CRSS 444
CRIME SCENE ASSESSMENT
Introduction
Once the investigative team takes control of the scene, the true task of assessment begins.
This assessment considers a number of logistical and technical aspects of scene processing.
These considerations will ultimately define the actions of the crime scene team as well as identify
additional resources that may be necessary.
The team must complete this assessment before initiating any direct scene processing and after
receiving a debriefing by the initial responding officer.
If the investigative team fails to address these issues or fails to seek out the initial responding officer
and simply starts processing, in all likelihood evidence and information will be lost, and personnel
may be exposed to undue hazards.
The purpose of the debriefing and assessment by the investigative team is to consider the following
issues:
Scope of the scene
Scene integrity and contamination control
Team approach and composition
Search methods to be used
Personal protective measures.
Additional considerations of the team may include dealing with mass scene and mass casualty
situations as well as interacting with media representatives.
Debriefing the responding officers
Upon arrival at the scene, the crime scene team must seek out the initial responding officer. Once found,
this individual should be interviewed to determine:
Scene scope and nature: The initial officers should clearly define the scope of the scene, identifying
specific boundaries and reasons why areas were included or excluded in the initial perimeter. The general
impressions of the officer regarding the nature of the crime and specific observations that led to those
impressions should be sought and considered by the investigative team. If the officer discovered specific
items of evidence, these should be pointed out to the investigator. Information regarding how the crime
came to the attention of the officer (e.g., dispatched or flagged down) and the specifics of what that
information entailed should be sought.
Changes to the scene: The initial officer should quickly highlight significant changes to the scene by the
police, fire, or EMS (emergency medical service) personnel. If items were moved, lights turned on, doors
opened, or bodies were moved, the investigator must know that these actions occurred.
Status of involved parties: The status of victims, significant witnesses, and any suspects should be made
known to the investigator. Live or near-death victims may have been transported, suspects may have been
detained, or individuals claiming to be witnesses may be present. As a result, the investigators or crime
scene team may have to act immediately to evaluate if there is physical evidence (e.g., bloodstained
clothing, gunshot residue, and trace evidence) present on these individuals.
1|Page
, CRSS 444
Scene security: The initial responding officer should describe the steps taken to secure the scene, including
those efforts the officer feels are necessary to enhance security. The initial responding officer may be aware
of an area on a perimeter that is open or weakly secured. Any crime scene entry logs created by the initial
responders should be identified, collected, and attached to the crime scene team’s entry/exit log.
Scene scope and boundary assessment
The crime scene investigators must reassess the boundary of the crime scene perimeter to ensure
that all areas of concern are secured.
The crime scene team uses the same criteria as the initial responding officers when considering
where to place the boundary in the scene. These criteria include primary focal points, avenues of
entry and exit, and secondary scenes.
If the scene boundary requires expansion, the crime scene investigator should act on this
requirement immediately.
Scene integrity and contamination
The basic goal of scene processing is to collect as much evidence as possible in as pristine a
condition as possible.
Therefore, the crime scene team must carefully consider how its impending actions will affect scene
integrity.
As processing begins, a number of individuals will actively move in and around the scene, resources
and equipment will be needed inside the scene, and evidence will ultimately have to be removed
from the scene.
With these actions in mind, the investigator must consider establishing access routes to be used by
the crime scene team, determine how the team will manage access to the scene, and establish how
they will ensure scene isolation to prevent unnecessary contamination or destruction.
In considering scene isolation, the crime scene team should employ multilevel isolation and
containment.
Two perimeters should be established, which in effect will create three areas of access
The inner perimeter boundary extends around the area considered to be the actual scene, as
previously described.
Access into this inner area is limited to those who are conducting the scene processing. A second
perimeter, placed beyond the inner boundary, will create a working area surrounding the actual
crime scene.
Managing scene access
Once the perimeters are in place, the next concern is to identify access points in the perimeters
(where team members may move in and out of the scene) and to decide what scene entry logs are
necessary.
Entry and exit points for the crime scene team are not defined solely on ease of access. Other
considerations are in play as well. The primary considerations are:
What avenue of approach or departure did the perpetrator utilize?
Will the access point expose operations to unnecessary media scrutiny?
What access points are available?
