Which of the following is the first step in typical crime-scene processing?

• A. Document and photograph the scene
• B. Collect and preserve evidence
• C. Secure the scene
• D. Interview witnesses

Answer: (C)

Securing the scene is the first action because it protects safety and preserves evidence integrity from the moment investigators arrive. Establishing a perimeter, controlling who can enter, and logging access prevents contamination, loss, or alteration of potential evidence and helps investigators accurately reconstruct what happened. Once the scene is secured, other steps—documenting and photographing the scene, collecting and preserving evidence, and interviewing witnesses—can be carried out in a manner that maintains reliability and minimizes further disturbance. If documentation or collection happened before securing, evidence could be compromised and memories or conditions at the scene could be unintentionally altered.