CSI: Scene Documentation

CSI: Scene Documentation

Introduction

There are proper procedures and protocol involved in processing a crime

scene. One of the most important of these is documenting the crime
scene. Such a process involves photography, note taking and reports,
sketches, measurements and recording names of people in charge of
collecting evidence, and the dates and times those people were present.
In many cases, poor scene documentation can lead to inadmissible
evidence in a court of law, or missed evidence that may allow a guilty
party to get away with a crime against persons or property. We will offer
the most common methods of recording such evidence.

Properly processing a crime scene involves many different people using a

wide variety of media or methods to record data, provide a timeline of the
investigation, as well as how the crime scene was approached and
evidence was identified, marked and collected for analysis.

A crime scene investigator must always keep in mind that criminal lab
testing personnel, lawyers, and even jurors will consider all evidence at
some later point in time. When developing a plan of action to identify and
gather evidence from any crime scene, the crime scene investigator must
follow departmental procedures and protocol in order to assure that all
collected evidence will be admissible in a court of law. Proper collection,
documentation, identification of evidence and who collected the evidence
and how particular items were retrieved may be of extreme importance in
trial.

While it is impossible to anticipate the vagaries of lawyer's objections or a

juror's need to know specifics in any particular case, the better prepared
the crime scene investigator is to answer any questions presented to him
at a later point in time, and even during trial, the stronger the case
against the suspect will be. Therefore, it is advisable that crime scene
technicians or investigators always practice diligence and attention to
detail when processing every crime scene.
Notes

For this reason, extensive note taking is recommended and is perhaps the
most important aspect of the crime scene investigation, short of the
identification and retrieval of evidence. For if the evidence can be shown
to have been improperly collected or handled, or if it can be proven that
the evidence chain-of-custody has been broken, the value and authenticity
of that evidence can, and probably will be, questioned in the future.

There are several factors which differentiate good note taking from bad
note taking:

Notes should be thorough and as complete as possible

Notes should detail every step and process of the crime scene
investigation.

Notes should be in chronological order and taken as events

during the investigation occur.

Notes should have accurate measurements to specify direction

of evidence found (i.e., 7 inches south of east corner of table).

In addition, initial notes taken by crime scene investigators should

include:

Data and time crime reported.

Type of crime.

Location of crime scene(s) and description of area

Names of personnel who took photographs, drew the crime

scene sketch, collected fingerprints, etc.

Location of evidence found and name of person or officer who

collected it.

Description of interior and exterior of crime scene, if

applicable.

Weather and light conditions during crime scene investigation.

Of course, these are just a few of the considerations that a crime scene
investigator should observe in notes as the investigation progresses.

Photographs
When it comes to taking photographs of the crime scene, several
different methods of approach are available. However, the first rule at
every crime scene should be, don't touch until photographs have been
taken! Clear, well-focused photographs are an essential and valuable tool
for crime scene analysis and should offer an uncontaminated view of the
crime scene. Both close up shots as well as overview shots should be
taken, and the number of each is dependent on the situation, location
and circumstances of the crime.

There are different types of cameras that may take crime scene
photographs, though the most common is the 35-mm single lens reflex
camera. Such a choice is not only due to the clarity of photographs
produced by this type of camera, but also due to the cost of film and its
user-friendly format. However, many law enforcement agencies also
approve what are called "Point and Shoot" cameras that don't require
special focusing, as many people are not adept at providing perfectly
focused shots and many crime scene photos are poor in quality and
focus if not taken by the right people.

Instant cameras such as Polaroid cameras are often used for instant
identification purposes only, as the quality of such photos is usually
poorer than those obtained from 35-mm cameras. Such cameras may be
used to provide photos of victims, vehicles and property for quick
identification purposes.

Today, the digital camera is perhaps the most common among both
consumers and law enforcement agencies, as their quality has greatly
increased over the last few years. The convenience of storing
photographic images on a disk that can be immediately accessed via
computer and the capability of inserting photographs directly into police
reports are added bonuses.

When photographing a crime scene, several factors can greatly enhance

not only the quality of photographs, but also the thoroughness in which
the crime scene has been memorialized. For example, photographs of
the following should always be taken at a crime scene:

Witnesses

Close-up photos of the victim and surroundings

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Location of crime scene

Evidence

Witness photographs don't mean photos of the witness, per se. It means
taking photographs of the crime scene as a witness would see it. In this
case, the crime scene photographer is the "witness" to the crime scene.
These photos should show the victim from various directions and
distances. Overlapping photographs should be taken, either working in a
clockwise or counterclockwise motion.