Each of these considerations is important, and each must be evaluated in its own right. You will recall that
access routes used by perpetrators are important areas
2|Page
CRIME SCENE ASSESSMENT
Introduction
Once the investigative team takes control of the scene, the true task of assessment begins.
This assessment considers a number of logistical and technical aspects of scene processing.
These considerations will ultimately define the actions of the crime scene team as well as identify
additional resources that may be necessary.
The team must complete this assessment before initiating any direct scene processing and after
receiving a debriefing by the initial responding officer.
If the investigative team fails to address these issues or fails to seek out the initial responding officer
and simply starts processing, in all likelihood evidence and information will be lost, and personnel
may be exposed to undue hazards.
The purpose of the debriefing and assessment by the investigative team is to consider the following
issues:
Scope of the scene
Scene integrity and contamination control
Team approach and composition
Search methods to be used
Personal protective measures.
Additional considerations of the team may include dealing with mass scene and mass casualty
situations as well as interacting with media representatives.
Debriefing the responding officers
Upon arrival at the scene, the crime scene team must seek out the initial responding officer. Once found,
this individual should be interviewed to determine:
Scene scope and nature: The initial officers should clearly define the scope of the scene, identifying
specific boundaries and reasons why areas were included or excluded in the initial perimeter. The general
impressions of the officer regarding the nature of the crime and specific observations that led to those
impressions should be sought and considered by the investigative team. If the officer discovered specific
items of evidence, these should be pointed out to the investigator. Information regarding how the crime
came to the attention of the officer (e.g., dispatched or flagged down) and the specifics of what that
information entailed should be sought.
Changes to the scene: The initial officer should quickly highlight significant changes to the scene by the
police, fire, or EMS (emergency medical service) personnel. If items were moved, lights turned on, doors
opened, or bodies were moved, the investigator must know that these actions occurred.
Status of involved parties: The status of victims, significant witnesses, and any suspects should be made
known to the investigator. Live or near-death victims may have been transported, suspects may have been
detained, or individuals claiming to be witnesses may be present. As a result, the investigators or crime
scene team may have to act immediately to evaluate if there is physical evidence (e.g., bloodstained
clothing, gunshot residue, and trace evidence) present on these individuals.
1|Page
, CRSS 444
Scene security: The initial responding officer should describe the steps taken to secure the scene, including
those efforts the officer feels are necessary to enhance security. The initial responding officer may be aware
of an area on a perimeter that is open or weakly secured. Any crime scene entry logs created by the initial
responders should be identified, collected, and attached to the crime scene team’s entry/exit log.
Scene scope and boundary assessment
The crime scene investigators must reassess the boundary of the crime scene perimeter to ensure
that all areas of concern are secured.
The crime scene team uses the same criteria as the initial responding officers when considering
where to place the boundary in the scene. These criteria include primary focal points, avenues of
entry and exit, and secondary scenes.
If the scene boundary requires expansion, the crime scene investigator should act on this
requirement immediately.
Scene integrity and contamination
The basic goal of scene processing is to collect as much evidence as possible in as pristine a
condition as possible.
Therefore, the crime scene team must carefully consider how its impending actions will affect scene
integrity.
As processing begins, a number of individuals will actively move in and around the scene, resources
and equipment will be needed inside the scene, and evidence will ultimately have to be removed
from the scene.
With these actions in mind, the investigator must consider establishing access routes to be used by
the crime scene team, determine how the team will manage access to the scene, and establish how
they will ensure scene isolation to prevent unnecessary contamination or destruction.
In considering scene isolation, the crime scene team should employ multilevel isolation and
containment.
Two perimeters should be established, which in effect will create three areas of access
The inner perimeter boundary extends around the area considered to be the actual scene, as
previously described.
Access into this inner area is limited to those who are conducting the scene processing. A second
perimeter, placed beyond the inner boundary, will create a working area surrounding the actual
crime scene.
Managing scene access
Once the perimeters are in place, the next concern is to identify access points in the perimeters
(where team members may move in and out of the scene) and to decide what scene entry logs are
necessary.
Entry and exit points for the crime scene team are not defined solely on ease of access. Other
considerations are in play as well. The primary considerations are:
What avenue of approach or departure did the perpetrator utilize?
Will the access point expose operations to unnecessary media scrutiny?
What access points are available?
Each of these considerations is important, and each must be evaluated in its own right. You will recall that
access routes used by perpetrators are important areas
2|Page
