Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Practical Crime Scene Investigations

CRJ-235

Spring 2015 2 jss 3

INSTRUCTIONAL PACKAGE

EFFECTIVE TERM: Spring 2015 (2014-20)

COURSE PREFIX: CRJ 235 COURSE TITLE: Practical Crime Scene Investigations

CREDIT HOURS: 3 Semester Hours CONTACT HOURS: 5 hours (2 lecture hours and 3 lab hours per week)

RATIONALE FOR THE COURSE:

Practical Crime Scene Investigations is designed to provide the student with an understanding of the appropriate processes important in the collection and preservation of evidence from a crime scene. An exposure to the application of forensic techniques learned in previous crime scene investigation courses through hands-on processing of simulations allows the student to understand the complex and crucial tasks that are involved in a criminal investigation; where evidence must be properly collected and preserved for truthful presentation in trial or other judicial proceedings.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is the study of practical, hands-on instruction in methodology and policies for the identification, interpretation, collection, packaging, preservation, and chain of custody of crime scenes and evidence taken from crime scenes.

PREREQUISITES:

CRJ 201 – Fingerprinting Scene, CRJ 202 – Criminalistics, and CRJ 203 – Forensic Photography REQUIRED MATERIAL:

Gardner, R.M. (2004). Practical crime scene processing and investigation. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

Ramirez, C. R., & Parish-Fisher, C. (2012). Crime scene processing and investigation workbook. Boca Raton FL: CRC Press.

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL:

The textbooks and materials required for CRJ 201 – Fingerprinting Science, CRJ 202 – Criminalistics, CRJ 203 – Forensic Photography, and CRJ 230 – Criminal Investigation are supplemental materials for this course. 4

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Students will be required to access, download, and/or print course material from “My Courses” through their WaveNet account. The Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) faculty and administration are committed to enhancing the student’s learning experience at the College through improved methods of instruction and support services. For information on Student Support Services or questions about the curriculum program please refer to the HGTC (WaveNet) Homepage.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Unit I–Introduction; the Scene; Physical Evidence Week Chapters Page Initial Response; Processing Methodologies

1.1 Police Goals and Objectives 1 1 1-7 1.2 Evidence 1 1 7-14 1.3 Integrity Issues and Ethics 1 1 14-22 1.4 Characteristics 1 2 26-28 1.5 Fingerprint Evidence 2 2 28-30 1.6 Serology and Biological Evidence 2 2 30-37 1.7 Trace Evidence 2 2 38-59 1.8 Specific Objectives in Response 3 3 61-64 1.9 Securing the Scene 3 3 70-76 1.10 Basic Activities 4 4 80-84 1.11 Processing Model 4 4 85-93

Examination 1 4 1-4 1-93

Unit II–Assessing the Crime Scene; Crime Scene Photography; Sketching and Mapping; Narrative Descriptions

2.1 Initial Information Collection 5 5 95-98 2.2 Scope and Boundary 5 5 98-103 2.3 Integrity and Contamination 5 5 98-105 2.4 Crime Search Patterns 6 5 108-118 2.5 Personal Hazards and Protective Measures 6 5 118-128 2.6 Mass Crime Scenes 6 5 118-128 2.7 Recurring Problems in Crime Scene Photography 7 6 136-142 2.8 Types and Purpose of Photographs 7 6 142-178 2.9 Elements of Sketching 8 7 183-186 2.10 Methods of Mapping 8 7 190-220 2.11 Investigative Notes 8 8 223-228 2.12 Crime Scene Reports 8 8 228-237

Examination 2 8 5-8 95-237 5

Unit III–Basic Skills; Advance Techniques; Special Considerations; Analysis and Reconstruction

3.1 Applying Light Technology 9 9 239-251 3.2 Choosing Sources 9 9 251-254 3.3 Recovering Fingerprints 10 9 254-278 3.4 On Scene Fingerprinting 11 9 254-278 3.5 Casting Impressions 11 9 278-294 3.6 Bullet Trajectory Analysis 12 10 299-328 3.7 Blood Pattern Analysis 12 11 331-362 3.8 Body as a Crime Scene 13 12 363-381 3.8 Fire Scenes 13 13 383-394 3.9 Landfill Recoveries 13 13 394-396 3.10 Buried and Scattered Remains 14 13 399-410 3.11 Concept of Scene Reconstruction 14 14 413-418 3.12 Scene Reconstruction Methodology 14 14 418-437

