniques of alternate light sources in crime scene photography and videography. (IV) 22. List the objectives of crime scene searches. (V) 23. List and demonstrate crime scene search patterns. (V) 24. List the general guidelines for collecting and preserving physical evidence. (VI) 25. Explain and demonstrate the procedures for collecting, preserving and packaging fingerprints, impression evidence, hairs, fibers, glass, paint, soil, firearms, tool marks, gunshot residue, biological fluids, arson accelerants, flammable liquids, explosives, questioned documents, bite mark evidence and entomological evidence. (VI) 26. Explain the purpose of conducting field tests and using enhancement reagents. (VII) 27. Demonstrate field tests for blood, other body fluids, gunshot residue and drugs. (VII) 28. Demonstrate the use of enhancement reagents for blood and fingerprint evidence. (VII) 29. Discuss special problems encountered while processing outdoor crime scenes and techniques for solving them. (VIII) 30. Discuss special problems encountered while processing fire and explosive crime scenes and techniques for solving them. (VIII) 31. Discuss special problems encountered while processing crime scenes containing biological or chemical hazards and techniques for solving them. (VIII)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. General Crime Scene Considerations A. Types of crime scenes B. Evidence at crime scenes II. Managing the Crime Scene A. Information management B. Personnel management C. Technology and equipment management D. Logistics E. Procedures III. General Crime Scene Procedures A. Role of first responding officers B. Initial scene survey C. Interagency and intra-agency communication D. Legal implications E. Documenting the scene F. Releasing the scene IV. Documenting the Crime Scene A. Note taking B. Photography and videography C. Sketching V. Searching for Evidence A. Objectives B. Locating crime scenes and evidence C. Search pattern VI. Collecting and Preserving Evidence A. Fingerprints B. Impression evidence C. Hair and fiber evidence D. Glass, paint and soil E. Firearms, tool marks and gunshot residue F. Biological evidence G. Accelerants, flammable liquids and explosives H. Questioned documents I. Bite marks J. Entomological evidence VII. Field Tests and Enhancement Reagents A. Blood and other body fluids B. Gunshot and explosive residues C. Controlled substances VIII. Special Scene Techniques A. Outdoor scenes B. Fire and explosive scenes C. Scenes with biological and chemical agents

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 2/24/2004

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.