When protecting the crime scene during an assault investigation, what is the primary goal?

The primary goal of protecting a crime scene during an assault investigation is to avoid further contamination. This is crucial because the integrity of the evidence collected plays a pivotal role in the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings. Once a crime scene is compromised, vital evidence such as fingerprints, DNA, and other physical clues can be altered or destroyed, hindering an investigator's ability to piece together what occurred.

Maintaining the crime scene is essential for ensuring that all evidence remains in its original state, allowing investigators to conduct a thorough analysis without the interference of outside elements. This helps to uphold the chain of custody, which is critical for the admissibility of evidence in court. While collecting evidence efficiently, recording witness statements, and establishing jurisdiction are also important aspects of the investigation, they come after ensuring that the scene remains untampered with, as the evidence collected will be central to all subsequent steps in the investigative process.