What to Expect After Police Release a Crime Scene

After a violent crime, serious injury or death investigation, the property is usually held by law enforcement for a period while evidence is gathered. The moment you are allowed back in can be disorienting. Many people expect the scene to have been cleaned. It will not have been. This guide explains what release means, what you may find, and what to do next.

What "release" means

Release is the point when the investigating agency has finished its work at the location and returns control to the owner, tenant or business. Before release, nobody should enter, clean or remove anything without permission from investigators. After release, the property owner or occupant can enter and arrange cleanup.

Ask the officer or detective who releases the scene for:

• The case or report number
• A contact name and phone number for follow-up questions
• Confirmation of which areas are released, if only part of the property was held
• Whether any items were taken as evidence, and how to ask about their return later
• Information about victim services, if a crime was involved

What you may find when you return

It helps to be prepared. Depending on what happened, the property may contain:

• Blood or other bodily fluids on floors, walls, furniture or fixtures
• Fingerprint powder, which is fine and dark and spreads easily
• Chemical residue from evidence testing
• Markings, tape or numbered placards left by investigators
• Damage from forced entry, the incident itself or evidence collection, such as cut carpet or removed sections of wall
• Medical supplies left by emergency responders, which may include used items
• Disturbed belongings

If you are not ready to see the scene, you do not have to. A family member, friend, attorney or cleanup company can walk the property on your behalf with your permission.

Who is responsible for cleanup

Cleanup is the responsibility of whoever owns or controls the property: the homeowner, the landlord, the business or the agency. Police, fire departments and medical examiners do not clean scenes. For guidance on payment, see our guide on who pays for crime scene or death cleanup. Many states run crime victim compensation programs that may help with some costs after a crime.

Why professional cleanup is recommended

OSHA has stated that its Bloodborne Pathogens standard applies to companies that clean up blood after homicides, suicides and unattended deaths, and that waste from that work is regulated waste. OSHA has also addressed training expectations for workers who clean crime and accident scenes. Those rules exist because blood can carry disease and because contamination at crime scenes is often spread across several surfaces and rooms. A professional crew traces contamination, removes what cannot be saved, cleans and disinfects the rest, and packages waste properly.

Fingerprint powder deserves a brief mention. It is not usually a biohazard by itself, but it is fine, clings to surfaces, and smears when wiped. It is commonly addressed as part of scene cleanup.

A checklist for the first days

Safety and security

• Do not start cleaning blood or fluids yourself. See our guide on whether you can clean up blood yourself.
• Keep children and pets out of affected areas.
• Secure the property. If doors or windows were damaged, arrange temporary boarding or lock repair.
• If medical supplies or needles were left behind, do not pick them up with bare hands. See our guide on needles found on property.

Calls to make

• Your homeowners, renters or commercial insurer, to open a claim.
• Your landlord or property manager, if you rent.
• A biohazard cleanup company, to arrange an assessment.
• Your state's crime victim compensation program, if a crime was involved. Victim advocates at the police department or prosecutor's office can often help with the application.

Records to keep

• Case number and investigator contact
• Insurance claim number and adjuster name
• Photos of damage, taken from doorways if you feel able
• The cleanup company's written scope, invoice and summary

Our guide on insurance documentation has more detail.

Belongings and evidence

Investigators sometimes take items as evidence. Ask the investigating agency how and when those items may be returned; the answer depends on the case. For belongings that remain, a cleanup company should set aside personal items, papers and keepsakes rather than discarding them, and talk with you about anything that is contaminated. See our guide on a loved one's belongings after a traumatic death.

If the incident happened at a business

For businesses, scene release often comes with extra pressure to reopen. Keep the affected area closed until professional cleanup is finished, even if the rest of the premises reopens. Let employees know which areas are off limits, and do not ask staff to clean blood or bodily fluids unless they are trained and protected under your bloodborne pathogens program. Employers can learn more in our guide on workplace blood incidents. Your commercial property insurer should be notified promptly.

Media and neighbors

High-profile incidents can draw attention. You are not obligated to speak to reporters. A discreet cleanup company will park and work without drawing unnecessary attention. If privacy is important to you, say so when you call.

Looking after yourself

Returning to a place where something traumatic happened can bring up intense feelings, even weeks later. Victim advocates, counselors, faith leaders and support groups can help. If you are struggling, you can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support at any time.

When to call a professional

Call a biohazard cleanup company as soon as the scene is released, especially if there is blood, bodily fluids or odor. New Dawn Bio Restoration confirms the scene has been released before walking the area, then provides a written scope and price before work begins. You can contact us or call 615-914-0790. Please call to confirm availability for your location.

Related services

• Blood cleanup

  Removal and disinfection of blood and the materials it has soaked into, whether the spill is small or large, recent or days old.

• Trauma scene cleanup

  Cleanup of blood and bodily fluids after a serious injury, including self-inflicted injuries, where the person was taken for care.

• Crime scene cleanup

  Cleanup after police have released a scene, including blood and fluids as well as the powders and chemicals used during an investigation.

• Homicide scene cleanup

  Discreet cleanup after a homicide, coordinated with the victim's family or the property owner once investigators have released the scene.

Related guides

• Who Pays for Crime Scene or Death Cleanup?

  Crime scene and death cleanup is usually the property owner's responsibility, not the police department's. Payment most often comes from homeowners or commercia

• Can I Clean Up Blood Myself? Risks and When to Call a Professional

  A small amount of blood from a minor household cut is an everyday event. A larger amount from a serious injury, death or crime is different: blood can carry blo

• What to Do With a Loved One's Belongings After a Traumatic Death

  After a traumatic death, only belongings that were contaminated need a prompt decision, for health reasons. Everything else can wait until the family is ready.