When establishing boundaries at a crime scene, what approach should you take?

When establishing boundaries at a crime scene, securing a larger area first is the most effective approach. This ensures that all potential evidence is preserved and that the investigation can proceed without contamination or interference. By securing a larger area, investigators can better account for all possible avenues a suspect might have taken or any other factors that could influence the evidence, like environmental changes or interactions from bystanders.

A broader perimeter helps safeguard against unintentional damage to evidence that may not be immediately visible. It acts as a barrier to prevent onlookers or unauthorized personnel from entering the scene and potentially disturbing evidence. Once the larger perimeter is established, the team can then focus on the specific areas where evidence is likely contained within that boundary, allowing for a more thorough and methodical investigation.

Choosing a smaller area first may leave out crucial evidence or important context regarding the crime, while not establishing any boundaries lacks the necessary measures for protecting the crime scene. Lastly, only securing areas where evidence is visibly present compromises the integrity of the entire scene, as important leads and context could be overlooked.