Let’s Go to the Crime Scene!

In every investigation, one rule stands above the rest: always visit the crime scene.

Before heading out, review the online materials—crime scene photos, diagrams, and police reports from the discovery packet.

These resources provide a good foundation, but they can't substitute for the insights gained from being on-site.

Here are some reasons why visiting the crime scene is crucial:

✅ Enhanced Interview Quality​

Seeing the scene first-hand allows you to discuss the case with greater nuance. This detail can significantly improve your interviews with witnesses by letting you reference aspects of the scene that aren't captured in photos or reports.

✅ Preservation of the Scene​

The sooner you visit, the more likely the scene remains unchanged. Over time, locations can be altered or demolished, and witnesses may relocate.

✅ Building Client Rapport​

Visiting the scene demonstrates your commitment to the case and actively builds trust with your client.

✅ Discovery of New Information​

There's always something new to find. For instance, a witness might claim visibility to an event, but physical obstructions like a line of trees could prove otherwise.

✅ Accuracy of Police Descriptions​

First-hand observation can reveal discrepancies in police reports or show that the crime scene spans multiple locations, which might require you to trace routes and understand connectivity.

✅ Encounter New Witnesses

Scene visits can lead to discovering witnesses overlooked in initial reports, as we've experienced. New testimonies can pivot the direction of an investigation.

✅ Documentation Is Key​

While there, take your own photos, make videos, draw diagrams, and take measurements. Assess the scene at different times to note changes in lighting or environment. Verify conditions like lighting at the time of the crime, which you can check online. Essentially, you're reconstructing the scene to match the crime's timing as closely as possible.

✅ A New Perspective on Case Materials​

After visiting the scene, reviewing case documents will shed new light on the details, offering you a deeper understanding of the context.

I encourage all of the legal team, not just investigators, to make early scene visits a standard practice.

Have you found scene visits impactful in your cases?