CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION COMPETITION

RULES OF THE COMPETITION

1. ABOUT THE COMPETITION

1.1. The Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Competition is an innovative event designed to
enhance students’ understanding of forensic science, evidence law and investigation
procedures.
1.2. The CSI Competition provides participants with a simulated crime scene where they
must analyse evidence, apply legal principles, and construct a comprehensive case report.
Through this approach, participants are encouraged to think critically and piece together
a logical narrative that connects evidence to potential motives, suspects, and sequences of
events.
1.3. This competition allows participants to apply theoretical knowledge in hypothetical
practical scenarios, fostering critical thinking, observational skills, teamwork, and
problem-solving skills essential for careers in law and criminal justice.

2. ELIGIBILITY AND TEAM COMPOSITION

2.1. The CSI Competition is open to all individuals, including but not limited to students,
researchers, professionals from all disciplines related to crime scene investigation, law,
forensic science, criminology, and psychology.
2.2. Team Composition: Each team shall comprise 2 members only.
2.3. There is no restriction on the number of teams that may participate from the same
institution.

3. FORMAT OF THE COMPETITION

3.1. An initial online meeting will provide participants with guidelines, rules, and an overview
of the competition format.
3.2. Teams will be presented with a mock crime scene through a series of images, witness
backgrounds and video testimonials.

1|Page
 3.3. Teams will analyse images and determine the evidences, and other forensic materials.
They will document their findings and develop a coherent crime theory.
3.4. Participants will prepare a case brief, detailing the sequence of events, suspects, motives,
and the legal framework to support their conclusions.
3.5. Teams will present their findings, hypothesis and case theory to a panel of judges
consisting of legal professionals, forensic experts, and law professors.
3.6. They will be evaluated on the accuracy of their analysis, understanding of legal
principles, and the ability to defend their conclusions.

4. RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE COMPETITION

4.1. Participants will be provided with images, a case proposition explaining the crime
scenario, and background information on key characters on the day of the competition.
These materials will include brief written testimonials to set the context.
4.2. During an online session, participants will be shown reference videos for the crime scenes
and video testimonials of the characters involved. These videos will contain critical cues
related to the crime but will only be played once. Participants may take notes on any
details they observe.
4.3. Following the testimonials, participants will have 50 minutes to review and analyse all
materials provided, including the proposition, character backgrounds, and images.
4.4. After the analysis period, participants will have 40 minutes to compile a comprehensive
investigative report. The report must contain the following sections:
i. Crime Scene Sketch: A clear and detailed sketch of the crime scene, indicating
evidence locations, measurements, and compass direction.
ii. List of Material Evidence: A numbered list of all evidence observed, labeled for
easy reference.
iii. Relevance of Evidence: An explanation of each piece of evidence’s significance
and its contribution to understanding the crime.
iv. Hypotheses: Possible theories about the suspects’ involvement, supported by
logical and legal reasoning based on the evidence.
v. Conclusive Story: A factual yet opinion-based narrative that reconstructs events
before and after the crime, grounded in the analysis.
vi. Forensic Analysis: Suggested forensic techniques or laboratory tests that could
further clarify findings (if applicable).

2|Page
 vii. Other Relevant Observations: Any additional observations or insights that
contribute to understanding the case.
viii. References: A list of sources or materials referenced while preparing the report,
including forensic science guidelines or articles.
4.5. After submitting their report, participants will prepare an online slide presentation
summarizing their findings, evidence analysis, and final hypotheses, which will conclude
the competition. The participants will be given 30 Minutes for preparing the PowerPoint
presentation, which needs to be uploaded on the provided drive link.
4.6. The access to drive link will be closed after 30 minutes and failure to submit the
presentation may lead to deduction in score or disqualification.
4.7. The presentation should be no longer than 10 minutes and exceeding the time may lead
to point deductions. Participants must ensure that all key points are clearly communicated
within this time frame.
4.8. All work must be completed within the designated times. Any attempt to seek additional
information outside the provided resources or extend preparation time without permission
will result in disqualification.

5. REPORT FORMATTING GUIDELINES AND SUBMISSION RULES

5.1. The report may be submitted in Word Document or PDF format.
i. Font: Times New Roman, size 12 for body text, and size 14 for headings.
ii. Spacing: 1.5-line spacing for the body text and single spacing for lists or tables.
iii. Margins: 1-inch margins on all sides.
iv. Page Numbers: Include page numbers at the bottom right corner of each page.
v. Section Titles: Bold and numbered, e.g., “1. Crime Scene Sketch,” “2. List of
Material Evidence.”
vi. Images and Sketches: Any sketches or images must be clearly labeled and placed
within the relevant section.
vii. Length: The report should not exceed 10 pages, excluding the cover page and
reference page.
5.2. Teams will receive a Google Drive link to a folder labelled with their team code. The
report must be uploaded to this folder within the time specified by the Organizing
Committee. Late submissions may result in disqualification.

3|Page
 5.3. File Naming: Name the file as “TeamCode_CSI_Report.pdf” (e.g.,
“TC01_CSI_Report.pdf”).
5.4. Once uploaded, no further modifications to the report will be permitted.
6. JUDGEMENT CRITERIA
6.1. The judging criteria for the Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Competition are designed to
evaluate participants on various skills and competencies essential for effective crime
scene analysis and investigation.
6.2. The total score will determine overall rankings among competing teams.
6.3. The total score will be out of 100, distributed across the following key criteria:

CRITERIA SCORE
Evidence Analysis and Documentation 20 points
Relevance of Evidence 15 points
Hypotheses Development 15 points
Conclusive Story 20 points
Forensic Analysis and Application 10 points
Presentation and Delivery 10 Points
Team Collaboration and Q&A 10 Points
Total 100 Points

7. CODE OF CONDUCT
7.1. Participants must conduct themselves with honesty and integrity at all times.
7.2. Participants are expected to compete fairly, respecting the rules set out by the organizing
committee. Any attempt to manipulate, cheat, or unfairly influence the competition will
result in disqualification.
7.3. Participants must treat fellow competitors, judges, and organizers with respect and
courtesy.
7.4. All work submitted must be original. Plagiarism, copyright violations, or falsification of
information will result in disqualification.
7.5. Communication with other teams during the investigation phase is strictly forbidden to
maintain fairness.

4|Page
 7.6. Participants must not disclose their identity or institution they are affiliated with
throughout the competition.
7.7. Any violation of these rules may result in penalties, including disqualification from the
competition and revocation of awards.
8. REGISTRATION
8.1. Participants are required to complete registration on or before 20.02.2025 by filling the
relevant google form provided in the brochure.
8.2. Each team must submit one registration form, listing all team members’ names, along
with each member’s contact information and relevant field of study or profession.
8.3. Participation fee for the CSI Competition is Rs.600 (per team of 2).

9. IMPORTANT DATES & M O D E

Last date of registration: 20.02.2025 (Online)

Last date to seek clarification(s):24.02.2025 (Online, via email)

Date of the event: 02.03.2025 (Online)

Declaration of Results and Valedictory session:23.03.2025 (Link to join virtually will be

provided)

STUDENT BODY

Student Convenors: Student Co-Convenors:

Akash Malayil: 9773586868 Aadrika Malhotra:
8595877120
Srijan Sahay: 7827877810 Divyansha Singh:
7982266719

COORDINATORS OF CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION COMPETITION

5|Page
Emmanuel Benny: 8800841505
Sidratul Muntaha: 7428299680

6|Page