Each student will create a crime scene based on the types described in the text and discussed in class. The project consists of three deliverables (“parts”):

Each part is a separate assignment. Please see attached files on examples of what each part should look like.

Part 1: Case Information
To begin, you should identify the major parts of the investigation. Consider this the “5 Ws” of the investigation:

1. Who: Victim(s) and subject(s)
2. What: Type of crime it appears to be based on the initial review or discussion with first officer, as well as the investigation/collection of evidence performed at the scene
3. Where: Location(s) of the crime
4. When: Approximate time the scene was discovered, time you arrived, time officers arrived, time you completed investigation, time you completed your report
5. Why: It is not often the duty of the crime scene technician/investigator to determine why the subject/perpetrator committed the crime; the CST/CSI collects and gathers the evidence so that the detectives can make the determination as to why it occurred.

For Part 1: Case Information, you will submit a brief police report detailing the elements of the crime. You have the option of filling out a report template, or reporting the information in APA-style paragraph format. Sample Case Information docs (report template and paragraph-style information sheet) are available in Doc Sharing.

Each part is a separate assignment. Please see attached files on examples of what each part should look like.

Part 2: Case References

You will be responsible for locating at least four (4) reliable and scholarly references to support the information found in your BYOCS scene. Examples include your textbook, the readings assigned for this course, and scholarly journal articles (such as those in the Journal of Forensic Sciences, Journal of Forensic Identification, and Criminology) available in the Saint Leo Library. If you are having trouble finding scholarly references, contact a librarian to assist you (see the Policies and Information link under Course Home for more information). In addition, you can access reliable websites, such as the FBI (FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin) and other governmental websites.

Finally, you will provide a one- to two-paragraph “summary” of each reference and explain how it relates to your case information. This is known in some academic circles as an “annotated” reference page. You will follow APA-style formatting for this part of the project. A sample Case References doc is available in Doc Sharing.

Each part is a separate assignment. Please see attached files on examples of what each part should look like.

Part 3: Case Report
Once you have determined the initial information in Parts 1 and 2, you will compile it into a report detailing the elements of the crime, to include victim(s), suspect(s), location(s), weapon(s), evidence collected, items to be processed, as well as any other information you believe would be important to the detectives investigating the case. This report should be a minimum of 2000 words.