Securing the Crime Scene

Methods of securing crime scene, indoor and outdoor.

1. Securing the Crime Scene

2. Securing the crime scene Locking down the crime scene Setting up crime scene perimeters Establishing a path of contamination Establishing crime scene security

3. Duty of the first responder need to protect that crime scene becomes a requirement first priority is to protect the life 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 Defines the size of the crime scene Includes point of entry and exit Wherever the perpetrator would have had some activity to do in the crime scene 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 Isolating a larger area (or) Isolating smaller areas One access point ( a typical scenario) Setting a perimeter is more difficult in outdoor scenes Ultimately not allowing unauthorized entry

7. Path of Contamination Impossible to prevent all contamination Control and record it Recording the changes helps in preserving the integrity of the crime scene Questions victims, witnesses etc on what they might of altered or contaminated in the crime scene If contamination is explained duly the evidence can still be accepted for analysis

8. Path of Contamination establish a designated pathway - known as pathway of contamination Mostly done by the first responding officer or first investigator The pathway will be photographed Pathway can be marked with tape Necessity to deviate from that path- should be document

9. Crime Scene Security crime scene security officer guarding the crime scene Only authorised entry like : Forensic specialists Search team members Assigned investigators, and/or The coroner in the case of a sudden death investigation

10. Crime Scene Security Crime Scene Security Log signed in as they enter and signed out as they depart the scene with a short note stating the reason for their entry The log depends on the scene being investigated