Examination 3 14 9-16 239-437

STUDENT COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

 Describe the different types of physical evidence.  Describe the proper method to secure a crime scene.  Describe the basic activities of crime scene processing.  Describe the considerations regarding personal hazards in processing a crime scene.  Describe the use of photography to record a crime scene.  Describe sketching and mapping a crime scene.  Describe the use of notes and reports in recording the crime scene process.  Demonstrate the development and recovering fingerprint evidence – at the scene and in the lab.  Demonstrate collection of an impression through various casting techniques.  Describe the use of bloodstain analysis in a criminal investigation.  Describe the use of ballistics evidence including trajectory analysis.  Describe the processing of a fire scene.  Describe the investigative considerations and techniques in recovery of human remains.  Describe the scientific aspect of crime scene recovery methodology. 6

EVALUATION OF REQUIRED COURSE MEASURES/ARTIFACTS

EVALUATION:

Students will exhibit knowledge gained from each unit through written exams based on chapter material through the lectures, handouts, and textbook. Tests may include material from the lecture notes, study sheets, textbook, handouts, or any material provided by the professor. Tests will consist of true/false, multiple choice and/or short answer questions requiring discussion, description, identification and/or listing. Any additional assignments will be announced in advance. Participation in class and attendance may be used as an evaluation method. No course artifacts will be collected for this course.

Assignments

There are assignments every other week with the semester course, except during College holidays or breaks. These assignments are designed to encourage students to use Internet as a research tool. For each assignment, students will be assigned topics to investigate and research. Students will then analyze information collected and report on their findings. The assignments are based on the process typically used in criminal justice of investigating, collecting, analyzing and reporting. Assignments will be announced online through the course on D2L under course Content link. Assignments will only be accepted for credit in MS Word. All assignments must be submitted to the “Course Drop Box.” Assignments sent through an e-mail or as an e-mail attachment will not be accepted for credit, unless the course drop box option is not available and the professor has given you permission.

Lab Projects

There are three (3) hours of lab each week in this course, and as a result, students will be required to complete lab assignments. These lab assignments will include applying techniques acquired and/or learned in previous crime scene investigations classes successfully completed, coupled with the techniques and methods introduced in this course. These lab assignments will be at the discretion of the assigned professor. Therefore, students will be required to complete assigned projects deemed appropriate for the assigned subject matter, and are required to complete any and all homework assignments. Such assignments will be announced in advance. Failure to complete a homework assignment will result in a ½ absence for the assignment due date.

WARNING:

Some activities in the CSI classes can cause the student to get dirty during the performance of required practical exercises. Students should take appropriate precautions to insure that clothing and/or shoes are not soiled, damaged, and/or permanently affected. The college is not responsible for any soiled clothing as a result of this class. 7

There are activities in the CSI classes that involve viewing trauma, injury, blood, and other disturbing images. Furthermore, CSI students will be required to handle evidence involving simulated blood during required practical crime scene and lab applications. The activities simulate circumstances required for employment in the field of law enforcement including crime scene processing and crime lab analyses; therefore, students who cannot perform such activities because of the materials involved should consider another field of employment. Additionally, the inability to participate in such class/lab activities involving biological evidence as required in a CSI course will prevent the student from successfully completing the course with a passing grade.

Non-class related photography is not permitted in the CSI facilities. Cell phones and other devices that can be used as a camera must remain in a pocket or purse. Photographing the classroom, students, instructors or equipment will result in the violator being asked to leave the class.

THE COURSE PROJECT

The student will participate in the investigation mock crime, including sketching, photographing and processing of a mock crime scene. The scene will be based on a crime as determined by the course professor of record. The student will be assigned to one of several teams of a size and composition determined by the course professor. Each student, although working as a team, will submit an individual case file based on two elements, which are (1) the team’s collaborative effort in processing the crime scene and (2) the research regarding the relevant case law applicable to the crime scene. Therefore, the team case file, as submitted by each student, will include a minimum of the following components:

 Synopsis of the Case  Investigative Report Writing  Crime Scene Walk Through  Crime Scene Sketch with Draft  Photograph List (log) with actual photographs taken in class  Evidence List  Crime Scene Processing  Evidence Examination & Processing  Relevant Statutes and Codes  Relevant Case Law

Each component of the project will occur as a participatory assignment staged during class time throughout the semester. For example assignment #1 will be a graded assignment involving a synopsis of the case, or a brief summary, capsulizing the case that will be presented to the prosecution. The student will be required to collect the information during class and compile the information into a finished project as homework before submission to the course professor on the due date announced in class for that component. All students must participate in each component of the project throughout the semester and the final case file similar to the professional requirements of a crime scene processor, whether detective, police officer, or technician, to receive a passing grade. Each student will be required to submit separate assignments and the 8 final case file. Further description and instructions for final case file and the component assignments will be distributed during the first class after the add/drop period, or the first five days of the semester, whenever and however announced.

