The 7 S's of Crime Scene Investigation

Every single crime scene is different. Some crime scenes are outside, while
others are inside. Some crimes occur in homes, while others occur in public
places, and some even occur virtually. While special consideration must be
taken for the specifics of the scene, there are some basic steps that law
enforcement and crime scene investigators follow each time. These are known
as the 7 S's of crime scene investigation.

1. Secure the Scene

2. Separate the Witnesses
3. Scan the Scene
4. See the Scene
5. Sketch the Scene
6. Search for Evidence
7. Secure and Collect Evidence

1. Secure the Scene

The first officer to arrive at the scene should secure the scene by making sure
that everyone in the area is safe and isolate the area to preserve evidence. This
may include arresting suspects and obtaining medical assistance.

Crime scene tape, like that shown below, is often used to help secure the scene.

2. Separate the Witnesses

Witnesses should be separated from one another. What is the purpose of this
separation?

Answer: To keep them from working together to create a cover story and/or
share details about the situation with one another.
 After witnessing his
friend being shot and killed in Los Angeles in 2008, a man waits with a police officer to share his account
of the events with detectives. "A man grieves the loss of his friend." by Chris Yarzab is licensed under CC
BY 2.0.

3. Scan the Scene

This step gives investigators an overall picture of the scene. They will identify
the primary crime scene, or where the crime took place. If applicable, they'll
identify area(s) related to the crime but not where the crime took place, or
the secondary crime scene.
4. See the Scene

A photography unit will take pictures of items identified during the initial scan.
Pictures should be taken of the overall area, as well as close-ups,
using evidence markers or a ruler for size reference.

Evidence markers
often include a ruler or scale to show the approximate size of the object.

5. Sketch the Scene

A sketch of the scene is created in such a way that investigators could

recreate the crime scene at an alternate location. The sketch includes objects in
the room and the location of evidence, as well as directional north, the date,
time, location, and case number.

6. Search for Evidence

A thorough search is conducted to identify any evidence that may have been
overlooked in the previous steps. This search can occur in several patterns. One
is chosen by the lead investigator.

7. Secure and Collect Evidence

All identified evidence must be collected and secured using specific techniques
and procedures. These techniques keep the evidence from becoming damaged
or contaminated. Each piece of evidence is logged onto an evidence log and
marked with an evidence label.

The label features a chain of custody. Each person that touches the evidence
must complete the chain of custody. This is required for the items to
be admissible, or acceptable as evidence, in a court of law.