UPCOMING FIR WEBINAR SERIES www.aspcapro.org/fir 1:00 2:30 pm EST, Tuesdays AnimalFighting: Investigating and Prosecuting Bloodsports (8/21) Emergency Sheltering and Veterinary Forensics (9/04) Field Sheltering and Temporary Shelters (9/18) Past sessions have been recorded and posted on ASPCApro.org/firorg/fir WANT TO JOIN THE FIR VOLUNTEER TEAM? 1. Complete the full 8 part FIR webinar series Attend live sessions and/or watch recordings 2. Pass post webinar quizzes. A quiz will open on your computer at the conclusion of today s webinar. It will include instructions on how to save your passing results proof for your volunteer application. 3. A FIR volunteer application is available on ASPCApro.org/fir 1
WARNING. During this presentation there may be photographs of injured, abused, and deceased animals. Animal Cruelty Investigations: Crime Scenes and Evidence Collection 2
Kathryn Destreza Director of Investigations, FIR ASPCA ANIMAL CRUELTY Neglect Intentional Abuse Severe, Wanton or Cruel Neglect Animal Hoarding Organized Abuse Ritualized Abuse Animal Sexual Assault 3
ANIMAL CRUELTY IS A CRIME HOW IS IT SIMILAR TO OTHER CRIMES? Victim Is unable to speak for themselves Is a piece of evidence in the criminal case As Evidence Handled as evidence Autopsy = Necropsy Medical examination How Is Animal Cruelty Similar? KNOWING IT IS SIMILAR Crime Scene Most likely is the animal s living environment Should also be documented as a crime scene Photographs Video Sketch Can contain forensic evidence: Blood Spatter DNA Trace Evidence Chain Of Evidence must be maintained 4
STEPS FOR SUCCESS Investigation Probable Cause Search/Seizure Warrant Evidence Collection Successful Case Outcome Law Enforcement Prosecutors Successful Case Cruelty Investigators & ACO s Veterinarians 5
INVESTIGATION Be familiar with the cruelty statutes and other pertinent laws Understand the elements of the crime Follow the information Witness statements Notes!!!! Information > Probable Cause? Yes = Warrant Investigation Provides Needed Information Animals What Species? How Many? Deceased? Medical Considerations? Behavior? Forensics? 6
Animals As Evidence Alive Deceased Animals As Eid Evidence Multiple Animals Individual 7
BEGIN TO PREPARE Resources Personnel Evidence team Medical team Animal Handling team Transport Team Shelter Supplies Transport Time WARRANT Animals: Born, unborn Live or deceased Above or below ground Curtilage Any and all buildings/structures Vehicles Animals are not the only evidence Medications Animals records Receipts of sale Veterinary Computers Cameras and Videos Digital Film VHS 8
Initial Scene Assessment Walkthrough Arrival on Scene Identification Documentation Collection Triage for Medical Emergencies SCENE ASSESSMENT Obvious Safety Hazards Secure loose animals Overall photos: capturing the scene as investigators find it Photographer and Scribe Videographer 9
Consists of: Investigator Evidence Team Safety Veterinarian Sketch Team WALKTHROUGH Identifies layout and how the scene will be processed. Identifies safety hazards Identifies the flow - how animals will be labeled then removed Vet can identify emergencies and exam priorities 10
TRIAGE Identifies animals that need emergency care Document in their environment prior to removal May go off scene or be triaged onsite Medical Records/Photos DOCUMENTATION Four methods are used to document the scene 1 Photography 1. Photography Overall Midrange Close-up 2. Videography Real time documentation 3. Sketch Places the evidence in the scene Shows relationship to other key pieces Shows measurements 4. Notes 11
SKETCH Preserve the location of evidence on the scene Provides an overall view of the scene Particularly useful with multiple animals housed in different areas Within the scope of the warrant Systematic search of buildings and grounds Size of crime scene Number of people Evidence is identified Evidence Tents Evidence flags Do not move evidence! SEARCH/EVIDENCE IDENTIFICATION 12
COLLECTION AND PACKAGING Collection and packaging avoids contamination Collection Use common sense Wear gloves Use correct containers for item of evidence id Packaging Package separately No recycling Seal, label and sign to prevent tampering Evidence Log & Evidence Receipt Form Maintains chain of evidence Maintains chain of evidence Ensures the evidence collected at the scene is the same as presented in court 13
Crime Scene Shelter Chain Of Evidence Transport Medical Exam Labeling the Environment Assigning Unique ID numbers Intake/Inventory Removal (Live and Deceased) Documentation Photos Inventory Forms 14
INVENTORY/INTAKE BEGINS Building/Room/Cage/ Space is assigned a # prior to the animal being removed or the living conditions changed ged(adding food/water) The animal is documented in the environment A i l i th Animal is then removed for Intake/Inventory 15
INTAKE/INVENTORY PROCESS Each animal is given a unique ID # and tagged with that # One identification picture is taken Photo board used to capture necessary information. ANIMAL ID NUMBERS C 14 A 20 ROOM LETTER BUILDING LETTER CAGE NUMBER UNIQUE ID # 16
What it looks like DOCUMENTATION OF ANIMAL INVENTORY Will be a record of the property removed Genuine # of animals Chain of evidence 17
DOCUMENTING THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT Once removed the environment is fully documented as evidence DECEASED ANIMALS Documented as evidence Photographed before altering environment Assigned an evidence # - NOT an intake # Will be on scene sketch Animals deceased at scene, euthanized as a result of their condition or that subsequently die should be sent for necropsy. 18
EXCAVATION OF BURIAL SITES Proper expertise Special equipment Takes time Emergency Temporary Shelter Transport Safety Security 19
Appropriate for species Safety Distance Environmental Factors Security? Transport carrier identified with animal # Load Master ensures each animal is documented 20
TRANSPORT MANIFEST Records every animal placed on vehicle Documents: Animal ID# Breed Color # of Young Any comments or additional information Records origin and the time driver leaves Records destination and the time of arrival Additional Photographs Collecting Physical Evidence Medical Exams General Medical Exam Treatment Body Condition Scoring 21
PHYSICAL EXAMS General Medical Exam BCS Collects Physical Evidence Treatment Outlined Intake Vaccinations LIVE ANIMAL PHOTOGRAPHY 5 views: Front Both sides Rear Top Distant, mid-range, close-up for areas of interest One camera per exam table Download when full 22
CASE BOARD First Photo indicates that all following photographs are this animal FRONT VIEW 23
LEFT VIEW RIGHT VIEW REAR VIEW 24
TOP VIEW Physical evidence on the animal is photographed Evidence collected from animal is packaged and sealed 25
MEDICAL EXAM FORMS Daily Care Ongoing Medical Treatment Shelter Security Euthanasia 26
May be sheltered long term On going evidence collection Document changes Photography Videography DAILY INVENTORY Evidence is documented in its place daily Updated as needed/changed 27
OBSERVATION FORMS Track daily changes in live evidence Questions? 28
Kathryn Destreza Director of Investigations Field Investigations and Response ASPCA kathryn.destreza@aspca.org UPCOMING FIR WEBINAR SERIES www.aspcapro.org/fir 1:00 2:30 pm EST, Tuesdays AnimalFighting: Investigating and Prosecuting Bloodsports (8/21) Emergency Sheltering and Veterinary Forensics (9/04) Field Sheltering and Temporary Shelters (9/18) Past sessions have been recorded and posted on ASPCApro.org/firorg/fir 29