Location photos should be taken of the immediate crime scene, as well

as surrounding areas. For example, if the crime scene is in a bedroom,
photos should be taken of the bedroom, as well as the hallway and other
rooms in the house, as well as yards and garages. While this may seem
to be overdoing it, remember the possibility that "anything and
everything may become evidence". Better to take too many photos than
not enough.

Close-up photos should be taken to offer greater clarity of a crime scene.

In general, at least two photos should be taken of the victim and any
evidence. One photo should include the scene as it is in a "witness" shot,
the other with the use of a measuring tape, ruler, or some other item
that may be used to specify size, distance or measurement.

Evidence photographs are extremely important not only for the present
and ongoing crime scene investigation procedure, but for those events
that will take place later, such as trials. It is essential that photographs
of evidence be taken before it is touched or moved in any way. If a
photograph shows that evidence may have been moved or otherwise
contaminated prior to a photograph being taken, it may be considered
inadmissible in a court of law.

Photographs should be made of any and all physical evidence found at

the scene of a crime, including finger and footprints, blood evidence,
weapons and the body of the victim. Close-up photographs of any
defense wounds and other wounds to the body should be taken.

When photographing any of the above, the crime scene photographer

should also keep a photo log to document the types of photos, who took
the photos, the date and time such photographs were taken, as well as
details such as camera shutter speed, type of film used and brief
descriptions of the photos.

For crime scene photographs, a typical and common 50-mm lens should
be used to provide proper perspective of the scene photographs. Any
lens changes should be noted in the photo log.

A crime scene investigator who takes any photographs at a crime scene

should take care, if at all possible, not to include other officers or
equipment in the crime scene photos. It is important for a crime scene
photograph to depict the crime scene as an "invisible witness" of sorts.

It is highly recommended that CSI's in training receive at least a brief

introduction to photography and the basic equipment used for
photographing crime scenes in order to familiarize themselves with
focusing 35-mm cameras and loading and unloading film safely in order
to produce the best, high-quality photographs possible.

Keep in mind that in order to be admissible in a court of law, all

photograph negatives be retained and preserved In this way the
photograph negatives be retained and preserved. In this way, the
authenticity of the photographs cannot be questioned.

Sketches and Diagrams

While photographs and notes are an important and vital part of any
crime scene investigation, sketches and diagrams that show
measurements are an indispensable tool in crime scene documentation.
A sketch is made to not only complement the photographs, but to offer a
wider representation of the crime scene. Such a "bird's-eye view" is
especially important when the crime scene is spread out over an area,
such as a house.

For example, the victim may be found in the bedroom, but he or she
may have been attacked in the different room in the house. The crime
scene sketch will be able to provide a more comprehensive view of the
entire crime scene than single photographs taken one room at a time.

In addition, a crime scene sketch will also show the placement of various
objects and evidence in relation to where the victim or body is found,
and may include evidence of bloodstains, smear, drops as well as the
path that the victim or perpetrator made through the house through the
use of directional arrows.

Many crime scene sketches will also include valuable measurements as

to where certain objects are found in relation to the body. A crime scene
sketch can be made of several different sheets of paper: the first
showing the entire location, the next of the room or general area the
victim is found, or even another that shows a specific diagram of various
pieces of evidence.

When constructing a crime scene sketch, several items of information

need to be included. These can include, but are not limited to:

Case number

Name of victim

Name of officer who drew the sketch

Date and time sketch was made

Scale, if required, and measurements between items on the

sketch

Directional reference points, (i.e., N, S, E, W)

A sketch legend or key to identify key items of evidence

A crime scene sketch done at the scene may be used for later reference
in perfecting the sketch or completing a more detailed sketch at a later
 time. However, the crime scene investigator or officer who drew the

sketch may be required, at a later point in time, to testify in court as to

its authenticity as a "true and accurate" description of the crime scene.

Conclusion

Remember that the crime scene investigator is responsible for the

accurate documentation of a crime scene. This means not only
documenting the obvious, such as a weapon or victim, but the not so
obvious as well. Through the use of notes, photographs and crime scene
sketches, the thorough examination of a crime scene incorporates more
than one method of documentation. While the number of photographs
taken will, again, depend on the situation, always try to obtain a well-
rounded view of the initial crime scene and its surroundings before the
scene is examined for evidence. While at times the crime scene
photographer may have to work quickly, either because of
circumstances, weather or oncoming darkness, quality of the scene
documentations are an essential and extremely valuable aspect of the
entire investigation and care must be exercised to procure the best
photographs, the most thorough notes, and the most accurate crime
scene sketch as possible for a successful conclusion and disposition of
the case.

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