Crime scene inspection...is it really done in the dark?

Question

I know TV distorts this stuff a lot. Why is it they are always going over crime scenes in the dark? I'd want all the lights on so I could see everything.

Answer 1

No. Not really.
TV uses dark to make it seem more mysterious. Add to the suspense.
They are right that blacklights bring out things like blood and semen and what not. So if going over an area with one of those blacklights, yes they will make it as dark as possible. But on the contrary when taking prints and looking for evidence its is actually quite well lit. Day vision is superior to nightvision, and most CSI's dont have the infamous "CSI vision". Believe it or not you cant see hairs in the carpet from 6 feet up and ten feet away....

Answer 2

It makes for better TV.

In reality, some crime scenes are given an initial inspection in the dark if a major crime occurs at night. Law enforcement simply does not want to lose the six or seven hours if they can find something that helps the investigation. (There is a general belief based on experience that the first 48 hours of an investigation are the most crucial.) In such cases, however, they typically go back over the scene more thoroughly once there is daylight.

In addition, there are certain parts of processing a scene (e.g. using luminol to search for blood or semen) that works better in the absence of a bright light source other than the black light used in the process.

Answer 3

It's done in the dark so as to collet as much info as pos sible in the least amount of lapst time since the crime was committed. There would be a daylight investigation and inspection also for missed clues, unexpected evidence etc.

Answer 4

I hadn't noticed that it's always done in the dark. Maybe it's for special effects to add to the ambience. Someone else once asked why the streets always looked wet in night scenes. The answer was, they were wet down so it would show the streets better.

Answer 5

NEVER USE TV to judge what police do. NEVER. They are NEVER accurate. CSI is a completely made up show. Most of the stuff in there is not even possible, let alone used in real police work.

And no, it is not done in the dark...unless its 3am in a park...

Answer 6

Initial visual inspection is done "as you find it" CSI and such has way more people trampling the crime scene than I would allow.

Answer 7

Part of it is just TV. It looks cooler that way.

But at some point they sweep the room in the dark though because they used blacklights (UV) to find washed away blood and other fluids that glow under the blacklight.

Answer 8

The only time the lights are off, is if the CSI is using Luminol to check for traces of blood.

Answer 9

hate to say this but theres 24hr. in a day and most of the crimes are in the dark.;;Q, whatga DOIN? LOOKIN 4 MY 10$, EHERE DID YA loose it o bout 100ft up da ROAD why ya lookin here? street light overhead,i can see better....THE"IS".

Answer 10

they are in the dark when they are looking for blood splatter they spray the area with luminal(sp) and it glows in the dark