The Seven S's of Crime Scene Evidence

a location other than where the crime took place, but is in some way related to the crime and where evidence is found

• crime scene

• primary crime scene

• secondary crime scene

• class evidence

a written record of all people who have had possession of an item of evidence

• control sample

• chain of custody

• class evidence

• first responder

any place where evidence may be located to help explain events

• crime scene

• individual evidence

• secondary crime scene

• trace evidence

material that comes from a proven or known source

• collusion

• crime scene

• chain of custody

• control sample

small but measurable amounts of physical or biological material found at a crime scene

• individual evidence

• trace evidence

• direct evidence

• class evidence

the first police officer to arrive at a crime scene

• first responder

• district attorney

• suspect

• witness

the location where the crime took place

• primary crime scene

• secondary crime scene

• victim's home

• police station

there is always a cross transfer of evidence between a suspect and victim or locale

• chain of custody

• Lockard Exchange Principle

• District attorney

• class evidence

when a witness or suspect creates a story of what happened at a crime

• collusion

• cross-contamination

• separate the witnesses

• district attorney

Most wrongful convictions seem to be the result of:

• improper evidence collection

• faulty eyewitness testimony

• contamination of evidence

• out of date investigating equipment