How to Protect, Preserve & Record a Crime Scene Investigation
Crime scene investigation entails a careful and meticulous search of the scene for clues about what happened and who may have been responsible. It's earned a glamorous reputation thanks to shows like "CSI," but in truth it involves a lot of less-than-glamorous work. A crime scene needs to be preserved to keep eye pieces of evidence intact, and the CSI team needs to identify that evidence from the mountain of incidental details surrounding them.
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Things You'll Need
- Crime scene tape
- Camera
- Sketchbook
- Notepad
- Pencil and paper
- Evidence bags
- Fingerprint kit
- Flashlights
- Rulers
- Measuring tape
- Plaster of Paris
- Chalk or tape
- Magnifying glass
Instructions
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Get to the scene as soon as possible. The more time that passes the more evidence becomes contaminated or destroyed.
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Note the time and date when the first officer arrives, as well as anything that may affect the crime scene, such as weather. Make sure the immediate danger has passed and get medical help to those who need it, then cordon off the area with tape and prevent anyone from entering until the remainder of the CSI team arrives.
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Take photographs of the scene from every possible angle. Include wide shots of the scene as a whole, medium shots detailing entrances and exits, and close-up shots of evidence, like bloodstains. Note the evidence's position within the crime scene and the proper scale of each photo, to better determine the size of the photographed objects.
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Draw sketches of the crime scene, noting measurements of walls, the placement of furniture and the presence of specific clues.
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Perform a slow and methodical search of the crime scene for evidence. This can include fingerprints, mud stains on the floor, cigarette butts in the ash tray or even a book on particle physics in a child's nursery. Anything and everything that might constitute a clue should be noted, gathered and placed carefully in an evidence bag (or similar container) for further analysis. Plaster of Paris can be used to make molds of boot prints, while chalk or tape can mark the location of key evidence that has been removed. Even the ubiquitous magnifying glass can be used to spot details that might otherwise be missed.
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Establish a clear chain of who has possession of a given piece of evidence and where it might be in the process. Label each piece of evidence carefully, and make sure those in possession of it sign it in and out during their examination.
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Tips & Warnings
When examining a crime scene, it pays to take careful notes, either with a pencil and paper or with an audio recorder. That preserves your observations while they're still fresh, allowing you to recall them later when time may have rendered them hazy.
