Investigating a Crime Scene

Understand how forensic science is used in the criminal justice system.

Indicative Content

Learners should be able to state the role of the Forensic Science Service in the criminal justice system, possibly through research. They should describe how different types of evidence are used in forensic investigation, for example, blood, fingerprints, fibres etc. Learners could explain the different types of evidence used in obtaining convictions and go on to evaluate the usefulness of different types of evidence in obtaining convictions.

Assessment Criteria

• 1.1
  State the role of the Forensic Science Service in the criminal justice system.
  
• 1.2
  Describe how different types of evidence are used in forensic investigation.
  

Be able to process information at a crime scene.

Indicative Content

Learners should plan the processing of a simulated crime scene, including an assessment of the potential health and safety risks. The crime scene could be straightforward, such as a forged cheque or more complex in the analyses needed, such as a theft including clothing fibres, fingerprints etc. They should describe the most appropriate methods to ensure reliable evidence is collected, recorded and preserved from a crime scene. Then, learners should collect and identify different types of evidence from the simulated crime scene.

Learners could describe how errors can occur when processing a crime scene, such as mislabelling or moving evidence, and describe how errors can occur when transporting evidence to the laboratory for further analysis, for example if containers are open etc. They could go on to describe ways to avoid potential errors in collecting evidence at a crime scene and explain the procedures used to minimize errors as the evidence is transported to the laboratory for further analysis.

Assessment Criteria

• 2.1
  Plan the processing of a simulated crime scene, including an assessment of the potential health and safety risks.
  
• 2.2
  Describe the most appropriate methods to ensure reliable evidence is collected, recorded and preserved from a crime scene.
  
• 2.3
  Collect and identify different types of evidence from the simulated crime scene.
  

Be able to use appropriate scientific techniques to analyse evidence which has been collected from a crime scene.

Indicative Content

Learners should be able to identify simple scientific techniques which can be used to analyse evidence and use these to analyse different types of evidence from the simulated crime scene. They should record the results of the analyses of evidence and present the results. Learners could explain how the evidence collected is processed and analysed in a laboratory. They could also link their conclusions from analyses of different types of evidence and describe the conclusions drawn from the investigation as a court statement. Learners could go on to draw evidence-based conclusions, from the results of the various tests carried out and justify their conclusions as a court statement.

Assessment Criteria

• 3.1
  Identify simple scientific techniques which can be used to analyse evidence.
  
• 3.2
  Analyse different types of evidence from a crime scene.
  
• 3.3
  Record the results of the analyses of evidence.
  
• 3.4
  Present the results of the analyses of evidence.