The project paper must be a minimum of 5 - 10 double-spaced pages. All resource material used must be cited and referenced, and all resources must be listed in a reference page. The format of the paper, all references, and citations must conform to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2010). The minimum number of pages required does not include the title page or reference page(s). The font used should be Times New Roman at size 12 with 1” margins on all sides.

The project will be due during the (14 & 15th) weeks of class; the specific date will be announced by the professor of record. Any project received after the above due date at the beginning of class will be considered late. A project will lose ten (10) points for each day tardy. The penalty will be assessed after the project is graded for quality and content. As mentioned above, there will be a reduction of ten (10) points for each day that the project is late until four (4) days after the due date, at which time no late projects will be accepted, regardless of reason. Students not submitting a project will receive a grade of zero.

COURSE GRADING SUMMARY: COLLEGE GRADING SYSTEM:

Test One …………… 15% 90-100……………… A Test Two …………… 15% 80-89………………. B Test Three …………… 15% 70- 79……………….C Online Assignments…. 28% 60-69 ……………… D Walk Through & Note Taking… 4% Below 60 …………. F Sketching & Photo Documentation… 4% Scene Processing & Collection…. 4% Evidence Examination & Processing… 4% Crime Scene Presentation.. 11% Total ……………………..100 %

Students with perfect attendance, without tardiness, and who participate in class regularly through taking notes, and paying attention will receive an additional 5% of their final numeric score calculated into their final point total, not added to the final grade. Again, points are only awarded for perfect attendance, which includes arriving on time and active involvement in the class (No sleeping). There is no extra credit available for this course. Any questions regarding the course requirements should be directed toward the professor teaching the course section.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY AND COURSE ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

Students must complete their own work whether online or in a traditional classroom. According to the “All forms of academic misconduct including, but not limited to, cheating on tests, plagiarism, collusion and falsification of information will call for discipline. Alleged violations will be handled according to the procedures presented in Section IV.B.” (Horry-Georgetown 9

Technical College Catalog & Student Handbook, 2013-2014, pp. 32-33) Furthermore, the acts stated above which are violations of the student code of conduct, or proscriptive conduct, includes cheating on tests as defined, and including, but is not limited to (1) copying from another student’s test; (2) using materials during a test not authorized by the person giving the test, (3) collaborating with any other person during a test without permission; (4) knowingly obtaining, using, buying, selling, transporting, or soliciting in whole or in part the contents of a test prior to its administration; (5) bribing any other person to obtain tests or information about tests; and (6) substituting for another student or permitting any other person to substitute for oneself or cooperating or aiding in any of the [acts] above. Also it is prohibited and considered an act of academic misconduct for any student to commit as defined and described any act of plagiarism, collusion, or fabrication. Plagiarism is defined as the appropriation of any other person’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work in one’s own work. Collusion means to knowingly assist another person in an act of academic dishonesty. Fabrication is defined as falsifying or inventing information in such academic exercises as reports, laboratory results, and citations to the sources of information” (Horry-Georgetown Technical College Catalog & Student Handbook, 2013-2014, pp. 32-33).

To avoid the question of plagiarism, all information and material used as reference for any paper or project must have a parenthetical citation in the text identify the source of that knowledge and listed on the reference list as required by the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (2010). Please remember, students must complete the work in this course on their own, including testing. Any incident of suspected academic misconduct will be investigated, and should the evidence find that student is in violation of the student code, the incident will be formally reported to the Chief Instructional Officer or her designate representative. The possible disciplinary actions that a professor may take for a finding of misconduct are set forth in Section V. B of the Horry-Georgetown Technical College Catalog & Student Handbook, 2013-2014 on pages 33-34. The student with questions and/or concerns should consult the Student Code for the South Carolina Technical College System (3-2- 106.1) published in the Horry-Georgetown Technical College Catalog & Student Handbook (2013-2014), pages 35-38 and/or course professor of record.

MISSING DUE DATES

Please review the calendar and course content for important dates including exam (test) dates and drop box submission. Should an exam not be completed, or drop box submission not uploaded, before the ending date and time listed in the course (i.e., content, calendar or updates) the student will receive a zero (“0”) for that course requirement. No make-up exam (test) or assignment will be available, unless documented extenuated circumstances. In other words, no graded requirement can be made up unless the student can provide verifiable documented evidence of an extenuating circumstance or situation, which prevented the student from completing requirement before the due date. However, the permission to make up a graded requirement is solely up to the discretion of the course professor.

