Securing the Crime Scene
- 1. Securing the Crime Scene
- 2. Securing the crime scene ď‚´ Locking down the crime scene ď‚´ Setting up crime scene perimeters ď‚´ Establishing a path of contamination ď‚´ Establishing crime scene security
- 3. ď‚´ Duty of the first responder ď‚´ need to protect that crime scene becomes a requirement ď‚´ first priority is to protect the life ď‚´ Second priority is to protect the crime scene and its related evidence
- 4. Locking down the crime scene  Any activity going on in the crime scene should be stopped  Anyone present in the crime scene should be shifted to some other place  A physical barrier is installed  Defining the edges of the crime scene with demarcations – establishing a crime scene perimeter  Also Isolation of the scene of crime
- 5. Crime Scene Perimeter ď‚´ Defines the size of the crime scene ď‚´ Includes point of entry and exit ď‚´ Wherever the perpetrator would have had some activity to do in the crime scene ď‚´ Area where the suspect and victim had interaction Something to think about: If the interaction between victim and suspect spanned for more time and covered more area. How should the investigator define the size of the crime scene and establish the perimeter?
- 6. Crime Scene Perimeter ď‚´ Isolating a larger area (or) ď‚´ Isolating smaller areas ď‚´ One access point ( a typical scenario) ď‚´ Setting a perimeter is more difficult in outdoor scenes ď‚´ Ultimately not allowing unauthorized entry
- 7. Path of Contamination ď‚´ Impossible to prevent all contamination ď‚´ Control and record it ď‚´ Recording the changes helps in preserving the integrity of the crime scene ď‚´ Questions victims, witnesses etc on what they might of altered or contaminated in the crime scene ď‚´ If contamination is explained duly the evidence can still be accepted for analysis
- 8. Path of Contamination ď‚´ establish a designated pathway - known as pathway of contamination ď‚´ Mostly done by the first responding officer or first investigator ď‚´ The pathway will be photographed ď‚´ Pathway can be marked with tape ď‚´ Necessity to deviate from that path- should be document
- 9. Crime Scene Security ď‚´ crime scene security officer ď‚´ guarding the crime scene ď‚´ Only authorised entry like : ď‚´ Forensic specialists ď‚´ Search team members ď‚´ Assigned investigators, and/or ď‚´ The coroner in the case of a sudden death investigation
- 10. Crime Scene Security ď‚´ Crime Scene Security Log ď‚´ signed in as they enter and signed out as they depart the scene ď‚´ with a short note stating the reason for their entry ď‚´ The log depends on the scene being investigated