These investigators have had some training in how to collect physical evidence, but they look to you for legal guidance, for their legal presence at an arson scene.

You are a member of the Prometheus City Arson Investigations unit. Some of your team members are newly assigned criminal investigators, and they don’t have much experience investigating arson crimes. These investigators have had some training in how to collect physical evidence, but they look to you for legal guidance, for their legal presence at an arson scene. Since your scene is clearly an arson and because arson fires often contain decedents (bodies), there are some legal requirements in terms of starting the crime scene process. You must prepare guidelines for the new investigators, to ensure that they are not violating the law – and to make sure that any evidence that they collect is not legally tainted by their actions at the arson crime scene.

Review unit materials for this assignment.

Assignment Guidelines


Address the following in 3-5 pages:
Describe the crime scene parameters of an arson fire.
Explain how the parameters of the crime scene might be impacted if an explosion occurred.
Identify the role of the fire department personnel and their authority at an arson fire.
What is the authority of the state fire marshal's office or its equivalent? Explain.
What specific responsibilities does this agency have? Explain
Explain to the investigators what role the medical examiner or coroner has when a body is discovered at an arson scene.
Once the crime scene is declared safe by the fire department, under what circumstances can the investigators conduct a search? Explain if a warrant is required or desired.
What is to be done with a warrant if no property owner is available? Explain.
Be sure to reference all sources using APA style.