Chapter 2

Documenting the Scene: Note Taking, Photographing, and

Sketching

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.

Record Information

• Who?

• What?

• Where?

• When?

• How?

How to Take Notes

• Don’t include words such as a, and, and the.

• Write legibly.

• 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.

Commonly Used Photographic Equipment

• 35 mm camera• Instant print camera• Digital camera• Press 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 location of objects of evidence within the area or room.

• Close-range pictures of specific evidence.

Photogrammetry

• Refers to the making of 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 for 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.

Admissibility of Photographs in Court

Photographs must be:

• Material,

• Relevant,

• Competent,

• Accurate,

• Free of distortion, and

• 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.

Steps in Sketching the Crime Scene

1. Observe and Plan2. Measure and Outline the Area3. Plot objects and evidence within the

outline4. Record details5. Identify the sketch with a legend and scale6. Reassess the sketch 7. File the sketch

Plotting Methods

• Rectangular-Coordinate Method

• Baseline Method

• Triangulation Method

• Compass Point Method

• Cross-Projection Method

Materials for Making Scale Drawings

Materials Uses Drawing Kit Contains tools for finer drawing Triangular scale rule Accurate scaling Templates Curves, oddly shaped objects Indelible ink For permanency of finished drawing Drafting table Ease, perfection in drawing T-square Accurate, straight lines, right angles Drafting paper Higher-quality absorption of inks, better display Colors Show areas of comparison