Review Article International Journal of Forensic Science

Volume 6 Number 1, January–June 2023

Systematic Perspectives to Proceeding a Scene of Crime: An Overview

Ajay Kumar Gautam1, Neeraj Kumar2, Rajnish Kumar Singh3, Anurag Sharma4,
Sanjeev Kumar Gupta5, Deepa Verma6, Md Waseem Choudhary7

How to cite this article:

Ajay Kumar Gautam, Neeraj Kumar, Rajnish Kumar Singh, et al./Systematic Perspectives to Proceeding a Scene of Crime: An
Overview/International Journal of Forensic Science. 2023;6(1):17–22.

Abstract
Crime scene investigation is a crucial part of any investigation. It is the connecting point
of science, logic, and law. The examination of a crime scene is a time consuming and labour
intensive process that includes relevant documentation, photography, or videography of the
situation or condition at the scene, as well as the position of the evidence. Forensic science
principles govern criminal proceedings from the examination of a crime scene to the conviction
of an accused in a court of law. Law enforcement created the forensics protocol, a methodical
strategy or procedure that must be followed for evidence to be reliable and admissible in
court. The goal of this article is to propose a systematic approach for dealing with crime scene
evidence in the context of forensic and law enforcement specialists to avoid contamination,
deterioration, and loss of (value) evidence.
Keywords: Crime Scene; Evidence; Investigation; Contamination; Photography.

INTRODUCTION includes crime scene investigators (CSIs) and even

sometimes forensic experts. Evidence collected at

T he scene of the crime is the location where

the police has conducted their investigation.
Investigative teams will gather physical data
the crime scene could create a picture of what had
happened there for the court to evaluate during
its deliberations, crime scene management skills
and visual evidence at a crime scene, and it are an extremely important task component of an
investigation.1
Crime scenes are inconsistent in nature and
Author's AfÞliation: 1Senior Scientific Officer, 2Senior diverse enough to be categorized in different
Scientific Assistant, Crime Scene Management Division,
3
Senior Scientific Assistant, Photo Division, 4Assistant Director,
ways. First, crime scenes can be categorized based
Document Division, 5Assistant Director, Photo Division, on where the original criminal activity occurred.
6
Director, Forensic Science Laboratory, Delhi 110085, India, According to this classification, the primary crime
7
Research Scholar, Department of Life Science, Nottingham scene is the location of the initial or first criminal
Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
conduct, and all later crime scenes are considered
Correspondence: Ajay Kumar Gautam, Senior Scientific secondary. This classification just indicates the
Officer, Crime Scene Management Division, Forensic Science
Laboratory, Delhi 110085, India.
order of the locations and implies neither priority
nor importance of the scene.2
E-mail: [email protected]
Received on: 27.09.2022 Accepted on: 08.12.2022 Outdoor, indoor, and transportation crime
scenes are the three major different categories. If

© Red Flower Publication Pvt. Ltd.

18 Ajay Kumar Gautam, Neeraj Kumar, Rajnish Kumar Singh, et al./Systematic Perspectives to
Proceeding a Scene of Crime: An Overview

