Which step should occur first at a crime scene?

Which step should occur first at a crime scene?

• A. Sketching
• B. Photography
• C. Preliminary search
• D. Videography

Answer: (C)

Starting with a quick walk-through to survey the scene is essential. This initial preliminary search gives an overall view of what happened, identifies where evidence might be located, notes entry and exit points, and flags safety concerns. It also helps plan how the scene will be documented and searched so nothing is overlooked and little is disturbed before proper recording begins. Once this overview is established, investigators can proceed to document the scene—capturing it with photos or video and then creating sketches and performing a thorough, systematic search. The key is that you need the big-picture understanding first to guide accurate documentation and evidence collection.

Starting with a quick walk-through to survey the scene is essential. This initial preliminary search gives an overall view of what happened, identifies where evidence might be located, notes entry and exit points, and flags safety concerns. It also helps plan how the scene will be documented and searched so nothing is overlooked and little is disturbed before proper recording begins. Once this overview is established, investigators can proceed to document the scene—capturing it with photos or video and then creating sketches and performing a thorough, systematic search. The key is that you need the big-picture understanding first to guide accurate documentation and evidence collection.