Television shows, in particular CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, have captured the attention of the majority of Americans. As a consequence of these shows, the "CSI effect" has evolved. The CSI effect primarily occurs when people watch crime or law related shows resulting in them gaining an unrealistic expectation of what they think should occur in real trials. This is a concern for prospective jurors who take part in criminal trials. This thesis will reveal how the CSI effect has swept the nation. A large part of this study will be devoted to illustrating how the CSI effect has had an impact on jurors, criminals and the American court system. This thesis will shed light on how television has the power to alter a juror's mind, even if it is a decision that could completely change the defendant's life. This thesis will also examine how legal professionals have strategically begun to mention the CSI effect during their trials in court. Nowadays, it is an ordinary procedure for attorneys, during voir dire, to question prospective jurors about their television viewing habits, as it pertains to CSI. This study will also examine how the producers of CSI discount the effect in its entirety. The creators believe that their creation has been a helpful milestone in the evolution of our criminal justice system.

The aim of this descriptive research was to determine the methods of case linkage (methods to link murder cases to each other as well as to link the murder series to one offender) employed by the South African Police Service (SAPS) to investigate serial murder in South Africa and to comprehensively explain them. A qualitative approach was employed with a multi-method data collection process which included case study, interviews and literature review in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the subject. The methods of case linkage are explained within three phases of a serial murder investigation: the identification phase, the investigation and apprehension phase, and the trial and sentencing phase. The main findings of the study revealed the need for further training of the SAPS members and the need for a Standing Operating Procedure to be implemented to specifically govern the system of investigation for a serial murder case. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Criminology)

A crime scene is a vital part of an investigation. There are however, depending on the situation and crime, issues connected to physically being at the scene; risk of contamination, destruction of evidence or other issues can hinder the criminal investigators to stay, visit or revisit the scene. It is therefore important to visually capture the crime scene and any possible evidence in order to aid the investigation. This thesis aims to, with an initial research question, map out the main visual documentation needs, wishes and challenges that criminal investigators face during an investigation. In addition, with a second research question, it aims to address these in a Virtual Reality (VR) design and, with a third research question, explore however other professions in the investigation process could benefit from it. This was conducted through a literature review, interviews, workshops and iterations with the approach of the Double Diamond Model of Design. The results from the interviews were thematically analyzed and ultimately summarized into five key themes. These, together with various design criteria and principals, acted as design guidelines when creating a high fidelity VR design. The first two research questions were presented through the key themes and the VR design. The results of the third research question indicated that, besides criminal investigators, both prosecutors and criminal scene investigators may benefit from a VR design, although in different ways. A VR design can, in conclusion, address the needs, wishes and challenges of criminal investigators by being developed as a compiled visualization and collaboration tool. / En brottsplats är en vital del av en brottsundersökning. Det finns emellertid, beroende på situation och brott, problem som är kopplade till att fysiskt befinna sig på brottsplatsen. Risk för kontamination, förstörelse av bevis eller andra problem kan hindra brottsutredarna att stanna, besöka eller återvända till brottsplatsen. Det är därför viktigt att visuellt dokumentara brottsplatsen och eventuella bevis för att bistå utredningen. Detta masterarbete ämnar att, med en första forskningsfråga, kartlägga de viktigaste behoven, önskemålen och utmaningarna gällande visuell dokumentation, som brottsutredare möter under en utredning. Vidare ämnar projektet att, med en andra forskningsfråga, möta dessa i en Virtuell Verklighet (VR) -design och, med en tredje forskningsfråga, undersöka hur andra yrkesgrupper i en utredningsprocess skulle kunna dra nytta av den. Detta genomfördes genom en litteraturstudie, intervjuer, workshops och iterationer grundat i tillvägagångssättet Double Diamond Model of Design. Resultaten från intervjuerna analyserades tematiskt och sammanfattades i fem huvudteman. Dessa teman, tillsammans med olika designkriterier och principer, agerade designriktlinjer vid skapandet av en high-fidelity VR-design. De två första frågorna presenterades genom nyckeltemana och VR-designen. Resultaten gällande den tredje forskningsfrågan visar att, utöver brottsutredare, både åklagare och kriminaltekniker kan dra nytta av en VR-design, även om på olika vis. Sammanfattningsvis kan en VRdesign möta utredarnas behov, önskemål och utmaningar gällande visuell dokumentation genom att utvecklas som ett kompilerat visualiserings- och samarbetsverktyg.

