Crime Scene Investigation
Students will identify, secure, and process a mock crime scene. The event will be timed and evaluated according to event guidelines. To encourage students to improve their ability to properly secure, search, diagram, photograph,and document a crime scene.
Dress Code
Competitors shall wear one of the following uniform types; a uniform consistent with current standards in law enforcement patrol (no duty belt), lab coats (matching; slacks, shirt, shoes (no tennis shoes unless solid black) ), or matching jumpsuits.
Teams
- Team Size
- 3
- # Competitors per Team
- Team Limit
- 1
- # Teams per Chapter
Materials
- Photo Identification qt. 1
Reference https://tpsa.info/policies for more information
- All crime scene processing supplies. qt. 1
Policies
- Competitors in this event must be active members of the Texas Public Safety Association and in good standing with the Texas Public Safety Association.
- Competitors must be familiar with and adhere to the Texas Public Safety Association Bylaws and Code of Conduct.
- Plagiarism, copyright violation and falsification of information are prohibited. Any attempt to gain an unfair advantage will not be tolerated. Violation of the code of conduct or bylaws will result in disqualification and revocation of Texas Public Safety Association membership.
- The scenario is a secret topic. Professional ethics demand that competitors DO NOT discuss or reveal the secret topic until after the event has concluded. Violation of the ethics rules will result in disqualification and revocation of Texas Public Safety Association membership.
- Instructions: Two (2) minutes
- First Responding Officer Interview: five (5) minutes
- Crime Scene Processing: Twenty (20) minutes
- Documentation Completion: Ten (10) minutes
- Total Event Time: Thirty-Seven (37) minutes
Procedures
- Competitor(s)/Team(s) will report to their respective event when called for or at a set reporting time.
- Competitor(s)/Team(s) must check in with event management upon arrival and present photo identification for verification.
- Competitor(s)/Team(s) will be directed (by room moderator) into the event room.
- Instructions will be given (by room moderator) to the Competitor(s)/Team(s).
- When the moderator starts the timer and calls “start”, each team will:
Interview the first responding officer and take appropriate field notes.
- Competitors do not have to utilize the entire 5 minutes and may state that they are finished at any time prior to the call of time. The remaining time shall not be added to the Crime Scene Processing portion of the competition.
- To provide a consistent and equal opportunity for all competitors, each team shall utilize the same simulated crime scene and shall receive the same crime scene information from the first responding officer when questioned.Teams who ask detailed, thorough questions will receive more specific information than those who do not.
- The moderator will call “time” when the 5 minute timer sounds.
- The room moderator will set a timer for 20 minutes.
- When the room moderator starts the timer and calls “start”, each team will:
- Process the crime scene
- Package 1 predetermined item of evidence (evidence must be sealed prior to the call of time and before transfer to documentation room. Unsealed evidence shall not be scored or transported.)
- Collect all crime scene documentation materials and prepare to transfer to documentation room. Crime scene tape must be removed prior to the call of time.
- The moderator will call “time” when the 20 minute timer sounds. All competitors must place their hands in the air and back away from their work if not finished.
- The judge shall indicate “DNF” on the scoring rubric if a team has not collected all materials and prepared for room transfer at the call of “time”.
- Competitors who receive a “DNF” shall be scored on an “as is” basis. Zero points will be awarded for incomplete tasks.
- The room moderator shall escort the competitors to the documentation room.
- The room moderator shall set a timer for 10 minutes.
- When the room moderator starts the timer and calls “start”, each team will:
- Complete the required documentation for the crime scene. This includes: Evidence log, Photography log, Crime Scene Sketch, Entry/Exit Log, and Interview/ Crime Scene Notes.
- Submit all required documentation, including camera to the judge for scoring prior to the call of time.
- The room moderator will call “time” when the 10 minute timer sounds. All documents/cameras not submitted to the judge prior to the call for time will not be scored.
- The judge will be provided 5 minutes to score the competitors documentation and delete all photos from the competitors camera. The competitors may remain in the same room during scoring, however score cards may not be visible to the competitors at any time. The judge will not provide feedback to the team during this time.
People
- Judgeqt. 4
- Managerqt. 1
- Moderatorqt. 1
- Actorqt. 1
Supplies
- Mock Crime Scene qt. 1
- Item to be packaged by competitors
# of teams = # of items needed. Provide enough of the same type of item so that unpackaging does not have to be completed between teams. Example: The packaged item is a wine glass. 10 teams = 10 individual wine glasses
- Timer qt. 1
- Rubric/Score Sheets qt. 1
- Writing Utensil qt. 1
Space/Location/Rooms
- Large Classroom or Flex Area Indoor
A classroom or flex area large enough to accommodate a three person team, a judge, moderator, and a crime scene. This area should be secluded and not visible to anyone other than those directly involved in the event.
