Thanks for the handsomely researched answer. "Checklist" is the proper term to be used, whose purpose is to remind the investigator-on-case of what to do during crime scene investigation. To be more convinced, take note of the following:

CRIME SCENE PROTOCOLS AND CHECKLISTS

Many instructors, myself included, hesitate to expose students to the checklist approach to something as important as criminal investigation. The problem is there will always be someone who follows the checklist so closely they never learn anything, but are capable of going thru the motions. Crime scene analysis is so situation- and logic-dependent that it defies standardization. So that having been said, and with full awareness that checklists can be easily found elsewhere and are frequently used by rookies as well as a few police departments, here's some basic crime scene protocols that should be adhered to at all crime scenes.

The most generic protocol consists of the following steps: 1. INTERVIEW, 2. EXAMINE, 3. PHOTOGRAPH, 4. SKETCH, and 5. PROCESS. This means that there should be a lot of communicating going on in the early stages. Examine in this context does not mean looking for evidence, but it does mean looking around to establish boundaries, find witnesses and possible suspects. Photography always comes before sketching and searching. Processing means searching for, collecting, and packaging evidence. Note-taking occurs throughout all the steps.

Another tried and true protocol involves 17 steps, and is provided by Gardner (2004) as follows: (1) Initial NOTIFICATION, (2) Coordination, Assessment, and Team CALLOUT, (3) Conduct initial OBSERVATIONS, (4) Deal with DECEASED, (5) PHOTOGRAPH the scene, (6) DOCUMENT overall observations, (7) SKETCH the scene, (8) Conduct a first RECHECK, (9) Release the BODY, (10) Collect items of EVIDENCE, (11) Conduct a second RECHECK of the scene, (12) Conduct a third RECHECK of the scene, (13) Check BEYOND the scene, (14) Conduct an on-site DEBRIEFING of the investigative team, (15) RELEASE or secure the scene, (16) Process and PACKAGE evidence, and (17) Conduct a FORMAL debriefing. The following is an expanded checklist for all crime scenes:

I. APPROACHING AND STABILIZING

A. OBSERVE PERSONS AND VEHICLES NEAR SCENE

B. NOTE TIME, ADDRESS, WEATHER, AND ANY ODORS

C. DIVIDE UP DUTIES/DIVISION OF LABOR. Talk with first responders to ascertain extent of contamination. Identify principal and lead investigator and other officials at scene to work out your role in the investigation.

D. ESTABLISH SCENE SAFETY PRIOR TO ENTRY. Protect integrity of the scene from contamination by people, animals, elements. Remove risks from hostile crowds, collapsing structures, traffic, and environmental threats.

II. PRESERVING AND INTERVIEWING

A. ESTABLISH PERIMETERS, COMMAND POST, GARBAGE DUMP, AND MEDIA CENTER (Set up boundaries and staging areas by conducting scans, surveys, or "walk throughs" without actually walking through anything)

B. INSPECT FOR SUSPECT ENTRY AND EXIT POINTS (Document the scene's location, address, mile marker, or building name)

C. DETERMINE YOUR ENTRY AND EXIT POINT (Usually not the same as the suspect's unless the situation dictates otherwise)

D. RECORD INITIAL ACCOUNTS OF THE INCIDENT FROM WITNESSES (Engage in briefings with other personnel as needed; keep eyewitnesses separate so they don't talk to one another)

III. PROCESSING (PHOTOGRAPH, SKETCH, SEARCH)

A. PHOTOGRAPH ENTIRE SCENE (with wide-angle views), TELL A STORY, PHOTO OBJECTS TWICE AND WITH SCALES (Begin to establish a chain of custody by identifying what kind of evidence is at the scene and who will be the custodian of it)

B. SKETCH TO SCALE OR NOT TO SCALE ACCORDING TO APPROPRIATENESS OF SITUATION (This becomes part of written narrative which correlates with photographic documentation and denotes any evidence that has been moved)

(1) COORDINATE METHOD IF FIXED POINTS, INDOORS USUALLY

(2) TRIANGULATION METHOD IF REFERENCE POINTS, OUTDOORS USUALLY

(3) CROSS-PROJECTION METHOD IF WALLS RELEVANT, INDOORS ALWAYS

(4) COMPUTER SKETCHING SOFTWARE

C. SEARCH THE SCENE

(1) SPIRAL (circular from outside in or inside out) USEFUL IF LIMITED PERSONNEL AT SCENE AND/OR WIDE OPEN FLAT AREA WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR LARGE OBJECTS

(2) STRIP (aka LINE) The area is divided into north-south strips, and a team of 6+ people walk parallel to one another. USEFUL IF TEAMS ARE AVAILABLE AND YOU'RE OPEN TO THE POSSIBILITIES OF ALL KINDS OF EVIDENCE. Stakes and twine are sometimes used to keep lanes straight.

