Why place personnel as barricades away from the crime scene?

• A. To prevent contamination of the scene by other people
• B. To shorten the radius of the perimeter
• C. To allow media access
• D. To organize the shift changes

Answer: (A)

Protecting evidence and preserving the scene by controlling access. Placing personnel as barricades away from the crime scene creates a buffer that reduces the chance that people nearby will touch, move, or contaminate potential evidence. This helps maintain trace materials in their original state, supports an intact chain of custody, and allows investigators to work without interference. It also enhances safety by keeping inmates and nonessential staff out of the immediate work zone while still directing authorized access through designated points. The goal is to manage who can enter and how close the area is, not to shrink the protective area or to grant media access or organize shifts at the scene. Shortening the radius would weaken protection; early media access can contaminate evidence; and arranging shift changes at the scene would disrupt the investigation.