Policy Text
Identification Bur eau Page 1 of 2 4 /02.0 (REV 1/07)
Processing a Crime Scene
The purpose of this Order is to p rovide a procedure for process ing a crime scene and
the resulting physical evidence by the Crime Scene Investigator .
I. Responsibilities
The Crime Scene Investigations Officer will collect, identify, preserve, package,
transport and book all physical evi dence located at a crime sce ne. The C.S.I.
Officer will accept any physical evidence that has been moved o r otherwise
contaminated by any Sheriff’s Of ficer at a crime scene. In the latter case, the
condition and circumstances su rrounding the manner in which the evidence was
received shall be documented in the accompanying report.
II. Steps for Processing a Crime Scene
A. If the scene is a homicide, i nvolves injury to an officer or is an officer
involved shooting:
1. Notify the Crime Scene In vestigations Supervisor.
2. Request sufficient on-duty Cr ime Scene Investigations Office rs to
respond to the scene.
3. Delegate each type of evidenc e collection to the responding Crime
Scene Investigations Officers.
4. Create a “Major Case File” at the end of watch with two (2) copies
of any completed reports inside . The file will be placed in th e
completed reports tray.
5. Continue to subsection B below.
B. If the scene is not incl uded in subsection A above:
1. Clear the area of all persons not necessary for the processi ng of
the scene.
2. Conduct a thorough search of the area to locate any physical
evidence important to the crime. Evidence may or may not be
marked by number stands.
Identification Bur eau Page 2 of 2 4 /02.0 (REV 1/07) 3. If necessary, record the cr ime scene either with photography ,
videography and/or a diagram.
4. Collect/process any evidence in the appropriate containers,
marking the container s with the following:
a. Evidence item number b. Report number c. Date d. Victim #1’s name e. Crime code section f. Type of item collected g. Label the container with additi onal instructions for the cri me
lab or Property Warehouse. (i.e. “Potential DNA Evidence” or
“Process for Latent Fingerprints”)
5. Prepare a “Property Receipt/R eport” form (7 400-076A) and/or AFT
Packing list and attach the form to the container noting the
information on the container a long with the following:
a. Detailed information about the item b. Condition of the item c. Location where evidence was collected.
6. Place the packaged evidence in your assigned vehicle and kee p
the vehicle secured and locked.
7. Collect any items left at t he scene, such as number stands a nd
release the scene to the person in charge of the scene.
8. Transport the evidence to an ev idence locker as soon as poss ible.
Secure the evidence in a locker , insuring the package is proper ly
sealed, marked and the Property Receipt/Report and/or AFT
Packing list is attached.
Appendices: Property Receipt/Report – Form 7400-076A