Crime scene cleanup: who does it, who pays, how long it takes

Who does crime scene cleanup?

Crime scene cleanup is done by private companies, often called trauma or biohazard cleanup companies. Police, medical examiners and fire departments do not do it. Their job ends when they collect evidence, remove the person who died and release the scene. After that, the property owner or the family is responsible for the cleanup and usually hires a crew.

Two things set a real trauma crew apart from a general cleaning service. The first is worker protection. OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, applies to any job where workers may contact blood or other potentially infectious materials. Employers must have a written exposure control plan, provide protective equipment at no cost, offer the hepatitis B vaccine at no cost and train workers at least once a year. OSHA has said in writing that the standard applies to companies that clean up blood after accidents.

The second is a working standard. The IICRC publishes ANSI/IICRC S540, the industry standard for trauma and crime scene cleanup, now in its 2023 second edition. It also offers a Trauma and Crime Scene Technician (TCST) certification. The certification has no prerequisites, so treat it as one useful signal, not proof of quality. Our guide to IICRC certifications explains the other credentials you may see.

What happens during a crime scene cleanup?

Most trauma crews follow the same broad sequence. Knowing it helps you read an estimate and ask good questions.

1. Walk-through and scope. The crew looks at how far blood or fluids spread, including what you cannot see, such as fluid under flooring.
2. Containment. The affected area is closed off so contamination does not spread to the rest of the home.
3. Removal. Soaked porous materials are cut out and bagged. These often include carpet and pad, mattresses, upholstered furniture and sometimes drywall or subfloor.
4. Cleaning and disinfection. Hard surfaces are cleaned first, then disinfected.
5. Odor control. Odor treatment comes after the source is removed, not instead of removing it.
6. Waste disposal. OSHA treats this waste as regulated waste. It goes in closable, leak-resistant, labeled or red containers and is disposed of under state and local rules.
7. Final walk-through. You or your representative should get photos and an itemized invoice.

Repairs, such as new carpet or drywall, are usually a separate job by a restoration contractor. Our page on mitigation vs restoration explains how cleanup and rebuild are usually split and billed.

How long does crime scene cleanup take?

Crime scene cleanup usually takes a few hours to a few days. HomeGuide gives that range for most biohazard jobs and says heavy contamination can take several weeks. Fixr says a crime scene can take up to several days.

The time depends on a few things:

• How far fluids spread. One room with hard floors is very different from fluids that soaked through carpet into the subfloor.
• How long before discovery. A death that went unnoticed for days, especially in heat, means more material removal and more odor work.
• What has to come out. Cutting out flooring, drywall or cabinets adds time.
• Investigation residue. Fingerprint powder, chemical agents or tear gas residue add cleaning steps.

Repairs come after the cleanup and run on their own schedule, from days to weeks. Ask the cleanup company for two timelines in writing: one for the biohazard work and one for any rebuild it is quoting.

Who pays for crime scene cleanup?

Several payers may cover part or all of a crime scene cleanup. Homeowners or renters insurance is usually the first call. State victim compensation programs can help after a crime, as a payer of last resort after insurance. If someone died, the estate may pay. In a rental, the landlord may be responsible for parts of the work.

Victim compensation rules matter most on timing. In Florida, the Attorney General’s schedule of benefits pays up to $1,500 for crime scene cleanup, and only for costs incurred within 7 days of the crime. Florida law makes the award a payment of last resort that follows all other sources (s. 960.13). Texas and California have their own limits.

Our full guide to who pays for biohazard cleanup compares each payer and lists the state allowances side by side.

What does crime scene cleanup cost?

Published cost guides do not agree, and most jobs are priced by the hour. Fixr lists crime scene cleanup at $400 to $600 per hour and says homicide or suicide cleanups can reach $25,000. HomeGuide puts most biohazard cleanups at $1,500 to $5,000 total and does not give a crime-scene-only figure.

The biggest cost drivers are the size of the affected area, how much material has to be removed and how long the job takes. Ask for a written estimate that separates cleanup from any repairs, because insurers and victim compensation programs often treat the two differently. Our biohazard cleanup cost page compares the published figures and lists what an itemized quote should include.

What should you ask a crime scene cleanup company?

You may be making these calls on one of the worst days of your life. A short list of questions helps. Ask a friend to make the calls if that is easier.

For a broader list, see our questions to ask a restoration company.

Florida: what to know about crime scene cleanup

Florida has three rules worth knowing on day one.

Report the crime promptly. Florida’s victim compensation statute generally bars an award if the crime was reported to law enforcement more than 5 days after it happened, unless there is good cause (s. 960.13). The Attorney General’s claim form describes this as 120 hours.

The cleanup allowance is tied to the home and the timing. Florida’s program rules define crime scene cleanup as removing biohazardous substances after a violent crime in the victim’s private residence or conveyance. The work must be done by a government-authorized provider. The schedule of benefits caps it at $1,500 for costs incurred within 7 days of the crime.

Biomedical waste is regulated. Florida law defines biomedical waste to include human blood, blood products and body fluids. The Department of Health requires permits for people who generate, store or treat it, with an exemption for very small generators (s. 381.0098). Ask your cleanup company how it handles this.

The Attorney General’s victim compensation information line is 1-800-226-6667.

Taking care of yourself after a traumatic death

There is no right way to feel after a violent or sudden death. Grief, shock, numbness and anger are all common, and they can come and go for a long time.

You do not have to be at the home while the work is done. A friend, relative, executor or property manager can meet the crew, sign the scope and do the final walk-through. Ask the company to photograph each step so you do not have to see the scene again.

If the death was a crime, Florida’s victim compensation program can also help with grief counseling and funeral or burial costs, subject to its rules. Ask the investigating agency whether a victim advocate can help you apply.

If you are struggling, you can call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, any time. The 988 Lifeline offers free, confidential support for emotional distress, not only for people in crisis. For first steps after a death or crime, see our biohazard emergency page and the biohazard hub.