Examine the crime scene as the second step in the process. Examine the scene for what? To decide if the "theory" of the case is a probable explanation of events based upon actual evidence. Examining the scene to identify possible items of evidentiary nature, identify point of entry and point of exit, and getting the general layout of the crime scene.

A crime scene investigator may be called to a crime scene 15 minutes before Thanksgiving dinner or just as the kids start to open their Christmas presents. It isn't unusual for the call to come after the investigator is asleep in bed, sometimes after having worked a 12-hour day. But just because the crime scene investigator hasn't slept in 24 hours is no reason for missing an item of evidence or for under working a crime scene.

"The victim deserves the best investigative efforts possible,
regardless of the type of crime under investigation."

Crime Scene Searches

Crime scenes and executing search warrants are conducted by extensive observation: kneeling, stooping, reaching and climbing. The scene is secured (using ropes,barricades, police personnel, etc.) before conducting a search for all objects and articles that may be evidence. The crime scene investigator must also be proficient in "reading" and reconstructing the events as they happened just prior to, during and shortly following the commission of the crime in order to determine the sequence of events in the criminal act.

All crime scenes have two areas to the scene, the Primary area, where the actual crime was committed, and a Secondary area, all avenue's leading to the scene of the offense. For instance, if there is a deceased body in a room, the primary scene is where the body is located and the secondary area is the other rooms of the structure PLUS the outdoor area where the subject had entered or left the building. The secondary area is usually quite large and is seldom properly identified or protected.

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