Recording The Crime Scene: Fourth Edition

Forensic Science
From the Crime Scene to the Crime Lab

Fourth Edition
Chapter 3
Recording the
Crime Scene
Copyright © 2019, 2016, 2013, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Recording Methods
• Photography, sketches, and notes are the three
methods for crime-scene recording.
• All three should be employed.
• However, as is often the case, personnel and monetary
limitations may prohibit the utilization of some more
expensive equipment and methods for documentation.
Crime Scene Notes (1 of 3)
• Note taking begins when the investigator is contacted and
requested to report to the crime scene.
• The crime scene notes should begin with:
 The identity of person who contacted the investigator
 Time of contact and arrival at the crime scene
 Preliminary case information
 Personnel present on arrival and those being contacted
• Notes contain a personnel log, all observations made by
the investigator, and the time observations were made.
• Notes are taken in a uniform layout, concurrently as the
observations are made.
• Notes are written in a bound notebook in blue or black ink.
Quick Review
• Because investigators have only a limited

amount of time to work a crime site in its
untouched state, the opportunity must not
be lost.
Quick Review
• Crime-scene notes should include contact

information, personnel information and
movements, task assignments,
observations of the victim and scene, and
information about the evidence before and
after it is processed.
Quick Review
• Recording notes on digital voice recorders

is advantageous, but investigators should
take care to speak clearly and avoid
including side conversations.
Photography
• Photographs taken at a crime scene will:
 Show the layout of the crime scene
 Show the position of collected and uncollected evidence
 Show the point of view of victims, suspects, and
witnesses
 Show the original condition of items of evidence at the
scene
Digital Photography (1 of 2)
• A digital photograph is made when a light sensitive
microchip captures light on each of millions of tiny picture
elements, called pixels.
• The light is recorded on each pixel as a specific electric
charge which is read by the camera as image information
which is stored as a file on a memory card.
Digital Photography (2 of 2)
• The number of pixels is directly related to the resolution of
the picture.
• Photographs with more pixels show increasingly good
resolution, or more detail and sharpness in photographs.
• The number of pixels that a camera features is usually
measured in millions of pixels, or megapixels.
Digital Crime Scene Photography (1 of 9)
• Advantages of digital crime scene photography include:
 The ability to observe images immediately after taking
them ensures important photographs are clear and show
the best possible detail.
 The resolution available can exceed 12 megapixels,
while the maximum resolution offered by a film SLR
camera is equivalent to about 5 megapixels.
 Computer programs can stitch digital crime scene
images together to create panoramic shots
 Can scan a crime scene to create a 3-D view of the
crime scene.
 Easy for long term storage
• Digital images are easily manipulated using computer
programs and may not show an accurate depiction of the
crime scene.
• Digital images may lose image data or details through
compression.
• Digital images are preserved by either lossy or lossless
compression.
 Lossy compression condenses files by discarding
some image information.
 The information lost during this compression is
irretrievable.
• Digital images are preserved by either lossy or lossless
compression.
 Lossless compression condenses files without
discarding information so no important image information
is lost.
 For this reason, all digital crime scene photographs
should be saved by lossless compression to avoid losing
any important information contained in those images.
• Law enforcement agencies ensure the admissibility of
digital crime scene photographs by:
 Developing Standard Operating Procedures that must be
followed
 Saving images to writable (not rewritable) disks by
lossless compression
 Saving enhanced or altered images as separate files
 Keeping a detailed and accurate photography log
 Submitting testimony from the crime scene photographer
as to the accuracy of the digital images
Lenses (1 of 4)
• The camera lens bends light to focus an image on the
digital microchip.
• The lens's focal length, the distance between the lens and
the image projected on the microchip, determines the area
shown in the resulting photograph.
Lenses (2 of 4)
• Normal Lens
 Focal length of 50–55mm
 Used for most photographs that need to be taken at a
crime scene because it can show as much area as half a
wall
Lenses (3 of 4)
• Telephoto Lens
 Focal length of 100 mm or greater and used to magnify
images.
• Wide-angle Lens
 Focal length of 35 mm and used to show much more
area in one photograph than a normal lens
Lenses (4 of 4)
• Macro Lens
 Focal length of less than 50 mm
 Used for highly-detailed close-up photographs
• Multi-purpose Lens
 Focal length from 28–80 mm
 Used to take normal, wide-angle, and telephoto
photographs
Aperture and Shutter Speed (1 of 2)
• The camera aperture is a measure of the diameter of the
opening of the diaphragm, which allows light to reach the
microchip.
• With digital cameras, one adjusts the aperture by setting
the f-number
 The lower the f-number setting, the wider the aperture
and the more light is allowed in.
Aperture and Shutter Speed (2 of 2)
• The shutter speed is the length of time that the microchip
is exposed to light.
• The shutter speed is measured as a fraction of a second
by factors of 1/2 (i.e. 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, etc).
Depth of Field
• The depth of field shown in a photograph is the amount of
area in the foreground and background of an object in
focus that is also relatively in focus.
• The smaller the aperture opening, the greater the depth of
field will be.
• This means that higher f-number settings will yield higher
depth of field.
DSLR Modes (1 of 3)
• The "auto mode“ automatically selects an appropriate
f-stop and shutter speed for conditions being
photographed.
• The "sports mode" captures subjects in motion by using a
higher (faster) shutter speed.
DSLR Modes (2 of 3)
• The "night mode" uses a lower (slower) shutter speed to
gather as much light as possible to create the image.
• The "landscape mode" automatically selects higher f-stops
to improve depth of field.
DSLR Modes (3 of 3)
• The "portrait mode" selects lower f-stops to decrease the
depth of field and make the subject stand out clearly
against a blurred background.
Illumination (1 of 2)
• The color temperature of a light source is "hot" if it has a
bluer hue, while a "cold" light source has a red-orange
hue.
• Light meters on digital cameras allow photographers to
measure the amount of light in a shot.
Illumination (2 of 2)
• A flash unit can produce either direct reflective lighting or
oblique lighting, which is achieved by positioning the flash
at an angle less than 90° to the surface to show detail.
Filters
• Barrier filters block one specific wavelength (color) of
light from reaching the microchip, making areas of that
color appear lighter in the photograph.
• Bypass filters allow only a small range of wavelengths of
light to reach the microchip and block all others.
Tripods
• Using a tripod to take photographs eliminates the
possibility of blurred photos resulting from unsteady hands.
• For crime scene photography, it is useful if the tripod has:
 Independently adjustable legs suitable for uneven terrain
 A level to ensure 90° images of evidence
Quick Review
• Digital cameras feature a light-sensitive

