First Unit Responder: A Guide to Physical Evidence Collection for Patrol Officers is a training guide and reference
for patrol officers and criminal investigators, who conduct preliminary investigations of crime scenes, to aid
in identification, collection, and booking of physical evidence. Written by a veteran of 24 years of law enforcement,
the book stresses the importance of understanding the critical nature of physical evidence and preservation of
the crime scene as part of the case against a criminal defendant. This book is an important tool for police academies
that train recruits and veteran patrol officers, as well as for students of criminal justice who seek guidelines
for proper collection and handling of physical evidence.
Table of Contents
Role of the First Unit Responder
Defining Physical Evidence
Importance of Physical Evidence
Characteristics of Evidence
Review
Test Questions and Answers
The First Unit Responder and the Crime Scene
"The Process" of Acronym "ARISN" When Handling a Crime Scene
Maintaining the Integrity of the Scene
Major/Non-Major Scenes Defined
Indoor/Outdoor Scenes
Death Case Observations
Review
Test Questions and Answers
Identifying and Documenting the Evidence
Categories and Types of Evidence
Uses of Physical Evidence
Chain of Custody
Documenting the Evidence
Photographs
Sketches
Collecting the Evidence
Most Commonly Encountered Evidence and Packaging
Clothing, Hair, Fibers
Firearms
Bullets and Cartridge Casings
Gunshot Residue
Other Weapons
Questioned Documents
Money
Jewelry
Chemical Evidence
Suspected Drugs/Narcotics
Miscellaneous Items
Latent Fingerprints - A.F.I.S.
Blood
Vehicles
Review
Test Questions and Answers
Fingerprints and the Crime
Victim Interaction
Categories of Fingerprints
Latent
Known
Plastic
Patent
Identifiable vs. Usable Latents
A.F.I.S. Quality Latents
Determining Likelihood of the Presence of Latents
Hand Covering during the Crime
Point of Entry (POE)
Latent Fingerprint Collection
Latent Fingerprint Development Techniques
Review
Test Questions and Answers
Case Preparation/Courtroom Testimony
Case Review by Officer
Direct Examination
A.D.A. Conference
Rules of Discovery
Court Attire
Stages of Court Appearance
Introduction
Body/Introduction of Evidence
DIrect/Cross Examination
Closing/Rebuttal
Follow-Up by Officer
