This is all the notes needed for the Unit 3 Controlled Assessment (Crime Scene to Courtroom). Includes relevant case examples for each AC and sufficient
... [Show More] detail in order to answer each question. Achieved top grades using these notes.
AC 1.1 - Evaluate the eecveness of the roles of personnel involved in criminal invesgaons. (10
marks)
Crimesceneinves gators
Role:
A crime scene invesgators role is to collect and preserve evidence from the crime scene. They main responsibility is to ensure that the evidence at the scene is not contaminated as s would therefore mean it will not be admissible in court. work together with the police to decide what evidence is vital and decide the best way in order to gather it. They photograph the crime scene as well as any surrounding areas that contain evidence, using the common approach path. Once they have obtained all the evidence, they have to pack and document everything so it is ready to be sent o for analysis by forensic specialists. In addion to this, the may also a"end post mortems and give evidence in court.
E ecveness:
Experse- CSIs are experts in their (eld as they undergo through training and many also have a degree in a science related (eld. This would imply that they have a great deal of experse as they have had the necessary training in order to carry out their role e ecvely.
Availability- CISs are available 24/7 as they work on an on-call basis. This means that they could be called to a crime scene at any me of the day. This is essenal as of course crimes can be commi"ed at any me, and so its important that crime scene invesgators can arrive at the scene quickly in order to obtain evidence before it may be possibly contaminated by factors such as the weather.
Cost- Each CSI gets paid a salary, and so this will therefore incur addional costs to the invesgaon. Other evaluave points:
The samples that CSI’s collect may be a hazard to their health and safety, so these rusks need to be calculated and the appropriate measures taken in order to minimize the risk of harm
The role can be taking a toll on CSI’s mental wellbeing due to the nature of the scenes that they may a"end to
The weather could contaminate the crime scene
They may be able to provide a suspect’s innocence through DNA or (ngerprints tesng.
Case example- Amanda Knox:
Exchange student found dead in her 2at In Italy, friend Knox suspected of murder.
Contaminaon of evidence, failures to document evidence, planted evidence to falsely
incriminate
Strength
CISs may gather evidence that conclusively links suspects to crime scenes and vicms
The evidence may also prove conclusively that a suspect is in fact innocent, e.g., when their
(ngerprints do not match those found by the CSI at the crime scene [Show Less]