In every crime scene there is evidence and evidence is the vital part of crime scene investigation. From the moment an officer arrives on the scene until the offender is convicted, evidence is the key element in determining the guilt or innocence of the accused. A poorly conducted crime scene investigation can sometimes destroy evidence or render it unusable. The possibility of contaminated evidence, mishandled evidence, or a lack of evidence means that the perpetrator may be freed or the wrongdoer convicted. When someone is wrongly convicted or acquitted, it has a negative effect on the entire criminal justice system. Evidence can range from bodily fluids, to weapons, to witnesses and DNA. The key is to understand and implement the correct logistics of crime evidence and the correct use of forensic technology. Evidence cannot only establish the facts of a crime and identify the perpetrator; it could even lead to a conviction. A crime scene investigator must first approach the crime scene as if it were his only opportunity to secure and recover physical evidence. There are special techniques and tools that crime scene investigators use to recover, preserve, and label all types of evidence (see Appendix A for crime scene equipment lists). The general protocol for crime scene investigation, processing, and analysis involves five basic steps: interview, examination, photography, sketch, and process (Berg, 2008). When you look at the crime scene you need to look at it with fresh eyes and without a prejudicial opinion about what happened, how it happened or who might have done it. A conclusion may be based solely on the evidence and therefore on the integrity and judgment of an investigator, gathering the evidence, perhaps what stands between a conviction and a dis… middle of paper… National Institute of Justice. (2007, October). Forensic databases: paint, shoe prints and beyond. Retrieved March 3, 2012, from NIJ Journal no. 258: http://www.nij.gov/journals/258/forensic-databases.htmlNorth Carolina General Assembly. (n.d.). Admissibility of forensic evidence. Retrieved March 5, 2012, from Article 7 C .8 58.20: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_8/GS_8-58.20.htmlNorth Carolina General Assembly. (n.d.). Article 1 of the evidence code. Retrieved March 5, 2012, from Chapter 8c-1.: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByChapter/Chapter_8C.pdfNorth Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. (2010, January). Test guide. Retrieved March 9, 2012, from http://www.iape.org/manuals/No%20Carolina%20Evidence%20Guide%20(2010).pdfSiegel, L.J. (2011). Criminal justice. Belmont: Wadsworth.