- Large Classroom or Flex Area Indoor
A classroom or flex area large enough to accommodate a three person team, a judge, and a moderator. This room will need to be close to the Crime Scene location, however competitors shall not be able to view or hear actions taking place in the crime scene room.
Scorecard
This is the Official Scorecard for the event Crime Scene Investigation.
| Event Name |
| Crime Scene Investigation |
| Scoring | Placement |
| Point Based | Highest Score Wins |
| Required Criteria | ||
Disqualification Competitors/Teams must meet the following minimum criteria. Failure to meet criteria will result in disqualification. | ||
| Team Members Must Put On Proper Safety Equipment (Gloves) | ||
| Criteria | Lo | Hi |
First Responding Officer Interview Judge 1 - Practical Exercise | ||
| Team Members Question The First Responding Officer | 0 | 5 |
| Team Ensures That The Search Is Legal | 0 | 1 |
| Team Ensures Ancillary Agencies Have Been Notified (Medical Examiner, Ems, Etc.) | 0 | 5 |
| Team Request Ancillary Agency Response (If Applicable) | 0 | 1 |
Securing the Crime Scene Judge 1 - Practical Exercise | ||
| Entry/ Exit Log Created | 0 | 5 |
| Crime Scene Boundaries Are Clearly/ Properly Established | 0 | 5 |
Crime Scene Search Judge 1 - Practical Exercise | ||
| Preliminary Search Conducted Without Disruption of Evidence/Scene | 0 | 5 |
| Search Pattern Determined And Judge Notified Of Selection | 0 | 1 |
| Thorough Search Conducted: All Pertinent Evidence Found, Flagged, And Documented By Team | 0 | 5 |
Evidence Collection And Packaging Judge 1 - Practical Exercise | ||
| Evidence Item Is Handled Correctly By Collector | 0 | 5 |
| Collected Evidence Is Placed In Proper Container Based On Size And Type Of Evidence | 0 | 5 |
| Evidence Container Is Properly Sealed | 0 | 5 |
Safety / Contamination Control Judge 1 - Practical Exercise | ||
| Team Members Donned New Gloves Between Handling Items Of Evidence | 0 | 5 |
| Evidence Collection Tools Properly Cleaned/ Sanitized Prior To Use | 0 | 5 |
| All Investigative Trash Removed From The Crime Scene | 0 | 1 |
Release Of Crime Scene Judge 1 - Practical Exercise | ||
| Crime Scene Tape Removed And Discarded | 0 | 1 |
Securing The Crime Scene Judge 2 - Documentation | ||
| Entry/ Exit Log Completed | 0 | 5 |
Crime Scene Documentation-Sketch Judge 2 - Documentation | ||
| Crime Scene Sketch Is Legible | 0 | 5 |
| Room/Area Measurements Are Properly Taken And Recorded | 0 | 5 |
| Evidentiary Items Are Placed In Sketch With Necessary Measurements | 0 | 5 |
| Compass Direction (N) Identified On Sketch | 0 | 1 |
| Fixed Reference Points Are Noted | 0 | 5 |
| Legend | 0 | 5 |
| Pertinent Agency/ Case Information Notated On Sketch | 0 | 5 |
Crime Scene Documentation- Photography Judge 2 - Documentation | ||
| Completed Photo Log With Pertinent Agency/Case Information Notated | 0 | 5 |
| 1 Exterior Photograph Of Crime Scene Entrance With Case # Placard | 0 | 5 |
| 1-4 Interior Photographs Showing The Entire Crime Scene W/Overlap | 0 | 5 |
| 1 Mid Range Photograph Of Evidence Item To Be Collected | 0 | 5 |
| 1 Close Up Photograph Of Evidence Item To Be Collected W/Marker And W/O Scale | 0 | 5 |
| 1 Close Up Photograph Of Evidence Item To Be Collected W/Scale | 0 | 5 |
| Photographs Depict Crime Scene And Evidence As It Appeared Upon Arrival Of Investigators (No Evidence Moved Prior To Photographs) | 0 | 5 |
Evidence Collection And Packaging Judge 2 - Documentation | ||
| Evidence Container Is Properly Labeled (All Relevant Case Information Provided) | 0 | 5 |
| Evidence Log Completed | 0 | 5 |
Officer Interview/ Crime Scene Notes Judge 2 - Documentation | ||
| Organized and legible | 0 | 5 |
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