NCJ Number
200653
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 51 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2003 Pages: 58,60,61
Date Published
May 2003
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article discusses guidelines that police agencies should follow when considering whether to expand their Crime Scene Unit.
Abstract
Many issues should be carefully considered when deciding whether to spend resources expanding a police departments’ Crime Scene Unit (CSI). First, a police department should consider why a CSI unit should be expanded. Are the demands placed on the CSI unit becoming greater? Or is the local population demanding increased CSI services? The expense of adding equipment, personnel, and training should be carefully weighed against the need for the expansion. The authors suggest that only when the legitimate demand for CSI services outweighs the cost of expansion, should CSI expansion be undertaken. Another important aspect of expanding a CSI unit is the personnel and the training that will be required to staff the unit. Personnel who are properly trained are crucial to an efficiently run CSI unit. The authors offer suggestions on where to obtain proper CSI training, such as through a university or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In conclusion, the authors caution police agencies to carefully weigh the costs versus the benefits of expanding the local CSI unit.