After any crime, but especially after a violent crime, crime victims are left with a horrible mess to deal with. Broken glass, fingerprint dust, and sometimes blood and tissues need to be cleaned and discarded. Beyond the clutter and damage, there is a very real danger from biological hazards. That is why after a crime, violent crime, and police response, you need a qualified crime scene cleaning company. Most crime scene cleaning falls into one of four categories.

• Murder scenes – Homicides are especially traumatic clean-up situations. Crime scene cleanup involves the removal and cleaning or disposal of items that have been contaminated with biohazard materials such as body fluids, blood, or tissue matter. Crime scene cleanup technicians are trained in homicide cleanup. They are experts in tracking and repairing areas that have been contaminated, areas that the untrained eye would not see. Whenever a firearm is used, there is often as much material that cannot be seen as there is visible
• Robbery scenes – Robbery victims are often in a state of great stress and agitation. There is a feeling of violation and a persistent threat resulting from theft that makes it difficult, if not impossible, for crime victims to remain on the scene. A professional crime cleanup team can ease the pain of theft by removing evidence of the crime. Additionally, a trained crime scene cleaner can spot undiscovered evidence that could help police catch the thief that the inexperienced eye might miss.
• Fingerprint Dust Removal – One of the most annoying and time-consuming aspects of crime scene cleaning is fingerprint dust removal. Crime scene investigators must be liberal in applying fingerprint powder to ensure a thorough investigation. By design, fingerprint dust is very fine, spreads easily, and sticks to everything. In fact, attempts by hobbyists to wipe dust off fingerprints usually only make the situation worse.
• Blood cleansing – The most dangerous aspect of crime scene cleanup is biohazard removal. Blood, body fluids, and body tissues can carry pathogens and the risk of blood-borne diseases. Only trained people should clean blood or body fluids. Blood and body fluids can get into fabrics, upholstery and carpets, seep into furniture, even down to the subfloor. A trained blood cleaning technician understands the depth required to completely eliminate the threat of lingering odors and potential biohazards.

Most crime scene cleaning services are covered by property insurance. Before hiring any company, ask if they will work directly with your insurer to help you file your insurance claim and ensure complete decontamination of the trauma scene. In some cases, there are state victim assistance programs that will pay for services for those who are uninsured or whose insurance will not cover the type of loss. In the end, a thorough crime scene cleaning is worth the time and expense. It is a relief in times of crisis and ensures the complete elimination of hazardous waste and biological hazards.

By Scott Jemison, Contributor