Previo a la obtención del título de abogado de los juzgados y tribunales de la república del Ecuador.

Abstract

The crime of contract killing in Ecuador represents an extreme form of premeditated violence, in which a person is hired to murder another. This article aims to analyze police procedures related to the evaluation of crime scenes in cases of contract killings in Ecuador. To achieve this, a descriptive research methodology with a qualitative approach was selected, using a bibliographic-documentary review technique. The main findings indicate that, although there are regulations and protocols for investigating contract killings under the Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code, limitations exist regarding the effectiveness of their implementation. Shortcomings in evidence collection and chain of custody were identified, which complicate the judicial process when linking intellectual and material perpetrators to the crime. Furthermore, a lack of resources and specialized training among investigative teams leads to deficiencies that affect the perception of justice and increase impunity in these cases. The main conclusion highlights that deficiencies in police procedures at the crime scene are related to high levels of impunity in contract killings, as weaknesses in evidence handling allow those responsible to evade justice. This underscores the need for legal and operational reforms to strengthen both crime scene investigation and judicial action to reduce impunity in this crime.