01.05 Crime Scene Security, Assessment, And Examination

Crime Scene Preservation

The act of protecting and maintaining a crime scene to prevent contamination and allow for accurate evidence collection.

Responsibilities of Responding Officers

To secure the crime scene, provide medical assistance, take notes of observations, and collect witness statements.

Crime Scene Documentation

Recording the details of a crime scene through photography, videography, and sketches for investigative and judicial purposes.

Photography in Crime Scenes

A method of documenting a crime scene that captures the scene's conditions and evidence orientation.

Rough Sketch

An initial sketch created at the crime scene, detailing the layout and evidence locations, not usually drawn to scale.

Finished or Scale Sketch

A final, accurately scaled and detailed representation of the crime scene used for formal documentation.

Videography of Crime Scene

The process of recording a crime scene on video to provide an overview and additional evidence documentation.

Grid Search Pattern

A systematic method of searching a crime scene where investigators divide the area into a grid to ensure thorough coverage.

Zone Search

A method of comparing an item of evidence with a known reference sample to determine its origin or characteristic similarity.