Forensic Photography

By: Jasmine, Jess

Leah, Luis and Natalie
 History of Forensic Photography

• Alphonse Bertillon- father of forensic

photography
• Created system called “Bertillonage”
– First part was to make measurements of
certain body sections
– Next step was to mark general physical
descriptions of the criminal
– Third, was the mug shot
History of Forensic Photography (Cont.)
History of Forensic Photography (Cont.)
 History of Forensic Photography (Cont.)

From the mug shots, he was able to create charts with

pictures of different characteristics of the face
History of Forensic Photography (Cont.)
History of Forensic Photography (Cont.)

• Bertillon's system provided easy access

to someone’s previous criminal activity
• The use of disguises, false names and
alibis became ineffective
• This system was first used in France
and UK until the 1950s
• Had a statistical accuracy of 1 in 4
million
 Types of Crime Scenes
Burglaries
• First set of photographs
• Views of outside the building and surrounding
area
• Second set includes point of entry and exit
• This includes any impressions that have been
made resulting from the forced entry
• The object must be photographed next to
impression (To later identify it with the mark)
 Burglaries (Cont.)

• Interior photos
• Condition of rooms
• Anything left at the scene
• Trace evidence, fingerprints, and
impressions
• Areas where valuables were removed
 Homicides
• First set of photos
• Room body was discovered and the body
• Body
• Overhead, close-ups, and various angles
• Second Set
• Adjacent rooms, exterior of the location
• Third Set
• Impressions (Including scales)
• Fourth Set
• Signs of struggle and signs of activity
 Homicides (Cont.) and Rape Cases
• Last Set
• Trace evidence
• i.e. footprints or blood of the victim or suspect

Rape Cases
• Evidence of assault
• Signs of struggle
• Evidence of resistance by the victim
• Scene should be shot close-up and from an
aerial view
 Hangings
• Main purpose
• Prove death was a suicide, murder or accident

• Types of shots
• Torso and feet level of victim
• Overhead
• Presence of stool or other object
• Close-ups of the neck and item used
 Physical Evidence
• Physical evidence should capture objects that
show
• Crime has been committed
• Manner in which the crime was committed
• Help identify the offender
• First shot
• From a distance (background)
• Second and Third
• Close-ups with a large image size
• one with a ruler in frame, one without
 Admissibility in Court
• For photographic evidence to be deemed by
admissible in court by the judge, the
following methods must be used
• Crime scene remained undisturbed
• Photos must be taken of anything relevant to
the case
• Computer generated photos need expert
• If there is a witness, picture of the position and
angle where the witness would have seen it
• Documentation
 Admissibility in Court (Cont.)

• Photos can prove existence (If evidence

is lost)
• Cannot be submitted in court alone
• Someone to attest validity of photos
The End