Crime scene processing
The Crime Scene Program is a team of laboratory and investigation staff that respond to crime scenes throughout the state of Minnesota. Teams from both St. Paul and Bemidji are available round the clock. Laboratory and Investigative division staff will coordinate activities for scene response and determine which resources are needed based upon the circumstances.
Crime scene program goals
- Advise the requesting agency on securing the crime scene
- Document with photography, video and diagrams
- Ensure proper identification, handling, collection and packaging of evidence
- Perform specialty examinations to aid in event reconstruction
- Provide expert witness testimony when requested
Crime scene program response criteria
The Crime Scene Team will respond to requests for assistance in cases where there has been a violent crime against a person and that person is not able to immediately or effectively aid investigators in the investigation.
Generally, the Laboratory Crime Scene Team will respond to:
- Suspicious Deaths and Homicides
- Attempted Homicides or non-fatal shootings
- Abductions
- Death Investigations
- Officer Involved Use of Deadly Force
- Clandestine Grave Body Recoveries
Other situations encountered where the Laboratory Crime Scene Team may respond:
- Vehicles brought to the Laboratory garage associated with a felony offense
- Collection of major case prints at a Medical Examiner’s Office
- Requests limited to specialty examinations such as diagramming, bloodstain pattern analysis and shooting scene reconstruction
The Laboratory Crime Scene Team will not typically respond to:
- Burglaries
- Criminal Sexual Assaults
- Simple Assaults