The article is devoted to the study of the scene as an investigative action, which is an important mean of obtaining information during the investigation of escape from the place of imprisonment. The success of the investigation in many cases depends on the quality of this investigative action, as the information obtained during the scene inspection might possess evidentiary features. In this case, often the actual data obtained as a result of the survey that cannot be obtained from other sources. The special significance of the inspection of the scene is indicated by the fact that this is the first investigative action after the opening of criminal proceedings (in some cases it is carried out before the starting of criminal proceedings); the closest in time and space collision of the investigator with the event of the crime itself. At the same time, the inspection is the most time-consuming action: it can take many hours. It is the inspection of the scene allows establishing a large amount of evidence relating to all elements of the crime - the object, the objective side, the subject and the subjective side. In addition, conducting a survey of the area or premises requires the use of a number of tactics and forensic techniques.