Crime scene and trauma cleanup
Crime scene cleanup in Stockton
After police have finished, someone still has to deal with the room. Call and you are connected with an independent trauma scene cleanup company that works in Stockton.
Lines answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
What happens after police leave
Police and investigators work the scene first. Once they are done, the property goes back to the owner or the family, and the cleaning is not something police or the city do. That is the point where people usually look for help.
In California, businesses that remove blood, body fluids and other residue after a serious injury or death have to register with the California Department of Public Health and follow the Trauma Scene Waste Management Act. The waste they remove is handled as medical waste, not household trash.
Before anyone starts, ask the officer or investigator whether the scene has been released. If you are not sure, the company you speak with can tell you what to check.
The work
What the cleanup company does
- Looks at the whole area, including places that are easy to miss: under flooring, inside walls, behind baseboards and on soft furnishings.
- Sets up a work area, often with plastic sheeting over doorways, so the rest of the home stays clean.
- Removes porous materials that absorbed fluids, such as carpet and pad, drywall sections or a mattress.
- Cleans and disinfects hard surfaces and treats odor.
- Packs the waste in medical waste containers and takes it to a permitted facility.
Before you book
Questions to ask on the phone
You can ask any of these on the first call. A reputable company will answer them plainly.
- Are you registered with the California Department of Public Health as a trauma scene waste management practitioner?
- Will you give me a written price before work starts, and what could change it?
- Which materials do you expect to remove, and will you show me before you do?
- Can you work with my insurer or with a CalVCB claim by providing an itemized invoice and photos?
- How will the waste leave the home, and where does it go?
- Can I keep personal items or papers that are set aside during the work?
Questions
Crime scene: common questions
Do police or the city clean up after a crime?
No. Once the scene is released, cleaning is the responsibility of the property owner or the family. Many people do not know this until it happens to them.
Can CalVCB help with the cost?
Possibly. The California Victim Compensation Board lists crime scene cleanup as an eligible expense when a crime happened in a residence or vehicle, and only for work by a provider registered with the California Department of Public Health. See who pays for cleanup.
Do I need to be there while the work is done?
Usually not for the whole job. Someone has to let the company in and agree to the work. Many families choose to stay elsewhere until it is finished.
Other situations
Other cleanup situations
- Unattended Death CleanupWhen someone died alone and was not found right away. Includes odor and decomposition cleanup.
- Suicide CleanupQuiet, discreet cleanup after a suicide, so family members do not have to do it.
- Blood and Bodily Fluid CleanupAfter an injury, a fall, an accident or a serious illness at home.
- Hoarding Cleanup with BiohazardsWhen a hoarded home has animal or human waste, needles or rotting food in it.
- Infectious Disease DisinfectionCleaning and disinfection after illness or contamination with infectious material.
- Vehicle Biohazard CleanupBlood or bodily fluids in a car, truck or van after an injury, death or crime.
- Needle and Sharps CleanupUsed needles found in a home, a rental unit, a yard or a business.
When you are ready
One call to a cleanup company that serves Stockton
Say what happened, where, and roughly when. The company will ask a few questions, explain what the work involves and arrange a visit if you want one.
Talk to a biohazard cleanup company
Your call is connected with an independent cleanup company that works in Stockton and San Joaquin County. You can ask questions first. There is no obligation to book.
Call (209) 555-0161Lines answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Calls may be recorded. Read the referral disclosure and the privacy policy.