What is the first rule to follow when documenting a crime scene?

The initial step in documenting a crime scene is to ensure that nothing at the scene is touched or altered. This principle is vital for maintaining the integrity of the evidence. Any physical evidence found at a crime scene can be crucial for the investigation and may provide essential insights into what transpired. If items are moved or changed before documentation is completed, it can compromise the investigation and lead to questions about the reliability of the evidence.

Documenting a crime scene involves careful observation and recording of the scene as it is found. This includes taking photographs, making sketches, and noting details about the location and condition of evidence. By not touching or altering anything, the crime scene investigator preserves the original state of the scene, which is critical for analysis and later presentation in court.

While securing the area is also important, it typically follows the initial assessment and documentation phase. Interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence are subsequent steps that rely on having a pristine documentation of the scene at the outset to ensure that investigations proceed effectively and that the findings are credible.