ACADEMIC PROGRESS AND FINANCIAL AID 10

Grades earned in courses impact academic progression and financial aid status. Before withdrawing from a course, be sure to talk with your instructor and financial aid counselor about the implications of that course of action. Ds, Fs, Ws, WFs and Is also negatively impact academic progression and financial aid status.

The Add/Drop Period is the first 5 days of the semester for full term classes. Add/Drop periods are shorter for accelerated format courses. The following week of the semester is Financial Aid Attendance Verification period. You must attend at least one meeting of all of your classes during that period. If you do not, you will be dropped from the course(s) and your Financial Aid will be reduced accordingly.

THE STUDENT SUCCESS AND TUTORING CENTER (SSTC):

The SSTC offers to all students the following free resources:

1. Academic coaches for most subject areas, Writing Center Support, and college success skills 2. On-line student success and academic support resources

a. 24/7 online academic tutoring assistance (access in WaveNet) b. 24/7 Online Resource Center (ORC) c. Campus2Campus Virtual Appointments d. Tips and tricks for college life, studying, and learning (Facebook: hgtcsstc)

3. Other student resources and academic support

a. Resource guides to improve college success skills b. Science models & other supplemental tools and textbooks c. Workshops on college success skills and citation styles d. Study Skills, Test Anxiety, Time Management, etc. e. APA, MLA, and Preventing Plagiarism f. Check the EVENTS calendar in WaveNet for more information!

Visit the SSTC website: www.hgtc.edu/sstc and visit the student services tab in your WaveNet account to schedule appointments using TutorTrac.

For more information, call: SSTC Conway, 349-7872; SSTC Grand Strand, 477-2113; and SSTC Georgetown, 520-1455. Room locations and Live Chat is available on the SSTC website.

STUDENT INFORMATION CENTER: WAVENET CENTRAL (WNC):

WNC offers to all students the following free resources: 11

1. Getting around HGTC: General information and guidance for enrollment! 2. Use the Online Resource Center (ORC) for COMPASS support, technology education, and online tools 3. Drop-in technology support or scheduled training in the Center or in class 4. In-person workshops and online tutorials are available for:

a. D2L & WaveNet, b. Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint and Excel, c. Basic Computer Skills, d. Budgeting your Money, and more. e. Check the EVENTS calendar or the WNC Online Resource Center for more information!

5. Additional services such as reviewing Degree Works, scheduling tutoring, or scheduling testing center appointments, scanning and uploading documents, etc.

Visit the WNC website: www.hgtc.edu/wavenetcentral. Live Chat and Center locations are posted on the website. Or please call one of the following locations: WNC Conway, 349-5182; WNC Grand Strand, 477-2076; and WNC Georgetown, 520-1473.

View tips and tricks for college life, personal development and technology learning on their Facebook page (Facebook: hgtcwnc).

PROFESSOR’S PERSONAL INFORMATION SHEET

PROFESSOR: Jeffrey Scott

OFFICE HOURS: Posted on WaveNet and Office Door

OFFICE LOCATION: Office 708, Criminal Justice Building (700), Conway Campus

OFFICE TELEPHONE: (843) 349-7140

E-MAIL ADDRESSES: [email protected] CLASS DECORUM:

During the in-the-classroom meetings, cell phones are expected to be turned off and must remain in a pocket or purse. Do not use cell phones during in-the-classroom meetings for any reason, regardless of format (i.e., text messages). All cell phones should be turned off or placed on vibrate upon entering the classroom. If a student is expecting an emergency call or notification during an in-class meeting, he(she) should notify the professor and place the cell phone on silent-vibrate. Do not answer any call or text message in the classroom. However, in the case of an emergency, quietly leave classroom to answer your call or notification. Class 12 discussion is strongly encouraged, but all students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner at all times, and toward all members of the class.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Students at Horry-Georgetown Technical College are responsible for all course work, class assignments, tests (examinations), and quizzes. Therefore, students are expected to regularly and promptly attend each class in which they are enrolled as well as complete the online assignments and quizzes as indicated. Absences should be limited to those that are unavoidable.

Any assignments missed due to a legitimate reason may be made-up only at the professor’s discretion. The college maintains a general attendance policy (see the college catalogue) requiring students attend a minimum of 80% of class meetings to receive course credit.

The maximum number of allowable absences for a Monday-Wednesday or Tuesday-Thursday class is six (6) class meetings. The maximum allowable absences in classes that meet only one (1) day, or evening, a week will be three (3). There are no excused absences. Excused or unexcused, the allowable number of absences is stated above. As stated above, any student missing more than the allowable number of absences is subject to withdrawal by the professor for excessive absences without notification.

