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Police officers and detectives -

Police will arrive at the scene and perform a variety of tasks, including taking statements, logging exhibits, and securing the crime scene.

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A police line -

A crime scene will be immediately restricted by a police line. This is vital to ensure no evidence is compromised. A log of who enters the crime scene is usually kept.

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Victim(s) -

The victim or victims of the crime are likely on the scene. A victim of a crime is key in solving the case, whether they are dead or alive.

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Witnesses -

There may be a few people present that witnessed the crime, or the events before or after.

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Suspects -

Yes, suspects may be present at the scene. Some may even have reported the crime themselves. Whether they are indeed the perpetrators will be something for the legal system to decide.

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Vehicles -

Vehicles involved in the crime can be found at the scene. Examples include an abandoned vehicle used for a robbery, or one that has collided with a person or object, etc.

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Ambulances -

Paramedics and other emergency services such as firefighters may be found at the scene. This will obviously depend on the type of crime.

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Medical examiner -

In the case of fatal victims (especially in homicides), a medical examiner may be called to determine a preliminary cause of death.

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Other specialists -

Depending on the type of crime, other specialists may be called in, including forensic psychologists and entomologists.

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Press -

Press, including reporters, photographers, and TV crews, may rush to the scene to report on it.

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CSI -

Crime scene investigators will arrive at the scene to examine everything and start looking for evidence.

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Forensic photographers -

Forensic photographers will also be present and be part of the CSI investigation. Now, let’s take a look at what CSI will look for and what they may find.

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Fingerprints -

Fingerprints are unique to each individual, so they are a key piece of evidence in an investigation that can help identify a victim, the perpetrator, or rule out a suspect.

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Shoe marks -

Footwear impressions can offer valuable information. A casting of the shoe impression is done and then examined in the lab. The casting material will vary, depending on the surface where the shoe marks are found (e.g. mud, snow, etc.).

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Lip and ear prints -

These can be found on glasses or even windows (i.e. if someone has been peeking into the house or trying to listen to what was being said).

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Tool marks -

Tool marks can also be found at a crime scene and could be critical for the investigation (e.g. they can be a sign of forced entry, etc.).

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Hair -

Hair contains DNA, which is a way to identify a person. If hair is found at the scene, it is sealed and sent to a lab for DNA analysis.

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Fibers -

Like hair, fibers may also provide valuable information in a crime investigation. For example, fibers on a suspect's shoes may match the fibers of the carpet in the victim’s house.

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Clothing -

Clothing items may be found at a crime scene. They may belong to the victim(s), the perpetrator(s), or someone else.

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Indented writing -

You might remember this from when you were a kid, but finding these on paper can be helpful in a crime investigation.

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Blood -

Depending on the crime, blood can indeed be present. When this happens, blood spatter patterns are usually analyzed.

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Other bodily fluids -

In addition to blood, other bodily fluids may be found at a crime scene. These may include saliva, vomit, etc.

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Feces -

Yes, this can happen. It’s not pleasant, but sometimes it’s present at a crime scene.

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Weapons -

If a weapon was used to commit the crime, it may well be found on the scene. And these include more than just a gun or a knife.

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Bullets and gunshot residue -

Whenever a firearm is shot, residue will spread around the area and on clothing. Even if a bullet is not collected, residue is often found at the scene.

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Phones and other electronic devices -

Phones, laptops, and any other electronic devices can be found at a crime scene. The information found on these can help solve the crime.

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Drugs -

Drugs, including alcohol and cigarettes, can be found at the crime scene, and offer some insight as to what was going on at the time.

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Broken glass -

Broken glass is another form of trace evidence that CSI looks for when analyzing a crime scene. While big pieces may be cleaned up, and glass is not always visible to the naked eye, sometimes microscopic shards remain on the scene.

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Paint -

Vestiges of paint can offer valuable information when it comes to certain crimes. For instance, in a hit-and-run situation, the vehicle’s paint can be transferred to the victim’s clothing.

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Documents -

Cards, diaries, receipts, bills, notes, etc. All these can be found at a crime scene, and some may be really helpful in the investigation.

Sources: (HowStuffWorks) (Forensic Minds) (Business Success Magazine)

See also: What really happens during an autopsy

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