In contemporary crime drama there has been a shift of main character from the forensic scientist to the consultant. This put the representation of knowledge in a different light. In this study the focus is on how, and what kind of cognitive processes and knowledge are represented in two crime dramas with consultants as main characters; CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Sherlock. Basing the analysis on concepts of cognitive processes and knowledge, it becomes evident that due to the shift in main character the representation of knowledge also has changed; from an institutionalized and science based view on knowledge to the legitimization of a personal, uncritical and fast way of gathering knowledge.

This diploma thesis is focused on the topic from the field of forensic psychology, mainly on the relationship between the personality of criminal offender and its reflection in the commission of crime. The theoretical part deals with the analysis of crime scene and crime scene investigation from the perspective of criminalistics with an overlap to other parts of forensic psychology. It also involves the typology of organized and disorganized offender and description of their personalities and behavior at the crime scene, specifically the issue of the characteristics of the modus operandi of murder in relation to the crime scene is classified. Attention is also paid to the forensic medical issues, injuries of the victim, from the point of view of forensic psychology. Last chapter of the theoretical part is focused on offender's personality, especially potential psychopathology. The empiric part is focused on searching for the relationships between personality variables of the offender and the way how the violent crime (murder) was committed. The research based on analysis of evidence and psychologists - experts testimony revealed particular connections and the data from the analyzed sample (of 40 crimes) refer in particular to the disorganized offender and behavior at the crime scene.

Crime Scene Investigation offers an innovative approach to learning about crime scene investigation, taking the reader from the first response on the crime scene to documenting crime scene evidence and preparing evidence for courtroom presentation. It includes topics not normally covered in other texts, such as forensic anthropology and pathology, arson and explosives, and the electronic crime scene. Numerous photographs and illustrations complement text material, and a chapter-by-chapter fictional narrative also provides the reader with a qualitative dimension of the crime scene experience. / https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu_books/1085/thumbnail.jpg

Swedish national statistics suggest that the number of reported stranger rapes is steadily increasing. Stranger rape is one of the most difficult types of crime for the police to investigate because there is no natural tie between the victim and offender. As a result, there is a need for more knowledge about how crime scene features could be used to make inferences of likely offender characteristics that could help investigators narrow down the pool of suspects. The aim in Study I was to examine how offender behaviors interact with contextual features, victim behaviors, and the assault outcome. Results suggest that the stranger rapes could be distinguished by five different dynamic rape pattern themes, which mainly differed on two dimensions: level of violence to control the victim, and level of impulsivity/premeditation characterizing the rapes. The results also highlight the importance of including contextual features when studying offender behaviors. The aim in Study II was to examine how single-victim rapists and serial rapists can be differentiated by the actions at their first stranger rape. Results suggest that three behaviors in conjunction: kissed victim, controlled victim, and offender drank alcohol before the offense, could be used to predict whether the offender was a single-victim rapist or serial rapist with a classification accuracy of 80.4 %. The aim in Study III was to examine how stranger rapists could be differentiated from a normative sample on background characteristics, and if stranger rapists’ pre-assault and initial-attack behaviors could be used to predict likely offender characteristics. Results showed that the strongest predictions could be made for previous criminal convictions, offender age, and the distance traveled by the offender to offend. Overall, the present thesis has found some scientific support for the use of crime scene behaviors to make inferences of likely offender characteristics that could be useful for profiling purposes. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 1: Submitted. Paper 3: Submitted.</p>

