Responses to crime scenes vary depending on the size and location of law enforcement agencies. For example, in a small, rural police agency, an officer responding to a crime may fulfill all of the crime scene duties: apprehending offenders (if present), interviewing witnesses, gathering and collecting evidence, and documenting the crime. As the size and location of an agency increases, so does the number of respondents to a crime scene. Specialists such as forensic scientists, agency photographers, and medical examiners may be present, in addition to the patrol officer who initially responded to the scene and the investigator with overall authority of the scene. In the Application Assignment that follows, you further explore the roles and responsibilities of different criminal investigators.

To prepare for this assignment:

View the online video Forensic Science in Action: https://digital.films.com/play/KY2MJH From Crime Scene to Courtroom. Pay attention to the roles of the criminal investigators throughout the film.
Select three criminal investigation roles and consider their similarities and differences.

The assignment (1?2 pages):

Identify the three roles that you selected.
Compare and contrast the roles and responsibilities of the three criminal investigators that you selected.
Explain at least one insight that you had or conclusion you drew about the roles of criminal investigators based on completing this assignment.

The name of the book is Swanson, C. R., Chamelin, N. C., Territo, L., & Taylor, R. W. (2011). Criminal investigation (Laureate Education, Inc. custom ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.