Practical Homicide Investigation Checklist and Field Guide

Geberth, Vernon J.

This book provides protocols for suicide and equivocal death investigation, police action shooting investigations and a homicide supervisor's checklist. It contains state-of-the-art anatomical graphics in full color to assist the investigator in describing any injuries or wounds to the body.

THE CHECKLIST APPROACH TO HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION -- THE HOMICIDE CRIME SCENE -- Introduction -- The Crime Scene -- THE PATROL OFFICER'S DUTIES -- First Officer's Duties upon Arrival -- Protection of Life -- Patrol Officer Establishing the Crime Scene -- Protecting the Crime Scene -- Trie Crime Scene Sign-In Sheet -- The First Officer Initiates the Homicide Investigation -- Recommended Procedures to Initiate the Investigation -- Patrol Officer's Quicklist -- The Patrol Officer's Checklist -- Initial Call and Receipt of Information -- Arrival at the Homicide Crime Scene -- Protection of the Crime Scene -- Notifications -- Preliminary Investigation -- The Suspect in Custody -- Suicide and Accidental Deaths -- THE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION AT THE SCENE -- The Detectives -- Initial Receipt of Information -- Prior to Leaving for the Crime Scene, Instruct Patrol To -- Arrival at the Scene -- THE INVESTIGATIVE CHECKLIST -- Documentation of the Initial Report -- Initial Receipt of Information -- Arrival at the Homicide Scene -- Preliminary Inspection of the Body at the Crime Scene -- Implement Crime Scene Control Procedures -- Initiate a Crime Scene Log -- Establish a Policy for Crime Scene Integrity -- Establish a Command Post or Temporary Headquarters -- EMS and Ambulance Personnel -- Initiate a Canvass -- Weapons -- The Suspect in Custody -- The Suspect in Custody: Interrogation at the Scene -- Crime Scene Photographs -- Documentation of Crime Scene Photographs -- The Crime Scene Sketch -- The Crime Scene Search -- Dust for Fingerprints -- Description of the Deceased -- Victim and Hospital Information -- Evidence Process and Control Procedures -- Release of the Homicide Crime Scene -- D U T I E S OF T H E DETECTIVE SUPERVISOR U P O N -- ARRIVAL AT T H E SCENE -- SPECIFIC INVESTIGATIVE D U T I E S AT T H E SCENE -- The Suspect in Custody -- Evaluation of the Suspect's Demeanor and Mental Capacity -- Obtaining a D y i n g Declaration -- Questions to Be Asked in a Dying Declaration -- Documentation of the Dying Declaration -- SUICIDE INVESTIGATION -- Three Investigative Considerations in Determining the -- Manner of Death (Homicide or Suicide) -- Suicide Notes -- Suicide Checklist -- Investigative Considerations -- Evaluation of the Wounds -- Weapons or Means of Death -- Psychological Aspects -- Warning Signs in Suicide -- Extreme Danger Signs -- Psychological State of the Victim -- Spite Suicides -- Any Prior Mental Disease or Defect -- Consider a Psychological Autopsy -- FINAL EXIT SUICIDES -- Investigative Checklist for Final Exit Cases -- The Plastic Bag -- SUICIDE-BY-COP SCENARIOS -- Some Suicide Indicators -- AUTOEROTIC FATALITIES -- Investigative Considerations -- Autoerotic Checklist: Determining the Involvement of -- Sexual Asphyxia -- INVESTIGATING FATAL FIRES CHECKLIST -- Investigative Considerations -- The Fire Incident -- Suspicious Designation: General Determination Factors -- Maintenance of the Fire Crime Scene -- Investigation at the Scene -- Determination of Arson -- SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME (SIDS) -- Investigative Checklist -- MUNCHAUSEN SYNDROME BY PROXY -- Warning Signs -- CRIME SCENE DOCUMENTATION -- Documentation of Crime Scene Photographs -- Recommended Crime Scene Photographs -- Photographs