Chapter 2 – Securing and

Searching the Crime Scene

• Securing and Searching the Crime

Scene
 Securing the Crime Scene
• The first officer arriving on
the scene is responsible for
taking steps to preserve and
protect the area to the
greatest extent possible.
• First priority must be given
to obtaining medical
assistance for those that
need it.
• If possible, medical
personnel should be directed
to an alternate route that will
not disturb the scene and
evidence.
 Securing the
Crime Scene
The first officer must
evaluate a victim’s
condition prior to them
being taken, as well as
record any information
that the victim might be
able to provide about the
case.
Statements made by a
victim at the scene, or on
the way to the hospital,
can be very helpful and
should be written down
for later.
 Securing the Crime Scene
• The officer should call for any backup or
investigative personnel that is required.
• They also must detain any possible suspects or
witnesses still at the scene.
• It is the Officer’s job to ensure that all needed
personnel is at the scene, and that all others
(family, friends, bystanders) are not able to enter
the scene.
• Police barricades and guards should prevent
access to ALL unauthorized personnel.
 Securing the Crime Scene
• A boundary must be established, and should
include the center of the scene, any paths of
entry or exit, and any areas where evidence
may have been discarded or moved to.
• The crime scene can be blocked off using
crime scene tape initially, and Officer’s can
block off areas as they arrive on scene.
• Officers must keep a log of who enters and
exits the scene and what time they do so.
 Surveying the Crime Scene
• The initial survey of the scene is typically
called the walk-through.
• Determine the perpetrator’s path and avoid
that path. Find a safe, alternate way to the
center of the scene, that will not disturb any
evidence.
Surveying the Crime Scene
• The crime scene
investigator will locate
items of evidence and
will photograph and
document these items.
• Fragile evidence may
need to be documented
and collected
immediately in order to
protect it.
• Evidence can be
found on the walls
and ceiling too, not
just right in front of
you.
• Can be found
underneath other
items, inside or
outside.
Think It Through
Surveying the Crime Scene:
Ask the following questions…
• Is the scene indoors or outdoors?
• What is the location (street address if applicable)
of the scene?
• What are the weather or temperature conditions?
• What type of building and neighborhood is the
scene located in?
• Was there any odor detected upon arrival of the
first responder?
• Are doors and windows open or closed, locked or
unlocked?
Surveying the Crime Scene:
Ask the following questions…
• Given the states of windows and doors, what are
possible point of entry and exit?
• Is anything damaged, out of place, or missing? Are
there objects that do not appear to belong there?
• Does an object’s condition suggest that a struggle
took place?
• Are lights or electrical appliances on or off?
• Is food present? Is it in the middle of being
prepared, partially eaten, etc.?
• Does this scene appear to involve violence?
Surveying the Crime Scene:
Ask the following questions…
• What are the contents of any ashtrays and
trash cans at the crime site? Are there tooth
marks or lipstick on cigarette butts?
• What is the state of the bathroom? Are towels
wet or dry? Is the toilet seat up or down?
• Are there any places where the suspect could
have easily and quickly hidden a weapon?
• Is a vehicle nearby? If so, is the engine hot or
cold?
What does all this information
tell you?
 Surveying the Scene
• Pay attention to anything that might
suggest timing of events.
• Look for anything that appears out of
place.
• Notice both the presence and absence
of evidence.
 Maintain the Scene As Is
• Unless safety is a concern, nothing should be
altered at a crime scene.
• Do not change the temperature
• Do not open or close doors or windows, unless a
reason persists. Then it needs to be noted.
• If it is possible to do so, an outdoor scene at
night should be protected, and wait til morning to
process the scene more effectively.
 Avoid Contamination
• Do not contaminate the scene.
• Do not eat food or drink inside of the
scene.
• Do not smoke at the scene.
• Do not move evidence until it has been
properly documented.
• Wear gloves and protective wear as
needed.
Establish a Timeline of Events
 Surveying the Scene:
Establish Timeline
• Is the food in the fridge fresh or old?
• Is there a daily newspaper or mail in the
mailbox? Garbage taken out to the
street?
• Are there any items of evidence that are
fresh? Or appear to be old?
• Is there water running? Or towels that
are wet in the bathroom?
 Surveying the Scene
• Primary Scene - the scene at which the
original incident occurred.
• Secondary Scene - a location that
became part of the crime after the initial
incident. Such as a car that was used to
transfer a body.
 Surveying the Crime Scene:
Assigning Tasks
• Establish a Command Center - a secure site
outside the boundaries of a crime scene
where equipment is stored, tasks are
assigned, and communication occurs.
• The lead investigator assigns tasks after the
initial walk through, including locating
evidence, processing evidence,
photographing the scene, and sketching the
scene.
 Searching the Crime Scene
• The size the and location of the scene will be
the biggest factors used to determine what
pattern will be used to search the scene.
• Whether the scene is indoor or outdoor.
• If there are multiple areas, each area should
be looked at individually.
 Searching the Crime Scene
• Line/Strip Search - a
search method used by
one or two investigators
who walk in straight
lines across the crime
scene.
• Grid Search - a search
method employed by
two or more people who
perform overlapping line
searches, forming a
grid.
 Searching the Crime Scene
• Spiral Search - a
method in which an
investigator moves in
an inward spiral from
the boundary to the
center of the scene, or
outward from the
center.
– Can be difficult to
complete a perfect
circle and evidence
could be missed.
Searching the Crime Scene
• Wheel/Ray Search
- a search method
employed by several
people who move
from the boundary
straight toward the
center, or from the
center straight
outward.
Searching the Crime Scene
• Quadrant/Zone Search
- a search method in
which the crime scene
is divided into smaller
sections and team
members are assigned
to search each section.
Can be subdivided into
smaller sections.
 Locating Evidence
• The purpose of the crime scene search is to
locate evidence. What to search for depends
on the circumstance of the crime: footprints,
weapons, blood, objects touched by the
suspect, trace fibers, and hairs.
• To formulate the best strategy on how to find
evidence, investigators must rely on their
experience.
 Locating Evidence
• Some evidence is more likely based on the
type of crime. Ex:
– toolmarks or a point of entry at a burglary scene
– Weapon if a shooting or stabbing took place
– Injuries during a domestic violence case
– Broken glass or skid marks at a car accident
 Locating Evidence
• Special attention
should be paid to
the body, and the
area(s) surrounding
it.
• All evidence should
be photographed,
marked, and placed
into the crime scene
sketch.
 Locating Evidence
• The search ends when the team determines that all
pertinent evidence has been located to the best of
the team’s ability.
• A final overview or final survey should be done to
ensure that nothing is left behind or missed.
• Ensure that all evidence is packaged and taken, and
that all equipment is removed from the scene.
• Once this has been completed, the scene can be
released to the proper authorities.