Interagency Study of Crime Scene Investigation Using Virtual Reality.

To facilitate the development of standards for crime scene investigation (CSI) and to improve the field of forensic science, RTI International conducted a national interagency comparison study on crime scene (CS) processing using virtual reality (VR) scene recreations. The study assessed participants’ performance in CS processing across a variety of individual and agency characteristics. A total of 163 participants completed a sexual assault scene, with 92 of which completing a second scene: overdose or assault. Study findings indicated that prior experience with VR was not necessary to use its capabilities regarding simulated CS processing. Out of the processing variables assessed, swabbing DNA samples, glove use, and number of photos taken had the most significant distributions across the characteristics assessed, indicating these skills may have the biggest variability across crime scene teams or are the most different in the virtual space. Although certain regions performed better than others in certain areas, on the whole larger crime scene units, CSI primary function, more CSI experience, and more scenes worked exhibited better performance. Those at agencies with forensic accreditation demonstrated better performance across all three scenes with regards to glove use. There was a lot of positive feedback regarding processing scenes in the virtual world including being time-efficient, relatively low-cost, and easy-to-use; however, VR is not suitable for all people due to the potential for motion sickness and headaches, and there are some limitations to the technology with regards to demonstrating CSI skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]