HANDLING THE SCENE OF CRIME OPERATION PROTOCOL OF PNP FORENSIC GROUP: BASIS FOR CAPABILITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
Type
Thesis
Authors
Category
PSOAC
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Publication Year
2023
Abstract
THE CASE
The success and failure of Scene of Crime Operation (SOCO) depends on the knowledge and capability of the SOCO elements in handling the crime scene.
Scene of Crime Operation is a forensic procedure performed by trained personnel of the PNP Forensic Group. This is by the use scientific methods of investigation in processing a crime scene as to documentation, collection and gaining information through the evidence from the crime scene.
The SOCO shall provide forensic expertise to criminal Investigation by preserving, securing, and if need be, by scientifically reconstructing the crime scene for the collection, documentation, and forensic examination of all collected physical evidence with the end in view of establishing fact/s relative to a criminal incident.
Scene of the crime operation is guided with the "Locard's principle" where in every contact leaves a trace in vise versa, therefore contamination has no room in every examination...crime scene must well preserve...evidentiary value of all physical evidence collected must be incontestable in court of law...that is why when you see police line on a crime scene or it reads do not cross the line.
There were alleged verified reports that police officers admitted that some of the PNP personnel are not adhering to standard procedures in the conduct of SOCO when it comes to ensuring the protocols over the crime investigation.
Section 4-8 or the Final Crime Scene Survey stated in the Forensic Group manual says that prior to the final crime scene survey, a vigorous search for hidden evidence shall be conducted. SOCO personnel are also required to discuss the survey jointly with the IOC for completeness of the search, review the documentation to detect unintentional error/s, account for all collected evidence and conduct an inventory of the equipment used before leaving the crime scene.
Aranas (2010) said they also require all SOCO Team Leaders to inform the IOC on the specific types of evidence they have collected as well as their significance to the case; the disposition of the collected pieces of evidence; discuss with the IOC the conduct of future case conference, furnish the IOC a copy of the inventory list of collected evidence: and relinquish the crime scene only after the final survey and documentation is completed.
The order also requires all SOCO teams to avoid leaving trash at the crime scene and in case of temporary cessation of crime scene processing, the scene must be sealed by the SOCO team and secured by the concerned territorial unit. Upon resumption of processing, the concerned SOCO team who sealed the scene shall be the one to reopen the same.
The rules also requires the SOCO and IOC to establish and maintain communication with each other, conduct debriefing and see to it that the release of the crime scene to the owner of the property or to any local person in authority shall be the sole responsibility of the IOC.
Aranas also reiterated the Forensic Group's policy which requires that all SOCO reports, laboratory reports, crime scene photographs or any other related records of processing shall be released only to the requesting party except upon court order.
Aranas said that request from other government offices, family of victims, suspects and their counsels shall not be granted without written directive from the Chief, PNP. It means that all SOCO records shall be treated as evidence subject to the chain of custody. Thus. reproduction of the same other than the required case folder for submission to the Forensic Group headquarters, the PNP-DIDM, prosecution and courts is not allowed.
These issues prompted the researcher to conduct this study on the level of adherence of the Forensic Group Scene of Crime Operation (SOCO) operatives in crime scene protocol operations as assessed by the operatives.
The success and failure of Scene of Crime Operation (SOCO) depends on the knowledge and capability of the SOCO elements in handling the crime scene.
Scene of Crime Operation is a forensic procedure performed by trained personnel of the PNP Forensic Group. This is by the use scientific methods of investigation in processing a crime scene as to documentation, collection and gaining information through the evidence from the crime scene.
The SOCO shall provide forensic expertise to criminal Investigation by preserving, securing, and if need be, by scientifically reconstructing the crime scene for the collection, documentation, and forensic examination of all collected physical evidence with the end in view of establishing fact/s relative to a criminal incident.
Scene of the crime operation is guided with the "Locard's principle" where in every contact leaves a trace in vise versa, therefore contamination has no room in every examination...crime scene must well preserve...evidentiary value of all physical evidence collected must be incontestable in court of law...that is why when you see police line on a crime scene or it reads do not cross the line.
There were alleged verified reports that police officers admitted that some of the PNP personnel are not adhering to standard procedures in the conduct of SOCO when it comes to ensuring the protocols over the crime investigation.
Section 4-8 or the Final Crime Scene Survey stated in the Forensic Group manual says that prior to the final crime scene survey, a vigorous search for hidden evidence shall be conducted. SOCO personnel are also required to discuss the survey jointly with the IOC for completeness of the search, review the documentation to detect unintentional error/s, account for all collected evidence and conduct an inventory of the equipment used before leaving the crime scene.
Aranas (2010) said they also require all SOCO Team Leaders to inform the IOC on the specific types of evidence they have collected as well as their significance to the case; the disposition of the collected pieces of evidence; discuss with the IOC the conduct of future case conference, furnish the IOC a copy of the inventory list of collected evidence: and relinquish the crime scene only after the final survey and documentation is completed.
The order also requires all SOCO teams to avoid leaving trash at the crime scene and in case of temporary cessation of crime scene processing, the scene must be sealed by the SOCO team and secured by the concerned territorial unit. Upon resumption of processing, the concerned SOCO team who sealed the scene shall be the one to reopen the same.
The rules also requires the SOCO and IOC to establish and maintain communication with each other, conduct debriefing and see to it that the release of the crime scene to the owner of the property or to any local person in authority shall be the sole responsibility of the IOC.
Aranas also reiterated the Forensic Group's policy which requires that all SOCO reports, laboratory reports, crime scene photographs or any other related records of processing shall be released only to the requesting party except upon court order.
Aranas said that request from other government offices, family of victims, suspects and their counsels shall not be granted without written directive from the Chief, PNP. It means that all SOCO records shall be treated as evidence subject to the chain of custody. Thus. reproduction of the same other than the required case folder for submission to the Forensic Group headquarters, the PNP-DIDM, prosecution and courts is not allowed.
These issues prompted the researcher to conduct this study on the level of adherence of the Forensic Group Scene of Crime Operation (SOCO) operatives in crime scene protocol operations as assessed by the operatives.
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