microchip that captures light on each of
millions of tiny picture elements, called
“pixels.”
• The light is recorded on each pixel as a
specific charge that will later be
electronically translated to an image.
Quick Review
• The number of pixels on a camera is

measured in the millions, called
“megapixels,” and directly affects an
image’s resolution.
Quick Review
• Digital images are preserved by either

lossy or lossless compression.
• DSLR cameras allow for the use of a wide
range of lenses, including normal lenses,
telephoto lenses, wide-angle lenses, macro
lenses, and multipurpose lenses. The kind
of lens used affects the appearance of the
image.
Quick Review
• The aperture and shutter speed regulate

the amount of light gathered by the
camera. These settings can be manually
adjusted on DSLR cameras.
Quick Review
• The “f-stop” determines depth of field, or

the amount of area in the foreground and
background that is in focus.
• The higher the f-stop, the smaller the
aperture and the greater the depth of field.
Landscape and portrait settings on a digital
camera adjust for higher and lower f-stops,
respectively
Quick Review
• The color temperature of the light source

used will make a photographic image
appear orangish or bluish.
• Many digital cameras combat this with
“white balance” capability.
• Exposure compensation and electronic
flashes can be used to capture images of
dark or light subjects.
Quick Review
• Flash units, or slave flashes, are helpful to

provide oblique or versatile illumination.
Quick Review
• Filters are used with DSLR cameras to

block certain wavelengths of light (barrier
filters) or allow in only certain wavelengths
of light (bypass filters).
• Filters can be used to show greater detail
in photographs by adjusting the
appearance of specific colors.
Quick Review
• Tripods can greatly improve the quality of a

