Question

Who catalogues evidence found on the crime scene and documents it before it is sent to the lab?

Option 1: the first officer to arrive
Option 2: the crime scene investigator
Option 3: the catalographer
Option 4: the photographer

Answer 1

The crime scene investigator is responsible for cataloguing and documenting evidence at a crime scene before it is sent to the lab for analysis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The individual responsible for cataloguing evidence found at a crime scene and documenting this evidence before it is sent to the laboratory is the crime scene investigator (Option 2). The first officer to arrive secures the scene and ensures safety, but does not catalogue the evidence. The term 'catalographer' does not specifically refer to a role within crime scene processing. While a photographer may capture images of the evidence and the scene, the role of cataloguing and documenting the evidence in detail for forensic analysis is carried out by the crime scene investigator. This process is crucial as the evidence collected needs to be carefully recorded and preserved for the forensic scientists to analyze, much like a scientist in a lab collecting and analyzing measurements to build a theory. Moreover, once collected and analyzed, forensic scientists, such as those analyzing DNA, may need to present their findings in court as part of their professional duties.