Crime Scene Investigation: Gather, Preserve, Analyze Evidence - Free Essay Example

Crime scene investigation is a complex process, for it requires experts to argue the facts of a case based on available evidence and then come to conclusions. In crime scene investigation, investigators gather physical evidence, preserve, package, and submit it to the laboratory for analysis; this evidence will help identify those who were involved. At many times, the process of crime scene investigation is conducted with keenness to ensure that substantial evidence is collected and not destroyed. The investigators work together with the crime scene personnel to contain evidence, and examine, and document the scene. A principle, every contact leaves a trace, helps the investigators to explore the link between suspects and victims for any evidence that can link a suspect to the scene. In this paper, the focus is to analyze Shakur Wright's case, a gang member who was convicted in horrific death in recent Atlanta history.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

There are guidelines for conducting a preliminary crime scene for this criminal case. To start with, investigators will approach the location where the victim was shot, and then secure and protect it (Fatima, 2019). Next, they will evaluate physical evidence possibilities and prepare a narrative description. Further, they will photograph the scene to seal all evidence within the crime scene (Fatima, 2019). They will then collect associative evidence like a gun, blood fluids, blood fibers, and hair, to mention but a few. It is also essential for investigators to order items that can contain biological evidence. Finally, the investigator should locate and collect latent fingerprints.

When the evidence has been collected, it is submitted to the laboratory for analysis. Forensic investigators use the concept, data mining philosophy to conduct an efficient follow-up investigation. One way in which data mining can be used to perform an efficient follow-up investigation for Shakur Wright's case is to help find a crime pattern. Based on the review of the evidence, the victim, Shakur Wright, has something in common with Boston, a gang member (Aldridge, 2020). Data mining is done to investigate the behavior, study the mind of the victim, as well as analyze the strategies for interviews and trials. Shakur Wright's personality, attributes, and other extrinsic factors can assist investigators in arriving at correct conclusions quicker and faster.

Major crimes, in this case, are murder and armed robbery. The reporting procedures, however, are on point for both cases. Much of the information is from the officials and the police, for instance, District Attorney Howard says that the accused beat the victim to the point that his skull was depressed (Aldridge, 2020). Since this is an important story, the reporters have used many sources to establish the fact that the crime happened; they have even released a press release to summarize the case. In the same parallel, investigators visited the scene to add important details to the story; for example, the car where the victim was dumped and got pictures for both publication and broadcast.

An effective criminal investigator takes prime responsibility of investigating a crime scene. Some of the essential characteristics include integrity, reliability, problem-solving, and courage, self-drivenness, among others (Harrison et al., 2020). The level of effectiveness that was brought to Shakur Wright's case by the investigator showed a kind of leadership competencies. The investigator incorporated planning and strategic thinking to evaluate murder and armed robbery. Also, the investigator identified activities that were employed before the crime was conducted. In other words, the investigator used professional skills to manage the investigation effectively (Harrison et al., 2020). However, improvements that could be considered in this case include knowledge levels; this could make an investigator have crime scene investigation skillsets such as a scientist, detective, accountant, counselor, and administrator.

There are several ways in which law enforcement investigators can conduct efficient and effective investigations while maintaining the rights of both the victim(s) and the accused(s) in a criminal case. To start with, law enforcement investigators should incorporate human rights standards into standing orders for the police (Ferguson et al., 2020). By doing this, it will mean that they are inherently resting and obeying the law. At the same time, law enforcement investigators should protect human dignity and uphold human rights for both the victim and the accused in a case. Incas the police have violated human rights, codes, or sets of principles that protect all persons, they should report the illegal acts so that there will be a degree of responsibility.

Furthermore, law enforcement investigators should ensure that all complaints of human rights violations in a criminal case are fully and adequately addressed, and human rights standards are incorporated in the process of crime investigation (Ferguson et al., 2020). The investigators are supposed to carry out their responsibilities without discrimination. Special measures are designed to protect all persons are to ensure that the process of crime investigation upholds human rights for both the victim and the accused.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the crime scene investigation helps to indicate the treatment and processing of a case. For instance, Shakur Wright's case shows an effective crime investigation; the evidence was achieved based on the guidelines of preliminary crime investigation. Also, investigators designed a theory of using forensic resources to handle particular situations and arrive at a conclusion

References

Aldridge, D. (2020). Another gang member convicted in the 'most horrific death' in recent Atlanta history linked to other crimes. 11 Alive. https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/gang-member-sentenced/85-5ea40ddd-701b-429f-a09e-1acbf3a19e5a

Fatima, F. F. F. (2019). Forensic Photography: A Visual and Legal Record of Crime Scene. IJECI, 3(2), 10-10. http://ojs.lgu.edu.pk/index.php/ijeci/article/download/329/289

Ferguson, R. I., Renaud, K., Wilford, S., & Irons, A. (2020). PRECEPT: a framework for ethical digital forensics investigations. Journal of Intellectual Capital. https://dora.dmu.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/2086/18943/PRECEPT%20A%20Framework%20for%20Ethical%20Digital%20Forensics%20Investigations.pdf?sequence=1

Harrison, M., Walsh, P. F., Lysons-Smith, S., Truong, D., Horan, C., & Jabbour, R. (2020). Tradecraft to Standards—Moving Criminal Intelligence Practice to a Profession through the Development of a Criminal Intelligence Training and Development Continuum. Policing: a journal of policy and practice, 14(2), 312-324. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Patrick_F_Walsh/publication/326845787_Tradecraft_to_Standards-Moving_Criminal_Intelligence_Practice_to_a_Profession_through_the_Development_of_a_Criminal_Intelligence_Training_and_Development_Continuum/links/5b750b8f299bf14c6da8b700/Tradecraft-to-Standards-Moving-Criminal-Intelligence-Practice-to-a-Profession-through-the-Development-of-a-Criminal-Intelligence-Training-and-Development-Continuum.pdf