Materials and Supplies

• Simulated illegal garbage dump(s)
• Waste paper, pop bottles and cans, objects labeled “bio-hazard”, etc
• Envelopes, bills, letters, prescription containers, etc with names and addresses
• Dumping site—school playground, sports fields, library, hallway, etc
• Colleague(s) to act as violator(s)
• Garbage bags, sandwich or paper bags or envelopes for evidence, markers for labeling evidence
• Surgical/food service gloves
• “Following Procedures” document
• “Incident Report” and “Incident Closure Report” documents
  
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Instructions for Educators

1. Prepare an illegal garbage dump or several dumps depending on whether this will be a large-group or small-group activity.
2. Enlist a colleague or colleagues to act as the dumpers.
3. Invite a guest speaker (police officer, sheriff, highway patrol officer, forensic scientist, or environmental health official) to explain the procedures for conducting an investigation and the importance of following procedures.
4. Another option is to hand out “Following Procedures” and discuss with the students/clients the importance of following procedures.
5. Prepare the students/clients to assume the role of investigators. Explain that garbage is being illegally dumped along the roadways in the county. Illegal dumping of trash has increased since the fees at the county landfill have increased. However, the illegal dumping has created a costly problem. Hazardous materials specialists are called in if it is determined that hazardous materials are present. The cost to mobilize the team and perform the needed tests is at least $2,000 and the taxpayers are paying for the tests, investigations, and clean up.
6. During the investigation have the “investigators” follow safety procedures as well as procedures for gathering evidence. Their goal is to determine who dumped the garbage illegally and properly dispose of hazardous materials. 7. If they are able to determine who dumped the garbage, they must meet with the individual to try to resolve the problem. Have them fill out the “Incident Report”.
8. During the meeting with the violator, the “investigators” will use the “Incident Report” and evidence to try to encourage the violator to clean up the dump or face charges and fines.
9. Once the investigations are completed, have them complete “Thinking about Crime Scene Investigation”.
10. Discuss how interest, abilities, and skills are related to career options and choices.
11. Have the students/clients save the “Crime Scene Investigation” activity in the career portfolios.
12. An optional activity is to have the students/clients, who are interested in this career field, explore occupations related to this activity or the Human Services and Resources field.

Crime Scene Investigation

1. Your goal with this activity will be to investigate an illegal garbage dump to determine the violator and to work out a resolution with the dumper.
2. Dumping of garbage along roadways and in parks and other public places has increased since the fees for using landfills and garbage collection services have increased. However, cleaning up the garbage and hazardous materials is a costly process. The taxpayers from the county are paying for the cleanup. As a result, the local law enforcement agencies have decided to try to determine who the violators are. They are trying to get them to pay for the clean up or to be charged and fined. Your team has been asked to assist with the investigations.
3. First, you will learn about procedures for gathering evidence and being safe. In addition, you will learn about incident reports, dealing with violators, and follow-up reports.
4. Your team will conduct an investigation to try to determine who dumped the garbage. During the investigation you will complete an incident report and gather and store evidence.
5. After the investigation, you will meet will the violator to try to resolve the problem. If the violator will not clean up the dump, the case will be forwarded to the courts for resolution.
6. The final step is to complete the “Incident Closure Report”.
7. After you have completed the investigation, answer the questions below.

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Thinking about Crime Scene Investigation

Save these thoughts in your career portfolio. In the future, review your responses and consider if your interests and preferences have changed. Do you still have the same attitude about the construction design project? What has stayed the same or changed and why?

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Procedures are official steps for doing a job well. Following procedures leads to positive outcomes.

• Protect yourself from making mistakes.
  Protect yourself and coworkers from risk of personal harm.
• Protect yourself and coworkers from lawsuits.
• Solve crimes because the facts are properly recorded.
• Convict more violators.
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Protective service occupations include police officers, detectives, correctional officers, security guards, compliance officers, inspectors, forensic scientists, and firefighters. Each of these occupations has a strong element of risk taking. Following guidelines reduces the opportunity for personal injury.

• Pay attention to the situation and your surroundings.
• Follow safety procedures.
• Use protective equipment.
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• Know what you are looking for. Read the forms and other information before you begin to investigate a case.
• Be careful. You don’t want to disturb possible evidence.
• Label all evidence while you are on the site. The labels will help you remember important information when you prepare your reports.

• Complete the entire form correctly.
• Be sure the evidence is correct and complete.
• Be sure there is sufficient evidence for court to take action.

Date (Month, year, day of week) and Time_________________________________________