2026 Criminology Unit 3 Notes:
Latest with Summary
Assessment Criteria Overview
1. AC 1.1: Evaluate the effectiveness of the roles of personnel involved in criminal
investigations. (10 marks)
2. AC 1.2: Assess the usefulness of the investigative techniques in criminal
investigations. (20 marks)
3. AC 1.3: Explain how evidence is processed. (6 marks)
4. AC 1.4: Examine the rights of individuals in criminal investigations. (6 marks)
5. AC 2.1: Explain the requirements of the crown prosecution service (CPS) for
prosecuting suspects. (4 marks)
6. AC 2.2: Describe trial processes. (14 marks)
7. AC 2.3: Understand rules in relation to the use of evidence in criminal cases. (14
marks)
8. AC 2.4: Assess key influence affecting the outcomes of criminal cases. (10 marks)
9. AC 2.5: Discuss the use of lay people in criminal cases. (6 marks)
10. AC 3.1: Examine information for validity. (15 marks)
11. AC 3.2: Draw conclusions from information. (15 marks)
AC 1.1 - Evaluate the effectiveness of the roles of personnel
involved in criminal investigations. (10 marks)
Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs)
Role:
A crime scene investigator's role is to collect and preserve evidence from the crime scene.
Their main responsibility is to ensure that the evidence at the scene is not contaminated as
, this would therefore mean it will not be admissible in court. Working together with the
police to decide what evidence is vital and decide the best way in order to gather it. They
photograph the crime scene as well as any surrounding areas that contain evidence, using
the common approach path. Once they have obtained all the evidence, they have to pack
and document everything so it is ready to be sent off for analysis by forensic specialists. In
addition to this, they may also attend post-mortems and give evidence in court.
Effectiveness:
• Expertise: CSIs are experts in their fields as they undergo training and many also
have a degree in a science-related field. This would imply that they have a great deal
of expertise as they have had the necessary training in order to carry out their role
effectively.
• Availability: CSIs are available 24/7 as they work on an on-call basis. This means
that they could be called to a crime scene at any time of the day. This is essential as
many crimes can be committed at any time, and so it is important that crime scene
investigators can arrive at the scene quickly in order to obtain evidence before it
may be possibly contaminated by factors such as the weather.
• Cost: Each CSI gets paid a salary, and so this will therefore incur additional costs to
the investigation.
Other evaluative points:
• The samples that CSIs collect may be a hazard to their health and safety, so these
risks need to be calculated and the appropriate measures taken in order to minimize
the risk of harm.
• The role can be taking a toll on CSI’s mental wellbeing due to the nature of the
scenes that they may attend to.
• The weather could contaminate the crime scene.
• They may be able to provide a suspect’s innocence through DNA or fingerprints
testing.
Case example - Amanda Knox:
• Exchange student found dead in her flat in Italy, friend Knox suspected of murder.
• Contamination of evidence, failures to document evidence, planted evidence to
falsely incriminate.
Strength:
• CSIs may gather evidence that conclusively links suspects to crime scenes and
victims.
Latest with Summary
Assessment Criteria Overview
1. AC 1.1: Evaluate the effectiveness of the roles of personnel involved in criminal
investigations. (10 marks)
2. AC 1.2: Assess the usefulness of the investigative techniques in criminal
investigations. (20 marks)
3. AC 1.3: Explain how evidence is processed. (6 marks)
4. AC 1.4: Examine the rights of individuals in criminal investigations. (6 marks)
5. AC 2.1: Explain the requirements of the crown prosecution service (CPS) for
prosecuting suspects. (4 marks)
6. AC 2.2: Describe trial processes. (14 marks)
7. AC 2.3: Understand rules in relation to the use of evidence in criminal cases. (14
marks)
8. AC 2.4: Assess key influence affecting the outcomes of criminal cases. (10 marks)
9. AC 2.5: Discuss the use of lay people in criminal cases. (6 marks)
10. AC 3.1: Examine information for validity. (15 marks)
11. AC 3.2: Draw conclusions from information. (15 marks)
AC 1.1 - Evaluate the effectiveness of the roles of personnel
involved in criminal investigations. (10 marks)
Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs)
Role:
A crime scene investigator's role is to collect and preserve evidence from the crime scene.
Their main responsibility is to ensure that the evidence at the scene is not contaminated as
, this would therefore mean it will not be admissible in court. Working together with the
police to decide what evidence is vital and decide the best way in order to gather it. They
photograph the crime scene as well as any surrounding areas that contain evidence, using
the common approach path. Once they have obtained all the evidence, they have to pack
and document everything so it is ready to be sent off for analysis by forensic specialists. In
addition to this, they may also attend post-mortems and give evidence in court.
Effectiveness:
• Expertise: CSIs are experts in their fields as they undergo training and many also
have a degree in a science-related field. This would imply that they have a great deal
of expertise as they have had the necessary training in order to carry out their role
effectively.
• Availability: CSIs are available 24/7 as they work on an on-call basis. This means
that they could be called to a crime scene at any time of the day. This is essential as
many crimes can be committed at any time, and so it is important that crime scene
investigators can arrive at the scene quickly in order to obtain evidence before it
may be possibly contaminated by factors such as the weather.
• Cost: Each CSI gets paid a salary, and so this will therefore incur additional costs to
the investigation.
Other evaluative points:
• The samples that CSIs collect may be a hazard to their health and safety, so these
risks need to be calculated and the appropriate measures taken in order to minimize
the risk of harm.
• The role can be taking a toll on CSI’s mental wellbeing due to the nature of the
scenes that they may attend to.
• The weather could contaminate the crime scene.
• They may be able to provide a suspect’s innocence through DNA or fingerprints
testing.
Case example - Amanda Knox:
• Exchange student found dead in her flat in Italy, friend Knox suspected of murder.
• Contamination of evidence, failures to document evidence, planted evidence to
falsely incriminate.
Strength:
• CSIs may gather evidence that conclusively links suspects to crime scenes and
victims.
