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What are the steps in crime scene investigation?

The first and most important step in any crime scene investigation is to secure the scene. It sounds easierthan it really is. The scene includes possible witnesses, victims and suspects. Securing the scene includes

keeping unauthorized personnel from cruising through the scene. The most common contaminationresults from police, ems, victims and witnesses. The best thing that can happen to a crime scene once it

has been secured is, nothing.

Once the scene has been secured an interview of victims, witnesses and suspects will provide anoverview of what to expect once inside the crime scene. The first responding officer will provide a lot of

information on what was found upon arrival, what has been touched, moved or removed.

The next step is to "walk through" the scene to get an idea of the nature of the crime, how it wascommitted, point of entry and point of exit. The purpose of the walk through is to determine what needs

to be more closely examined and what evidence may be present.

Once the safest route for traveling through the scene has been determined, it is time to photograph the

scene. Photographs begin with the general to the specific. A picure of the parking area may be thestarting point, with shots of exeterior walk ways leading to the scene following. All enry point to the

scene need be photographed concentrating on the suspected point of entry. The exterior shots shouldpresent a travelogue of how acess to this scene was had. Once the exterior shots have been completed

the interior shots begin. Once again we start with the general before we concern ourselves with thespecific. Rooom entryways, layouts points of access, contents and furnishing provide a panorama of the

enterior and will tell part of the story to the jury of what took place and in what order it happened. T

Once the general pictures have been taken, picutures of evidentiary items are next. All photos should betaken ninty degrees to the surface of the object being photographed. All evidence should be

photographed in place as found first and later with evidentiary markers and if necessary something to

assist in determining the size of the object such as a ruler, pen, coin etc. A photographic log is keptidentifying each picture and the sequence in which it was taken.

Once all photos have been taken it is time to measure and sketch. Every evidentiary item must begeographically located (measured) and sketched in a field drawing. The drawing can be further refined

later.

The final steps involve the handling and packaging of all evidence. Each piece comes into evidence at aspecific time. That time begins the chain of custody of that piece of evidence. Police are responsivle for

accounting for each piece of evidence that comes into their possession, for every minute it is in theirpossession.

The evidence will find its way to the laboratory or the evidence room where further entries are made to

maintain the chain of custody.

The steps in processing a crime scene1. secure the scene

2. conduct interviews3. examine the scene (walk-through)

4. Photograph the scene5. Bag and tag

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Steps the Police May Take During an Investigation

After an incident is reported to police, the following will likely occur:

y Police officers will meet with the victim in order to investigate the complaint.y The officers will take an initial report from the victim and any witnesses involved. This report records

exactly what happened and helps ensure that all available evidence is preserved.

y The police will gather physical evidence at the site of the incident for forensic examination.y If there are physical injuries, the police will likely advise the victim to go to the hospital or will see that

the victim is taken there right away.

y Following any medical examination, the police will ask the victim to come to the police station to make aformal statement. If the victim is not physically able to go to the police station, the police will make

other arrangements.