No financial aid document, including status sheets, will be signed by the professor outside or at the beginning of class. All financial documents will only be signed at the conclusion of the class period. No financial aid documents will be signed by the professor if the student is on verge of being withdrawn or has been withdrawn because of excessive absences.

TARDY POLICY (AS APPLIES TO THE IN-THE-CLASSROOM PORTION):

All students are expected to be on time for class. Any student more than 20 minutes late will be considered to have missed 1/3 of an absence. Furthermore, any student over 20 minutes late, but less than 40 minutes late will have missed 2/3 of an absence. Any student over 40 minutes late will not receive credit for attending the class. Partial absences for late arrivals are cumulative, and after three (3) 20 minutes late arrivals the student will be charged with 1 day’s absences.

Students leaving early before the conclusion of class should notify the professor of record. Should a student leave before the release of the class, the amount of time missed will be noted at the discretion of the professor. When a student leaves 20 minutes early, he(she) will be considered to have missed 1/3 of the class meeting or 1/3 of an absence. Any student leaving up to 40 minutes early will be considered to have missed 2/3 of the class meeting or 2/3 of an absence. And, any student leaving more than 40 minutes before the conclusion of class will not be counted as attending, or will be considered absent for that day. Being documented for leaving early or arriving late will be cumulative, therefore, the attendance policy will apply. 13

WITHDRAWAL POLICY:

Through the fifth day of class, a student can drop a course through his(her) WaveNet account. Dropping a course is not a withdrawal, and does not reflect on student’s permanent record. A student can withdraw from a class from the sixth day to the two-thirds point during the semester without penalty through his(her) WaveNet account.

After the two-thirds point in the semester the student must withdraw through his(her) professor. After the two-thirds point the professor will issue either a “W” if the student is passing at that point or a “WF” if failing based on the student’s current grade in the course.

Students should discuss withdrawal plans and the grade they will receive with their professor(s), academic advisor, and a financial aid representative prior to making a final decision regarding withdrawal. Withdrawing from a course can affect the student’s financial aid. However, as stated above. the professor of record may administratively withdraw any student, without notification, if the student exceeds the allowable absences as described in the ATTENDANCE POLICY section of this syllabus (course instructional package).

MAKE-UP POLICY FOR TESTS, QUIZZES AND ASSIGNMENTS:

No make-up tests, quizzes, or late assignments will be available. All tests (exams), quizzes, and assignments must be completed during the announced time for submission. All tests (exams) but the final will be completed online through the course in D2L. All assignments must be submitted to the course drop box in D2L; no assignment will be accepted through an e-mail as an attachment or otherwise. Should the unit test or quiz not be completed during the dates listed in the course outline and calendar, the testing window will close and not reopen. If a test or quiz is not taken during the scheduled window of time, the student will receive a zero (“0”) for that evaluation. Technology problems or issues will not be accepted as an excuse; therefore, the student should not wait until the last minute to complete a course requirement: test, quiz, or assignment. Please review the calendar and course schedule for testing dates as well as other important dates including assignments.

Upon missing a test the student will automatically begin with a maximum of 90 points possible. The missed test will be placed in the college Testing Center on the campus that corresponds with the section in which the student is currently enrolled. Every effort will be made to place the missed test in the appropriate Testing Center no later than the afternoon of the original testing date; however, all testing is by appointment only. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to schedule an appointment to makeup the missed test with the personnel at the appropriate Testing Center. Should the Testing Center be unable to schedule the student for the test within the timeframe displayed below, then the student will not be penalized; however, the inability to schedule an appointment to take the test will be verified with Testing Center personnel.

Again, upon the conclusion of the class on the day of the test there will be a late penalty assessed of 10 points. Beginning with the second working day after the test date, if the test is not completed by the student the maximum available points will drop to 80. The test will lose 10 points per day until the fourth (4th) working day after the original test date. On the fourth working 14 day after the original test date, the test will not be accepted and a zero will be recorded. Please, remember the late penalty for makeup tests is over and above the test grade after scoring. In other words, the test will be graded as any other test and then assessed the penalty for being late. An example of the penalty that will be assessed daily for missed tests is as follows:

Test date - Monday If not taken during class time, the maximum possible points will be 90. The first day after test - Tuesday Maximum possible points will be 80. The second day after test - Wednesday Maximum possible points will be 70 The third day after test - Thursday Maximum possible points will be 60 No test will be accepted for credit after the third day listed above. 15