Crime Scene Search

Police Department
University of Texas at Dallas
Ofc. Steve Finney
 Crime Scene Search Objectives
• Planned, Coordinated, Legal search to locate physical
evidence or witnesses to the crime
• Protection: of evidence and from contamination
• Establish elements of a crime
– Where crime committed
– Who committed crime
– How crime committed
– Why committed
– When committed
 Evidence Discovery
• Do Not touch, move or handle items until:
– Photographed
– Sketched
– Described in notes
– Ready to be collection, marked and preserved
 Investigation
• What type of crime scene: Homicide, Robbery,
Sexual Assault, Suicide, Kidnapping, etc.
• Preliminary: Provide 1st Aid, ID & Interview
Witnesses, ID and Arrest suspect
• Protect Crime Scene: Secure perimeter
• Observe: Exterior, Point of Entry, Interior
• Photograph & Sketch scene: Long, Mid, Close
• Evidence: Collect, Mark & Inventory
 Basic Steps
• Approach scene
• Secure & Protect
• Preliminary Survey
• Narrative Description
• Photograph Scene
• Sketch Scene
• Evaluation of latent fingerprints
• Evaluation of Physical Evidence
• Detailed Search
• Collection, Recording, Marking & Preservation of evidence
• Final scene survey of conditions of the scene
 Procedures of Search
• Reconstruct based on 1st officer’s info
• Organize a plan of action
– Assign one person in charge
– Task out assignments – no assumptions
– Utilize a systematic checklist
– Written reports from each assigned officer
 Search Methods
• Consider size and type of area, personnel and equipment
(indoor=2, outdoor=>2)
• Determine a starting point of the search
• Nothing is to be excluded
• Proceed with caution and coordinated movements
• Types:
– Strip or Grid: single or double form
– Circular: may begin from inside or outside
– Quadrant/Sector: useful with defined borders (rooms,
bookshelves etc)
 Scene Sketch
Rough drawing representing the the scene

• Rough Sketch vs. Final Sketch – At scene vs. Station

• Provides permanent record of conditions
• Reconstructs scene
• Records exact location & spatial relations
• Refreshes memory
• Correlates witnesses testimony
• Eliminates unnecessary details
• Can be enlarged for Court
• Supplements photographs
• Provides true distance relationships – to scale
 Sketching
• Use direction and compass symbol (North)
• Use equal measurements
• Use Projection Sketch (top-down view)
• Use scale of proportion
• Use legend or key
• Title the sketch: Case No., Date, Time, Location, Scale,
Sketcher, Legend
 Scene Photographs
• Provides visual record of scene and factors
• Present logical story in visual form
• Take photos before scene is disturbed
• Numerous photos should be taken & recorded in log
• Use measurement scales
• Use photo log to record chronology
• Portray great detail
• Long range, Mid Range, Close-up vantage points
– Overview general scene, 10-20’ separate area, 5’ or less detailed