CHAPTER 5
What is the primary concern of scene assessment by the crime scene
technician?
To assess a variety of technical and logistical aspects of the scene, which will ultimately
define the needed resources and the action taken by the crime scene team.
Why is the use of a single crime scene barrier ineffective?
It allows for no buffer between what is considered to be the crime scene itself and any
on-lookers.
How can enforcing use of personal protective equipment (PPE) help control
scene integrity with regard to any police supervisors on scene?
It reminds supervisors that the crime scene is a dangerous place and forces them to
reconsider if they truly need to enter.
When setting up crime scene teams, what are the two basic approaches to
team composition and how do they differ?
The two basic approaches to team development are by area or by function.
Identify and describe three of the four factors that affect decisions about
team composition?
Does the scene consist of a single or multiple scenes?!What specialty examinations are
required and what order of activity do they demand?!What level!of resources
exists?!What is the physical size of the scene?
Identify and describe the five basic patterns used to search a crime scene?
Circle or spiral – moving in or out of the scene in a circular pattern. Line or strip –
moving along designated pathways one time over the scene. Grid – moving in a similar
path as the line, followed by a recheck completed at 90 degrees to the first strips. Zone
– breaking a large area up into smaller sized areas. Point to Point – moving from one
point of interest in the scene to the next, creating cleared walkways between each
point.
What are the variations of the Zone search and when are they used?
Zone search in confined spaces – such as vehicle. Where no patterned search is
effective.!Zone search used to break a large scene into smaller zones that are then
searched with another patterned search technique.
Why is post-processing exposure to bio-hazards a problem and how might it
occur?
