HOW DETECTIVES WORK
Who is at the scene?
Match with the names below:
They are typically the first to arrive at a crime scene. They arrest the criminal
if is he's still there and call for an ambulance if necessary. They are
responsible for securing the scene so no evidence is destroyed.
They document the crime scene in detail and collect any physical evidence.
They are often present to help determine if the investigators require any
search warrants to proceed and obtain those warrants from a judge.
They may or may not be present to determine a preliminary cause of death.
They (entomologists, forensic scientists, forensic psychologists) may be called
in if the evidence requires expert analysis.
They interview witnesses and consult with the CSI unit. They investigate the
crime by following leads provided by witnesses and physical evidence.
1. Detectives 2. CSI unit 3. Police officers
4. District attorney 5. Medical examiner 6. Specialists
Finding the Evidence
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Complete with the words below:
Trace evidence (…………………………., ………………………., ………………………..,
……………………………., …………………………….)
Impressions (………………………., ………………………, …………………………)
Body fluids (……………………., ……………………………, ………………….., ………………………….)
Hair and ……………………………
Weapons and firearms evidence (……………………, ………………………….,
…………………………., …………………………………, ………………………………..)
Questioned documents (……………………….., ………………………………..,
……………………………., ……………………………………….)
phone books, unknown chemicals, diaries, saliva, fingerprints, blood,
cartridge casings, fibres, knives, drugs, tool marks, answering
machines and caller units, ID, suicide note, gunshot residue, vomit,
bullet holes, footwear, paint residue, guns, broken glass, semen
Examining the body
Form the questions:
……………………………… any stains or marks on the clothing?
……………………….……. the clothing bunched up in particular direction? If so, this
could indicate dragging.
…………………………… any bruises, cuts or marks on body? Any defence wounds?
……………………………. anything obviously missing? ………………………. a tan mark
where a watch or ring should be?
If blood is present in large amounts, ……………………… the direction of flow follow
the laws of gravity? If not, the body may have been moved.
If no blood is present in the area surrounding the body, ……………………….. this
consistent with the preliminary cause of death? If not, the body may have
been moved.
……………………………….. any bodily fluids present beside blood?
………………………… ……. any insect activity on the body? If so, the CSI may call in
a forensic entomologist to analyse the activity for clues as to how long the
person has been dead.
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Key
Who's at the Scene?
Police officers are typically the first to arrive at a crime scene. They arrest the perpetrator is he's still there
and call for an ambulance if necessary. They are responsible for securing the scene so no evidence is
destroyed.
The CSI unit documents the crime scene in detail and collects any physical evidence.
The district attorney is often present to help determine if the investigators require any search warrants to
proceed and obtain those warrants from a judge.
The medical examiner (if a homicide) may or may not be present to determine a preliminary cause of death.
Specialists (entomologists, forensic scientists, forensic psychologists) may be called in if the evidence
requires expert analysis.
Detectives interview witnesses and consult with the CSI unit. They investigate the crime by following leads
provided by witnesses and physical evidence.
Trace evidence (gunshot residue, paint residue, broken glass, unknown chemicals, drugs)
Impressions (fingerprints, footwear, tool marks)
Body fluids (blood, semen, saliva, vomit)
Hair and fibers
Weapons and firearms evidence (knives, guns, bullet holes, cartridge casings)
Questioned documents (diaries, suicide note, phone books; also includes electronic documents like answering machines
and caller ID units)
With theories of the crime in mind, CSIs begin the systematic search for incriminating evidence, taking meticulous notes
along the way. If there is a dead body at the scene, the search probably starts there.
Examining the body
A CSI might collect evidence from the body at the crime scene or he might wait until the body arrives at the morgue. In
either case, the CSI does at least a visual examination of the body and surrounding area at the scene, taking pictures
and detailed notes.
Before moving the body, the CSI makes note of details including:
Are there any stains or marks on the clothing?
Is the clothing bunched up in particular direction? If so, this could indicate dragging.
Are there any bruises, cuts or marks on body? Any defense wounds? Any injuries indicating, consistent with or
inconsistent with the preliminary cause of death?
Is there anything obviously missing? Is there a tan mark where a watch or ring should be?
If blood is present in large amounts, does the direction of flow follow the laws of gravity? If not, the body may have been
moved.
If no blood is present in the area surrounding the body, is this consistent with the preliminary cause of death? If not, the
body may have been moved.
Are there any bodily fluids present beside blood?
Is there any insect activity on the body? If so, the CSI may call in a forensic entomologist to analyze the activity for clues
as to how long the person has been dead.
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What is Forensic Science?
Watch the video and answer the questions:
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1. What does the word ‘forensic’ refer to?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. What fields do the forensic scientists specialize in?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Match the forensic science branches with the correct jobs:
1. Field Science 2. Laboratory Science 3. Medical Science
a. analysing blood stains
b. psychiatry and psychology
c. collecting evidence
d. analysing footprints
e. autopsy
f. handwriting recognition
g. preventing the contamination of crime scene and evidence
h. dentistry
i. providing reconstruction of the crime
j. DNA profiling
k. analysing bullets
l. analysing blood samples
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