photograph by preventing blurriness
caused by the movement of the
photographer’s hand.
• They also help ensure 90-degree close-up
photographs of evidence.
Crime Scene Photography Log (1 of 2)
• A detailed log of each photograph taken at the crime scene
is kept by the crime scene photographer.
• The top of the photography log form includes:
 Case number, type of scene, date, location of scene,
description of the camera and lenses being used, and
the photographer's name and title
Crime Scene Photography Log (2 of 2)
• For each photograph, the log records:
 Date and time the photograph was taken
 The location of the picture
 The f-stop and shutter speed settings
 The lighting used and the lighting angle (if applicable)
 A brief description of the subject of the picture
Crime Scene Photography (1 of 9)
• Crime scene photographs should record the area in which
the crime actually took place and all adjacent areas where
important acts occurred.
• The most important prerequisite for photographing a crime
scene is for it to be in an unaltered condition.
• Each crime scene should be photographed as completely
as possible in a logical succession.
• The sequence will show the overall scene first, then work
down to individual pieces of evidence that jurors in the trial
can easily relate back to the larger scene.
• The four minimum photographs required at a crime scene
are an overview photograph, a medium range photograph,
a close-up photograph, and a close-up photograph with a
scale.
• Overview photographs of the entire scene and surrounding
area, including points of exit and entry, are taken first.
 Taken from the outside borders of the scene and from
various angles
 If the crime scene includes a body, photographs must
show the body's position and location relative to the
entire scene.
• Overview photographs of the entire scene and surrounding
area, including points of exit and entry, are taken first.
 Include a "visual tag," an object recorded in multiple
overview photographs, to help visually piece the scene
together
FIGURE 3-7a This sequence of crime-scene photographs shows the proper progression
of photographing the scene. The sequence begins with an overview photograph of the
entry to the victim's bedroom showing evidence markers in place. Richard Saferstein,
Ph.D.
FIGURE 3-7b This sequence of crime-scene photographs shows the proper progression
of photographing the scene. The medium-range photograph shows the evidence marker
next to the door denoting a cartridge case. Richard Saferstein, Ph.D.
FIGURE 3-7c This sequence of crime-scene photographs shows the proper progression
of photographing the scene. The close-up photograph shows the cartridge in detail with a
scale in the photograph. Richard Saferstein, Ph.D.
• Medium-range photographs show the layout of smaller
significant areas of the crime scene.
 Taken with evidence markers in place to show the spatial
relationships between and among pieces of evidence in
greater detail than the overview photographs.
• Medium-range photographs show the layout of smaller
significant areas of the crime scene.
 Include at least one photograph of the "center" of the
scene.
 In violent crimes, this usually includes the site where the
victim was found and the surrounding area.
• Close-up photographs are taken last and show greater
detail of individual objects or evidence.
 Taken at a 90° angle to the object, with and without
evidence markers and scales.
 Scales should be placed as close to the evidence as
possible without affecting it in any way.
• Close-up photographs are taken last and show greater
detail of individual objects or evidence.
 After the body is removed from the scene, the surface
beneath the body should be photographed.
Special Crime Scene Photography (1 of 6)
• Night photography
 Requires the use of external lighting or "painting with
light"
• Indoor photography
 Requires photographs of the neighborhood, points of
entry and exit, and all walls, floors, and ceilings
• Outdoor photography
 Requires location of photographs to be recorded by a
Global Positioning Device or measurements from
landmarks
 May include aerial photographs
• Arson photography
 Requires photographs of the point of the fire's origin and
use of special equipment or techniques to provide
maximum contrast in photographs of charred areas.
 May also include photographs of crowd outside scene
because arsonists commonly return to scene
• Sexual assault photography
 Requires photographs of all wounds and clothing while
showing discretion to the victim
• Impression photography
 Requires oblique lighting to show details and a scale to
later create a 1:1 scale photograph for comparison to
footwear or tire samples
• Bloodstain photography
 Requires photographs of all pertinent stains and
determined area of convergence or area of origin
 Close up photographs, with scale, are necessary for
pertinent stains
 Bloodstains treated with luminol photographed in
complete darkness
• Latent fingerprint photography
 Require photographs with a 1:1 scale using a special
latent fingerprint camera or a regular camera fitted with
an adapter
Body Worn Cameras
• Body worn cameras (BWCs) are cameras with at least one
microphone and internal data storage, which allow
audio/video footage to be stored and analyzed with
compatible software.
 Can be helpful for documenting parts of the scene just
as it was found
 Records initial statements of victims or suspects
Videotaping Crime Scenes (1 of 3)
• As with still crime scene photography, the crime scene
video must include overview, medium-range, and close-up
images.
• A narrated crime scene video combines photography and
notes.
 However, it is important that only one person narrates
and no side conversations are captured on the video.
• Some video cameras can produce still photographs, but
the quality is often poor.
 Therefore, still photographs from a digital camera are
still required.
Sketching the Crime Scene (1 of 2)
• Crime scene sketches
 Clearly show the layout of a crime scene
 Illustrate the relationship in space of all significant items
and features
 Clarify objects and features already described in notes
or shown in photographs
Sketching the Crime Scene (2 of 2)
• Crime scene sketches
 Show measurements over long distances and
topography of outdoor scenes
 Depict possible paths of entry, exit, and movement
through the scene
The Rough Crime Scene Sketch (1 of 3)
• A rough sketch is created at the crime scene and contains
an accurate depiction of the dimensions of the scene and
shows the location of all pertinent objects and features.
• All rough sketches include:
 Title block with information on the case, crime scene,
and person creating the sketch
 Legend with identity and dimensions of objects in the
sketch
 Compass showing the North direction
 Body containing the sketch itself
• Points of reference for objects can be shown by the
distance measurements from two fixed points.
FIGURE 3-18 A rough sketch of a crime scene.
Courtesy Sirchie Finger Print Laboratories, Youngsville, NC,
www.sirchie.com
The Finished Crime Scene Sketch (1 of 2)
• The finished sketch is created from the information in
rough sketch, but it is drawn to scale with care and
concern for appearance.
• The current standard method utilizes Computer-Aided
Drafting (CAD) programs to create the finished sketch.
The Finished Crime Scene Sketch (2 of 2)
• CAD programs also allow for the creation of three-
dimensional finished sketches.
FIGURE 3-21 An overview finished sketch of a room interior.
Courtesy Sirchie Finger Print Laboratories, Youngsville, NC,
www.sirchie.com
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Forensic Science

From the Crime Scene to the Crime Lab

• Because investigators have only a limited

• Crime-scene notes should include contact

• Recording notes on digital voice recorders

• Digital cameras feature a light-sensitive

• The number of pixels on a camera is

• Digital images are preserved by either

• The aperture and shutter speed regulate

• The “f-stop” determines depth of field, or

• The color temperature of the light source

• Flash units, or slave flashes, are helpful to

• Filters are used with DSLR cameras to

• Tripods can greatly improve the quality of a

This work is protected by United States copyright laws and is

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