not properly preserved, an outdoor crime scene admissible under Section 45 of the Evidence Act, of
could be vulnerable to the elements. Despite 1872. The Court must express an opinion regarding
the significantly lower risk of contamination at the following in accordance with Indian Evidence
an interior crime scene, it must nevertheless be Law: foreign law, science, art, and identity of
adequately kept and recorded. The early forensic handwriting (or finger impressions). Numerous
advancements in criminal investigation show the instances in India's courts have defined an expert
need for investigators to acquire the knowledge as someone with specialized knowledge that is not
and abilities to explore and use physical evidence required to be studied in a university. He is a person
that enables circumstantial links between people, who possesses expertise or experience in any art,
places, and events to prove the facts of criminal trade, or profession that has been gained through
cases.3 practice, rigorous study, or observation and goes
beyond the scope of common knowledge.5
Moving toward modern investigation
Today, the term "criminal investigation" refers AUTHORIZATION
to a broad range of specialties that work to
understand how events happened and to create It is the responsibility of the government law
a pattern of facts based on evidence that can be enforcement apex body to authorize the agency
used to demonstrate an accused person's guilt as to who may enter the crime scene. It is crucial
or innocence in a criminal incident. A criminal to take proper authorization to inspect the scene
investigation is not always a difficult task when a of the crime, and obtain authorization from the
person is detected committing a crime and caught investigating officer that specifically mentioned
red handed on the spot. However, the criminal the log dispatch information, address and location,
investigation procedure becomes more difficult and time, date, call type, and persons before entering
is drawn when the criminal incident is found after the crime scene.6
the fact or when the perpetrator is not immediately
evident. The duty of a crime scene investigator is Initial Response at the crime scene
to collect forensic evidence from crime scenes that The initial responding officer (s) have as their
will eventually help to identify and apprehend top priority of the physical safety and well being
perpetrators. To visualize, capture, and recover of themselves, other people, and the crime scene.
evidence from crime scenes, one has to process the Any risky situations or tricky people must be
scene using specialized methodologies.4 identified and controlled by the first responding
officer (s) at the scene. Check that there is no
Forensic Science Acceptability in the Criminal immediate danger to other emergency personnel
Justice System and search the area for sights, sounds, and odour’s
As technology has developed, the number of that could be dangerous (e.g., hazardous materials
scientific experts has been rising quickly. The such as gasoline, and natural gas). Before accessing
scientific techniques for gathering evidence are the scene, the proper persons or agency should
advanced and have become more predictable be contacted if the issue concerns a covert drug
in the criminal justice system. It is imperative to lab, biological weapons, radiological, or chemical
use science as a tool to make the most of criminal hazards. Gloves will be worn at all times when
investigations. Effective investigation can also be handling blood and biologically stained materials
beneficial, particularly in criminal circumstances. and/or other potentially hazardous chemicals at a
Science and technology assist in gathering the crime scene.7 Gloves also are worn while handling
shards of evidence, investigating, examining the bodies, if there are any. Additional protective
evidence, suspected documents, thorough files, clothing such as disposable lab coats, booty, gloves,
and physical evidence. Immediately following a and caps can also be worn as needed.8
crime, a group of forensic professionals arrives to
gather any circumstantial evidence that might have Crime Scene Security
been tampered with as a result of the delay. Law In addition to establishing a security system
enforcement, criminal, civil, and judicial concerns to prevent any unauthorized individuals from
are all handled by the forensic team using its fields entering the crime scene and to avoid any
of study and scientific skills. contamination, it must delineate the crime scene
All the forensic reports or opinion of experts with a perimeter tape. A security officer is tasked
or opinion of third party when relevant, are with controlling people's access to and exit from
International Journal of Forensic Science / Volume 6 Number 1 / January–June 2023
 Ajay Kumar Gautam, Neeraj Kumar, Rajnish Kumar Singh, et al./Systematic Perspectives to 19
Proceeding a Scene of Crime: An Overview

the crime scene for this reason. It becomes the sole the crime scene investigation must be documented
responsibility of the designated security officer to with several notes, photographs, and diagrams with
secure the crime scene and only allow those who pertinent dates. A walk through the area following
are involved in the investigation.9 the "trail" of the crime will typically be the first
step in the assessment of the scene. The trail is the
Identify Scene Dimensions location where all of the seeming criminal activity
has occurred.6 The following Diagram depicts the
Before initiating the investigation, a mental
systematic steps for the investigation of the scene
strategy has to be framed by the officer that how the
of the crime (Fig. 1).
crime scene will be examined. Every component of

Fig. 1: Schematic diagram of crime scene investigation.

Attention to Originating Stages of Evidence 2. Most of the victim offender communications

