Documenting the Crime

Scene

Getting Started
Record Information
 Who?
 What?
 Where?
 When?
 How?
 Why?
Field Notes
 Investigative notes are a permanent
written record of the facts of a case to be
used in further investigation, in writing
reports, and in prosecuting the case.
 Detailed notes can make or break a
conviction.
How to Take Notes
 Don’t include words such as: a, and, and
the
 Use standard abbreviations such as
mph, DWI, and Ave
Advantages of Photographs
 They can be taken immediately
 They accurately represent the crime
scene and evidence
 They create interest and increase
attention to testimony
Disadvantages of Photographs
 They are not selective
 They do not show actual distances
 They may be distorted and damaged by
mechanical errors in shooting or
processing
Common Photographic
Equipment
 35mm
 Digital camera
 Instant print camera
 Fingerprint camera
 Video equipment
Advantages of Digital Cameras
 Elimination of time and expense involved
in developing photographic film
 Quickly adaptable as e-mail attachments
 Easily incorporated into written reports
 Record information about each
photograph
 Consistency
What to Photograph
 Long-range pictures of the locality
 Medium-range pictures of the immediate
crime scene and objects of evidence
within the area or room
 Close-range pictures of specific
evidence
Photogrammetry
 Refers to the 3-D measurements of the real
world directly from photographs for use in
courts
 Can accurately locate and measure any object
appearing in two or more photographs
 Can automatically orient photographs taken
from awkward angles
 Can correct camera misalignment
Types of Investigative
Photography
 Surveillance Photography
 Aerial Photography
 Night Photography
 Laboratory Photography
 Mug Shots
 Lineup Photographs
Types of Laboratory
Photography
 Microphotography- takes pictures through a
microscope
 Macrophotography- enlarges a subject
 Laser-beam photography- reveals evidence
indiscernible to the naked eye
 Ultraviolet-light photography- uses the low end
of the color spectrum to make visible
impressions of bruises and injuries long after
their actual occurrence
What to Photograph
 Take sufficient photographs to
reconstruct the scene.
Such as:
• The Entrance Point

• The Crime Commission Area

• The Exit Point

Admissibility of Photographs in
Court
Photographs must be:
 Material

 Relevant

 Competent

 Accurate

 Free of Distortion

 Non-inflammatory
Crime Scene Sketches
 Accurately portray the physical facts
 Relate to the sequence of events at the scene
 Establish the precise location and relationship
of objects at the scene
 Help create a mental picture of the scene
 Permanent record of the scene
 Usually admissible in court
Crime Scene Sketches
• Sketch all serious crime and crash
scenes after photographs are taken and
before anything is moved.
Assists in:
• Interviewing and Interrogating people

• Preparing the investigative report

• Presenting the case in court

Materials for Making Scale
Drawings
Materials: Uses:
 Drawing Kit  Tools for drawing

 Triangular scale rule  Accurate Scaling

 Templates  Curves/odd shapes

 Indelible Ink  Permanent Finishing

 Drafting Table  Ease of drawing

 T-square  Accurate lines

 Drafting Paper  Absorbs color better

 Colors  Area comparison

Steps in sketching the scene
 1. Observe and plan
 2. Measure and outline the area
 3. Plot objects and evidence within the outline
 4. Make notes
 5. Identify the legend and the scale
 6. Reassess the sketch
 7. File the sketch
Step One: Observe and Plan
 Observe the scene as many times as
needed until you can recall facts and
placement.
 Plan in advance how you will process
the scene to avoid damaging evidence.
Step Two:
Measure and outline the Area
 All measurements must be accurate.
 Do not move items while measuring.
 Do not measure moveable items.
 Measure wall to wall.
 Determine the scale by taking the longest
measurement at the scene and dividing it by
the longest measurement of the paper used for
sketching.
 Ex: If you paper is 10in and the room is 100ft
long, the scale would be 1 inch equals 10ft
Step Two:
Measure and outline the Area
 Measure the doors and windows. (record the
measurements and determine if they open in
or out.)
 Sketch the location of physical objects of the
room.
 Place items of evidence and objects in the
sketch at the same time.
 Use numbers to designate items and letters to
designate evidence.
Step Two:
Measure and outline the Area
 Use exact measurements to show
location of evidence in a room and in
relation to all other objects.
 Measure and re-measure before you
leave the scene.
Step Three: Plotting Objects and
Evidence
 Rectangle-coordinate method- uses two
adjacent walls at which fixed points from which
distances are measured. (Restricted to
squared or rectangular areas)
 Baseline method-establishes a straight line
from one fixed point to another.
 Triangulation method-uses straight-line
measures from two fixed objects to the
evidence to create a triangle with the evidence
in the angle formed by the two straight lines.
Step Three: Plotting Objects and
Evidence
 Compass Point Method-uses a
protractor to measure the angle formed
by two lines.
 Cross-Projection Method-presents doors
and walls as if they are one surface.
Objects of evidence can be measured to
show their relationship on a single plane.
Step Four: Taking Notes
 Take notes to document items such as:
Temperature, lighting conditions, colors,
and people present.
Step Five: Identify the Scene
Prepare a legend  Investigator
containing:  Anyone Assisting
 Case number  Scale of Sketch
 Type of Crime  Direction of North
 Name of Victim  Name of the Person
 Location Making the Sketch
 Date

 Time
Step Six: Reassess the Sketch
BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE SCENE
• Make sure nothing has been overlooked

• Compare the scene with the sketch

• Are all measurements included?

• Have all notations been made?

• Have you missed anything?

Step Seven: File the Sketch
 Submit the Sketch to the case file

The admissibility of the sketch is so if it

accurately portrays a crime scene.