ABSTRACT
Few crimes rely so heavily upon physical evidence as does the crime of rape. In few other cases is the testimony of the victim viewed with as much mistrust by juries, courts, and sometimes even prosecutors and police. It is for this very reason that physical evidence is so important to the investigation and prosecution of this crime. Rape investigation is different from many other major crimes. Unlike homicide, robbery, or assault, the first officer at the crime scene is required to play a much greater part in the collection and preservation of physical evidence. In a murder investigation, the first officer’s responsibilities are to secure the crime scene until the investigators arrive. This is not the case in a rape investigation. The first officer is required to make certain that fragile physical evidence that may be lost during the medical examination or by the victim are collected and preserved.
