Which of the following is NOT one of the basic steps crime scene investigators engage in?

The process of crime scene investigation generally consists of specific steps that ensure thorough and systematic handling of evidence. Among these steps, the function of collecting evidence, documenting the scene, and analyzing findings are all fundamental to the investigation. Collecting involves the physical gathering of artifacts and biological samples, documenting involves taking notes, photographs, and sketches, and analyzing refers to the assessment of the collected evidence to draw conclusions about the crime.

Interviewing, while an important part of the investigative process, typically occurs outside the initial crime scene examination. interviewing witnesses and victims is crucial for understanding the context of the crime, but it is not considered a basic step performed by crime scene investigators at the scene itself. Instead, it is more aligned with the broader investigative efforts that follow the crime scene examination. Therefore, the identification of interviewing as not being one of the core steps engaged specifically by crime scene investigators accurately distinguishes it from the essential activities that address the physical and logistical aspects of crime scene management.