How does an investigator perform a search at a crime scene?

How does an investigator perform a search at a crime scene?

Richard Saferstein (Former Chief Forensic Scientist) gives expert video advice on: What is the general procedure of examining a crime scene?; How do police isolate and secure a crime scene?; How does an investigator perform a search at a crime scene? and more...

What's important is that the search for physical evidence must be systematic. Normally a lead investigator will be assigned to oversee that systematic search, and that lead investigator may conduct the search himself or herself, or may assign others to conduct the search, but it has to be systematic. It may require walking up and back in a straight line . It may require walking in a circular fashion around the crime scene, or it may require sectioning off the crime scene, and having different investigators search in different areas of the scene. A lot will depend on the complexity of the scene, on the area of the scene, the geographical area of the scene, so every scene is very individualist, but the investigators ultimately bring their experience and knowledge to the fore to carry out that mission.