How Crime Scene Investigations are Really Conducted

Crime Scene Investigations

The first bit of advice I would give writers on the show to help them depict the collection and analysis of crime scene evidence more realistically would be to pay attention to the small details, for therein usually lies the whole of the story. For instance, the arrangement of furniture, how it was likely moved, whether there are any dents in walls that were likely caused during the crime, where the weapon is lying (if it is found), and so on—all of these small details help to create a narrative around what happened. The first point is that something did happen—and the scene has to be kept intact until investigators arrive. That means, no police are to be depicted as snooping through a crime scene, touching evidence or examining things as though they were detectives. They first job is to secure the scene until the detectives can come to conduct the investigation properly.

Secondly, everything should be documented and it is important that this be shown in the show: crime scene investigations are meticulously; pictures are taken of every room from multiple angles to ensure that the pristine shape of the scene is captured in photographs. Then where items are found and their character has to be documented. Items that are removed as evidence have to be documented and the chain of custody observed.

Thirdly, it is never the case that detectives are waiting around for a lab analysis. Lab analysis is typically only used to help support a prosecution at trial. The detectives are going to be putting the case together in the meantime based on interviews with witnesses, what they know of the victim, and what the evidence at the scene of the crime tells them. The show should not make it seem like detectives are hanging out for that all-important lab analysis to get back to them.