Which activity is not listed among the FBI's 12 steps of crime scene processing?

• A. Approach
• B. Secure the scene and protect the scene
• C. Capture the scene photographically
• D. Interview witnesses

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is understanding how the FBI structures crime scene processing as a sequence focused on preserving and documenting physical evidence. The steps emphasize getting to the scene, securing and protecting it, preventing contamination by separating witnesses, and thoroughly recording the scene—through notes, sketches, and especially photography. Capturing the scene photographically is a core part of documenting what the scene looks like, which helps preserve a visual record for later analysis.

Interviews with witnesses, while crucial to the investigation, are not part of the FBI’s listed field processing steps. Interviewing is typically conducted as part of the broader investigative phase after the scene has been secured and documented, and after witnesses have been separated to avoid collusion or contamination. So, the activity that isn’t among the formal 12 crime-scene processing steps is interviewing witnesses.