occur at the Criminal Event Stage. The
Determining the location of a criminal event or
strongest chance for evidence transfer is
the affected area is one of the major challenges in
present during these contacts. Even the most
crime scene management. The investigator can
vigilant offenders occasionally leave behind
locate potential places for crime scene evidence
some indication of their, identity such as
by making these determinations. It's not always
fingerprints, shoe prints, glove prints, tire
as simple as going to one place or focusing on the
prints, tool impressions, shell casings, hair or
criminal occurrence for a certain period. There
fiber, or DNA.13
are three possible time phases in the investigation
where evidence can be found. These three phases 3. As the suspect leave traces at the crime site,
are the pre-crime, criminal event, and post-crime the post-crime stage begins. Suspects have a
phases. It's important to keep in mind that each history of throwing away pieces of evidence
origin stage of evidence offers opportunities for that can be recovered and studied to help
gathering information that could link the suspect identify them as they flee the crime scene. The
to the crime.10,11 suspect starts to worry about tidying up the
scene during this post-crime phase. Despite a
1. The Pre-Crime Stage starts when an inquiry
suspect's best efforts, evidence transfers from
reveals signs of planning or preparation. It
the crime scene are frequently missed.
may also involve pre-crime contact with the
victim or the accomplices, research, sketches, Criminal investigation as a Process of Thinking
or items used in the crime. When pre-crime
artifacts, like hair and fiber, are later found at Investigators must be aware of various legal
the crime scene, provides a chance to connect rules, concepts, principles, doctrines, and protocols
the suspect to the crime.12 while conducting an investigation and it must be
incorporated into their thought process as well.
International Journal of Forensic Science / Volume 6 Number 1 / January–June 2023
20 Ajay Kumar Gautam, Neeraj Kumar, Rajnish Kumar Singh, et al./Systematic Perspectives to
Proceeding a Scene of Crime: An Overview

When an officer first arrives at a crime scene, they photography with proper lighting at the crime
have to move frequently and make bold judgments scene, if it's a night crime scene then an additional
based on scant information in an ongoing dynamic light source must be available.18,19
setting with ongoing incidents. Following a In a homicide case, the dead body must be
criminal incident, the investigator is responsible for photographed from a different angle on each side.
maintaining the crime scene, gathering evidence, If the body has been removed, then one should take
and developing an investigation strategy that will a photograph of the scene with the appropriate
result in the formation of reasonable grounds to labels. The recording of objects present on the dead
identify and apprehend the offender.14,15 body or in the hands must be photographed. If
any identification mark is found on the body of a
Conduct Primary Survey dead person, it must also be photographed with
The investigators should always carry notebooks, scale. The crime scene photographer also covers
flashlights, pens, etc. when they rush towards the signs of different types of injuries, like abrasion
the crime spot. This would definitely prevent wounds, etc. In burglary cases, broken glasses,
undesirable fingerprints from being left behind at doors, windows, wooden almirahs, etc., and any
the scene. Finally, the investigators should look out scratch marks present on these things or the walls
of the box during the walk through. Such important then they would also be captured, and showing any
evidence as blood splatter and bullet holes may be sign of struggle then it must be photographed.19
found at these places. After the walk through is
finished, the scenario needs to be captured on film, CREATING A CRIME SCENE DIAGRAM
in pictures, or in sketches.16
AND FIELD SKETCH
Crime Scene Photography
A rough sketch is drawn at the scene and is
Before commencing any intrusive procedure normally not scaled. It includes the location, date,
of examination, the crime scene must always be time, case identifier, preparer, weather conditions,
photographed. Never let it alter from anyone scale or scale disclaimer, compass orientation,
without getting it first photographed. A body evidence, measurements, key, or legend.
or object that has been relocated cannot ever be The next stage is to draw a diagram or make a
retrieved in its original position. Crime scene field sketch of the crime scene which has to be used
photography is a crucial part of any crime scene. as documentation. The field sketch differs from the
All the photographs should be taken using a scale Crime Scene Diagram in that it is a rapid, crude
device for size determination. The scene of crime representation of the incident, as suggested by the
photography commences with the location fixation. name.6
The location fixation is accomplished by taking long
range shots showing the scene of the crime along • If the scene is a building, the address,
with some permanent landmarks such as buildings entrances, exits, windows, positions of
kilometre reading, road signs, sign boards, and the rooms and furniture, and locations of
other features characteristics of the scene.17 all exhibits related to the crime must be
displayed.
The crime scene is always captured in a sequence
from clockwise or anti-clockwise i.e., outside to the • It is quite difficult to determine and record
centre or to the outside of the crime scene. Often, the exact location of a crime scene if it is
the surrounding environment and places are also outdoors. An outdoor scene's geographic
significant. A crime scene always covers the largest location must be determined concerning
area with different positions and angles.While another known place, such as a road crossing,
taking photos of a crime scene, the perpetrator's a mile marker, or even by attaching GPS
entrance and exit points are always visible. coordinates to a permanently fixed object in
Photography of all evidence must be taken with the crime scene.
the help of an "L" shaped forensic scale because • Each exhibit will be given a number on the
it helpsto identify the actual size of evidence and diagram once the basic diagram elements
the exact length of the object to maintain proof that are finished and evidence is gathered
this object was used for the crime and may be used from the crime scene. This number can be
in future references of evidence in the laboratory cross-referenced with the exhibit log that a
or reconstruction of the crime scene. Some designated exhibit custodian, a member of
physical pieces of evidence need a closer view of the crime scene management team, will fill
International Journal of Forensic Science / Volume 6 Number 1 / January–June 2023
 Ajay Kumar Gautam, Neeraj Kumar, Rajnish Kumar Singh, et al./Systematic Perspectives to 21
Proceeding a Scene of Crime: An Overview

