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Minerva Medicolegale 2007 June;127(2):63-72

Copyright © 2007 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Crime scene management and investigation in a modern forensic context

Jacobs W., De Leeuw M.

Centre for Forensic Medicine University Hospital Antwerp University of Antwerp Antwerpen, Belgium

Crime scene investigation (CSI) has currently attracted a broad public interest because of several popular TV series. TV fiction, however, does not accurately depict actual CSI reality. CSI is an important and critical step in the forensic analytical process and hence in resolving and gathering material evidence of criminal action. All forensic science starts at the crime scene. Processing a crime scene is far more than just simply collecting items from the crime scene for further analysis and testing in a laboratory. CSI interacts with tactical policing, forensic science and forensic medicine. CSI had recently undergone – and will still undergo – important (r)evolutions. Field testing, miniaturisation, automatisation, computer/satellite technology, and chip technology will bring the conventional forensic laboratory to the crime scene so that forensic intelligence will support tactical intelligence more rapidly. Changes in forensic technology and the way it is applied will definitely influence the way the crime scene investigator works “at the scene”. The relationship between forensic users and providers is due to change in the near future. Managing the relationship between forensic users and providers and providing forensic results with a high standard of quality assurance/control of the forensic analysis process will be critical in bringing the efforts made at the crime scene – where it all starts – with success to the court and to avoid miscarriages of justice.