A First Responding Officer plays a significant role at the crime scene. Failure to handle the crime scene in accordance with official directives such as the South African Police Service National Instruction 1 of 2015 and National Crime Combatting Forum Instruction 10 of 2015, which are regarded as guiding tools for the successful administration of a crime scene, may jeopardize a case. The crime scene is also regarded as the primary source of information that can assist the investigation. When the crime scene is handled in accordance with the SAPS official directives, the suspects can be more readily identified. Furthermore, the investigation can be concluded successfully whereby it may be beneficial for the community. / Mohlankedi wa maphodisa wa mathomo yo a fihlago lefelong la bosenyi o raloka tema ye bohlokwa fao tiragalong ya bosenyi. Go palelwa ke go laola tiragalo yeo ya bosenyi ka go latela ditaelo tsa semmuso tsa go swana le Taelo ya Bosetshaba ya bo 1 ya 2015 ya Tirelo ya Maphodisa ya Afrika Borwa (SAPS) le Taelo ya Bosetshaba ya bo 10 ya Seboka sa go Lwantsha Bosenyi ya 2015, e lego tseo di bonwago bjalo ka ditlabelo tseo di hlahlago maphodisa go laola tiragalo ya bosenyi ka katlego, go ka senya molato. Lefelo la bosenyi le lona le bonwa bjalo ka mothopo o bohlokwa wa tshedimoso wo o ka thusago dinyakisiso. Ge lefelo la bosenyi le ka laolwa go latela ditaelo tsa semmuso tsa SAPS, bagononelwa ba ka utollwa gabonolo. Godimo ga fao, dinyakisiso di ka phethwa ka katlego fao e lego gore se se ka hola setshaba. / Motlhankedi yo o tsibogang la ntlha o na le seabe sa botlhokwa kwa lefelong la bosenyi. Go retelelwa ke go diragatsa mo lefelong la bosenyi go ya ka dikaelo tsa semmuso di tshwana le Taelo ya Bosetshaba ya bo1 ya 2015 ya Tirelo ya Sepodisi sa Aforikaborwa (SAPS) le Taelo ya bo 10 ya 2015 ya Foramo ya Bosetshaba ya Twantsho ya Bosenyi, tse di tsewang e le didiriswa tsa kaelo tsa tsamaiso e e atlegileng ya lefelo la bosenyi, go ka nna matshosetsi mo kgetsing. Gape lefelo la bosenyi le tsewa e le motswedi wa ntlha wa tshedimosetso o o ka thusang ka dipatlisiso. Fa tiragatso ya mo lefelong la bosenyi e dirwa go ya ka dikaelo tsa semmuso tsa SAPS, go ka supiwa babelaelwa ka bonako. Mo godimo ga moo, dipatlisiso di ka konosediwa ka katlego mme seo se ka nna mosola mo baaging. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

It is said that "one picture is worth a thousand words". This implies that pictorial testimony has more value than ten witnesses. The witnesses may give different views on the same issue, and, furthermore, they may forget some of the facts. Due to human error, omission, and defects such as old age and sight problems, they are contributing factors for people to give different accounts of the same events. The study entails the various roles of photography, such as recording the crime scene and that photography is considered as evidence in court. Investigators may use them for both suspects' and witnesses' interviewing. Furthermore, witnesses and victims may use them to refresh their memories, and the court uses them to prove the matter at issue. This indicates that photographs have a major role to play in the judicial and investigation processes. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

The process of investigation, which begins when a crime is reported and ends after a suspect has been convicted or discharged by a court of law, is a mammoth task which requires cooperation between various stakeholders, such as investigators and prosecutors. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of the specialised commercial crime investigators in the prosecution process. The study evaluated and explored the status of the current roles played by these investigators with the intention of recommending changes that could improve investigator practice. Two research questions were posed. First, the researcher endeavoured to find answers to a question regarding what the prosecution process entails. Secondly, the researcher sought to establish the roles of the specialised commercial crime investigator in the prosecution process. It was envisaged that the answers to these questions could be obtained from specialised commercial crime investigators and prosecutors deployed in the commercial crimes courts. On this basis two samples were chosen, with nine investigators from the Gauteng North office of the Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit and four prosecutors from the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Gauteng North. Some of the findings were that the investigators in trying to fulfil their roles of investigations have an adverse impact on the investigation and successful prosecution of offenders, which in turn lead to recidivism and apathy among the communities being served by the police and the justice system in general. The image of the police, particularly that of the commercial crime investigators, is often negated and the justice system is portrayed as a failure in addressing the problem of crime. The conclusions drawn from the data were that the roles of investigators in the prosecution process are mandatory as they are legislated rather that persuasive and that investigators cannot rely on prosecutors to handle all aspects of investigation once a case has been handed over to the prosecution. Apart from a lack of knowledge about these roles, it was established that some investigators deliberately ignore their roles in this relationship. It is proposed that dedicated training should be afforded to investigators and prosecutors above their existing training, with a focus on how to take part in the prosecution process. Investigators should be informed that their responsibilities in the prosecution process are a result of legislation and that failure to satisfy the legislation will carry adverse consequences for the investigation itself, the prosecution and the other stakeholders. / Criminal and Procedural Law / M.Tech. (Forensic Investigations)