(3) GRID (area is divided into north-south and east-west strips. This allows a secondary search of each area from a different direction.) USEFUL IF TEAMS ARE AVAILABLE, YOU'VE GOT A LARGE AREA, AND ARE LOOKING FOR HARD-TO-FIND EVIDENCE. If stakes, twine, and mapping are used, your search is imitating archeological methods.

(4) ZONE (the area, usually a room, is divided into equal size zones, and each zone is assigned a searcher.) USEFUL IF TEAMS ARE AVAILABLE AND TRACE EVIDENCE IS YOUR MAIN CONCERN. Sometimes, a multijurisdictional scene will involve zones.

(5) SECTOR (aka WHEEL or PIE) (a large area is divided into pie slices, and then the same or different search patterns are used in each zone.) USEFUL IF THE SCENE IS LARGE AND YOU'VE GOT DIFFERENT KINDS OF EVIDENCE SPREAD OUT ALL OVER THE PLACE. It is rarely done on foot, and more likely involves the aerial search pattern that the Coast Guard uses.

D. COLLECT EVIDENCE (Following local, State, and Federal laws for collection and admissibility) In presence of a witness, INVENTORY, COLLECT, and SAFEGUARD any drugs, paraphernalia, medication, money, valuables, or personal property. Participate in any scene debriefing to determine post-scene responsibilities, share data, and determine need for specialists.

SPECIALIZED CHECKLIST PROCEDURES

VIOLENT CRIMES


PROPERTY CRIMES
1. APPROACHING - Observe persons carefully, odors, elements. Exercise extreme safety.

2. CONFIRM OR DISCONFIRM DEATH - Locate and view the body, noting the success, failure, or futility of resuscitative efforts.

2. PRESERVING - Establish perimeter. Set up command post. Determine suspect's point of entry and egress and your own.

3. PROCESSING - Photograph scene, body, and face. Place markers. Photograph markers. Photograph body. Sketch the scene. Search the scene. Examine evidence in detail. Take notes. Tag and bag. Describe and document.

4. IDENTIFY THE VICTIM - Estimate cause, manner, and time of death. Obtain exemplars and controls. Look for ID. Look for drag marks. Note discrepancies in mortis and body temperature.

5. NOTIFY NEXT OF KIN (and be prepared to assist the family through an autopsy and financial advice).

6. DEVELOP THEORY OF MOTIVE - Rely upon evidence, knowledge of victim's activities, appearance of victim's clothing. See if any documents written by or sent to victim recently. Determine pre-scene activity and health status (physical & mental) of victim.

7. SEEK ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - Do background and history checks (marital, family, sexual, employment, financial, daily routine, friends, religion, education, criminal history). Obtain leads from who knew the victim. Challenge discrepancies in witness' knowledge of the victim or lack of corroboration with other witnesses. Order warrants on suspects.

8. QUESTIONING - Question all suspects. Make use of evidence during questioning. Use information withheld from public about case to obtain confession. Destroy alibis.
1. APPROACHING - Observe vehicles carefully, be inconspicuous. Set up surveillance and backup teams.

2. PRESERVING - Use diagonal coverage. Avoid further contamination than necessary. Use garbage dump. Determine modus operandi (type of building, entry, loot, time of operation, partner usage, trademarks).

3. PROCESSING - Photograph exterior/interior, points of entry/exit. Take precise measurements of impressions, tool marks. Diagram crime scene.

4. INTERVIEW VICTIM - Obtain whereabouts, acquaintances, recent visitors, and list of stolen property. Check for history of insurance claims. Take family history.

5. FINGERPRINTING - Determine if identifiable clues remain -- prints that don't match exemplars of those at scene, tool marks, footprints outside, fibers if appropriate. Photograph or diagram both prior and after removing or lifting.

6. USE VICTIM AS INVESTIGATOR- To determine if anything out of place or has been moved. If suspect helped themself to food, drink, urinated or defecated.

7. CANVASS - Conduct canvass of neighborhood for suspect and vehicle descriptions.

8. SURVEILLANCE - Keep home under watch. Track down possible receivers and suspects. Work an informant.

9. EVIDENCE TRACING - Prioritize property list. Check pawn receipts. Use police records. Use open sources of information.

10. NOTIFY - Other departments of property list and modus operandi.

11. DECOY OR STING - Offer opportunities the suspect finds especially attractive

Since you are the only responder, your answer can be adjudged as the best answer. Congrats and God bless!!!

If no other responder would surface to give much better answer, then your answer would become the "Best Answer." Congrats again!

Congrats!!