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