of Deceased Subjects -- Videotape Protocol -- Arrival at Scene -- Taping Protocol Checklist -- DOCUMENTATION OF THE CRIME SCENE SKETCH -- l h e Title Block -- Formulating the Search -- Examination of the Outdoor Crime Scene -- Investigative Questions -- Examination of the Body at the Scene -- The Head -- The Trunk -- Arms and Legs -- The Wound Chart -- Gunshot Wounds -- Intermediate-Range Wounds -- Cutting Wounds -- Blunt Force Injuries -- Asphyxiai Deaths -- RECOMMENDATIONS AND GUIDELINES FOR PROPER -- DEATH NOTIFICATIONS TO SURVIVING FAMILY -- MEMBERS -- SEX-RELATED HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION -- Investigative Considerations -- The Crime Scene Investigation -- Sex-Related Crime Scene Checklist -- MEDICOLEGAL CONSIDERATIONS -- Examination of the Crime Scene -- Descriptive Information -- Anatomical Figures -- SUPERVISOR'S HOMICIDE CHECKLIST -- Supervising the Preliminary Investigation at the Scene: The -- Checklist -- Directing Specific Investigative Duties Il l -- The Suspect in Custody Ill -- Examination of a Suspect for Evidence -- Evaluation of a Suspect's Demeanor and/or Mental Capacity -- Supervising a Homicide Crime Scene Search -- Crime Scene Considerations -- Release of the Body -- Examining an Outdoor Crime Scene -- Release of the Crime Scene -- INVESTIGATION OF POLICE-RELATED SHOOTINGS -- Officer-Involved Shootings (OISs) and Use of Deadly Force -- Incidents -- The Protocol -- Introduction -- Assigning Investigative Responsibility -- INVESTIGATION OF OISS AND USE OF DEADLY FORCE -- INCIDENTS -- Supervisory Responsibilities-Checklist -- Incident Scene Investigator(s)-Checklist -- Interview of Employee(s) Involved -- Taped Interview of Employee(s) Involved -- Follow-Up Investigation -- Background Investigation -- Suspect(s) and Witnesses -- Employee(s) -- Preparation of Investigative Report -- APPENDIX: PROCEDURES FOR THE COLLECTION -- OF EVIDENCE -- COLLECTION OF SPECIFIC TYPES OF EVIDENCE -- Body Materials -- Blood (Wet) -- Bloodstains (Dry) -- Nonporous Surface -- Porous Surface (Fabric, Unfinished Wood, etc.) -- Traces or Smears That Cannot Be Scraped into Container -- Semen -- Semen Wet Stain -- Semen Dry Stain -- Urine -- Spittle or Saliva -- Feces -- Large Amount -- Small Amount -- Vomit -- Tissue -- Hair -- Collection of Hairs from the Scene -- Objects -- Bullets -- Discharged Casings or Cartridges -- Shotgun Shells -- Live Cartridges or Rounds of Ammunition -- Shotgun Wadding -- Weapons -- Firearms -- Fibers -- Fabric -- Clothing -- Cigarette or Cigar Butts -- Displaced Furniture -- Insects -- Common Insects Found on Human Remains and at Crime Scenes -- Investigative Considerations -- Equipment -- Procedures -- Soil -- Collection of Soil Samples -- Tools -- Vehicles -- Documents (Letters, Notes, and Papers) -- Glass -- Impressions -- Fingerprint Examination -- Types of Fingerprints -- Development of Fingerprints -- Chemical Processes -- Tire Tracks and Footprints -- Tool Marks -- Newly Damaged Areas -- Collection of Bite-Mark Evidence at the Scene -- Photographs of the Bite-Mark Wound -- Saliva Washings -- Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (Examination of Blood Spatter) -- Investigative Considerations -- Crime Scene Examination -- Crime Scene Documentation -- CRIME SCENE COLLECTION OF ELECTRONIC AND -- DIGITAL E V I D E N C E -- Investigative Considerations -- Identification of Digital Evidence -- Additional Investigative Considerations -- Volatile Data Collection Strategy for Powered-Up Computers -- Computers -- Collection Procedures -- Cellular Phones -- Investigative Considerations -- Cellular Telephones in an Active Investigation -- Cellular Telephones in Nonactive Investigations -- NOTES.