locards


 -no page min. or max

Explain Locard’s Exchange Principle and its relevance to the collection of evidence pertaining to a suspicious death.  With consideration to Locard’s principle, what precautions must the death investigator take when investigating a death scene? What is the purpose of bagging hands and/or feet of the decedent? In what type of cases should the hands and/or feet of the decedent be bagged? Is it also advisable to bag the entire body, and if so, in what type of cases? Explain and justify your choices.

2. Research and explain at least three types of post mortem changes that you might encounter when you respond to a death scene. Explain the type of information that might be gained from each type, and what challenges exist in the recovery of the evidence as a result of the change.