Crime Scene Preservation: What the first responder needs to know

Robyn L. Ragsdale, Ph.D

Crime Laboratory Analyst/Serology-DNA Section

Florida Department of Law Enforcement

1. Crime Scene collection – This section will address the functions of the crime scene technician and how the first responder can perform their job while still protecting the evidence without endangering the victim or risking contamination. Objective: To learn what evidence is of forensic significance, especially DNA evidence.
2. Forensic serology/DNA analysis – This section will give a brief overview of forensic serology and DNA analysis. Objective: To become familiar with what is done with DNA evidence.
3. Contamination issues – This section will address what the first responder needs to know to help prevent contamination of the scene, either from evidence to evidence or from responder to scene (Do you want to be in the DNA database?). Objective: To learn how contamination may occur and how to avoid it.
4. Examples of crime scenes – This section will address some real crime scenes and point out evidence, especially non-traditional evidence, how to avoid contaminating or otherwise disturbing the evidence, and what can be done with the evidence at the crime laboratory.