Five Systematic Searching Techniques

There are five systematic searching techniques utilized by investigators during a crime scene investigation. The first technique is "a point-to-power movement which follows a chain of objects that are obviously items of evidence" (Lushbaugh & Weston, 2016). The second technique is an ever-widening circle, in which the searching officer begins their search at the main area or focal point of the scene and then works their way outward in either a clockwise or counter clockwise direction until all areas of the crime scene, both inner and outer reaches, are searched. The third technique is an ever-narrowing circle which is the exact reverse of the ever-widening circle technique. Therefore, the ever-narrowing circle is when the searching officer
starts on the outskirts of a crime scene and works their way inward to the main focal point of the scene. The fourth searching technique is a zone or sector search, this is where the "scene is subdivided into segments and each sector is searched as an individual unit" (Lushbaugh & Weston, 2016). The fifth and final technique is a strip or grid search that is used for outdoor areas where the area that will be searched is plotted. When starting a search using this method it begins at a sideline and moves across the plotted field to the other sideline, therefore, the ones who are searching the area will work back and forth across the field until the whole area is covered. Once the strip search is done then the grid search begins, it covers the same area but is searched at right angles to the previous search pattern. "Metal or wood stakes and heavy cord are used to direct and control outdoor searches" (Lushbaugh & Weston, 2016).