What should you look for in an outdoor crime scene?

• A. Only items found near the body.
• B. Items that are easy to photograph.
• C. Colorful items only.
• D. Anything with probative value.

Answer: (C)

In outdoor crime scenes, you want items that stand out from the surroundings. Bright, colorful items contrast with soil, leaves, grass, and rocks, making them easier to notice, track, and photograph with detail. That visual contrast helps you spot potential clues you might otherwise miss in a cluttered or natural background, and it preserves color information that can be important for later comparisons and analysis. This approach doesn’t replace a thorough check of all potentially relevant evidence, but starting with conspicuously colored objects is a practical way to quickly identify items that could have probative value and merit closer examination.