out. scene using this information. Before the lockdown,

if something was moved or handled in a way that
contaminated the item, it might still be possible to
DOCUMENT AND PROCESS SCENE
obtain an appropriate analysis of the item, if the
It is essential to adhere to suitable collection contamination can be identified specifically and
methods to prevent any kind of contamination or measured quantitatively.20
destruction of evidence. Physical evidence typically
serves as the trail's identifier. This could comprise LOSS OF CONTINUITY
the entrance point, the crime scene, any clean-up
locations used by the suspect, and the exit point. If Protocols to secure the integrity of the evidence
relevant evidence is in danger of being lost, a walk- include developing and preserving the continuity
through could become less important in some of evidence, just like controlling contamination.
circumstances. In such situations, it is important to The judge must be convinced that the exhibit
collect and preserve this evidence as soon as you provided in front of the court is the same article that
can.16 was taken from the crime scene for any evidence
so that it can be accepted by the court. The "chain
Contamination of Evidence of continuity," which follows each exhibit from the
crime scene to the courtroom, must be shown by
In any crime scene, there are two big challenges for
the evidence.1
the physical evidence which are contamination and
loss of continuity. For investigators, contamination
is a fact of life. The unintentional alteration of RECORD AND PRESERVE EVIDENCE
evidence that can compromise the integrity of the
original exhibit at the crime scene is known as The crime scene is often a nexus of events
contamination. This unintentional alteration of the and consequently, it requires a systematic
evidence may erase the original evidence transfer, approach to ensure that the evidence gathered
muddle a sample, or add false new materials to an will be acceptable in court. Exhibits, such as
exhibit. Contamination can undermine the analysis blood, hair, fibre, fingerprints, and other objects
of the original evidence transfer to the point where requiring forensic analysis, may illustrate spatial
the court may not accept the analysis and inference relationships through evidence transfers.21
that the analysis might otherwise have shown, just Other types of physical evidence may establish
as evidence transfer between a suspect and the timelines and circumstantial indications of motive,
crime scene or the suspect and victim can establish opportunity, or means. All evidence within the
a circumstantial connection. When crime scene physical environment of the crime scene is critically
investigators don't follow the right crime scene important to the investigative process. Conduct
management procedures, it might lead to exhibit another walkthrough to ensure everything has
contamination or cross-contamination between been processed and recorded.22
exhibits.20
SUMMARY
PATH OF CONTAMINATION
We have discussed the important facts of crime
A crime scene's potential for contamination scene management, safety, evidence identification,
cannot be completely ruled out. Only through collection, protection, contamination, and
careful monitoring and documenting the documentation. These are the most crucial abilities
contamination continuously the forensic integrity that a detective must pick up and incorporate into
of the crime scene and the evidence could be their arsenal of investigative techniques. These
preserved. It is important to capture in notes or a skills of crime scene management and evidence
statement from each person what contamination management will become the procedural norms
they have caused the site after victims, witnesses, and the fundamental operational habits for proper
suspects, first responders, and investigators have and professional investigative activity, once they
been removed. What sort of evidence has been have been mastered and applied in daily practice.
transported, and handled, and by whom it will be Ethical Clearance - No ethical clearance is required.
documented,and by whom the information is being
acquired? The investigator can construct a baseline Source of Funding - Self
or state of the current contamination at the crime Conflict of Interest - Nil

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22 Ajay Kumar Gautam, Neeraj Kumar, Rajnish Kumar Singh, et al./Systematic Perspectives to
Proceeding a Scene of Crime: An Overview

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International Journal of Forensic Science / Volume 6 Number 1 / January–June 2023