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Hess10 chap2
1. Chapter 2
Documenting the Crime Scene:
Note Taking, Photographing and Sketching
Hess 2-1
2. Introduction
• Documentation is vital throughout an investigation
• As much as 70 percent of an investigator’s job is
consumed by paperwork and writing
• Photography plays an important role in documenting
evidence and presenting cases in court
• Often both photographs and sketches must accompany
written notes to provide a clear picture of the crime
scene
Hess 2-2
3. NOTE TAKING
• When to take notes
• What to record
Ask yourself
specific questions
• Where to record notes
• How to take notes
Hess 2-3
Field Notes: The Basics
5. Characteristics of Effective Notes (Continued)
EFFECTIVE NOTES
• Legible
• Clear
• Arranged in chronological order
• Well-organized
Hess 2-5
6. RETAINING NOTES
• Place them in a secure location
• Place them under a filing system
• Make them available months or even years later
• Policy usually determines where and how notes are
filed
• Many officers retain notes indefinitely
Hess 2-6
Filing Notes
7. Admissibility of Notes in Court
LEGAL APPLICATIONS
• Can help discredit a suspect’s or a defense witness’s
testimony
• Support evidence already given
• Strengthen testimony
• Defend against false allegations
Hess 2-7
8. Investigative Photography: An Overview
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF PHOTOS
• Advantages
Can be taken immediately
Accurately represent the crime scene
• Disadvantages
Detail may distract viewers
Small nuances or discrete evidence may be missed
Continued
Hess 2-8
9. Investigative Photography: An Overview (Continued)
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF VIDEO
• Advantages
Can show distances
Audio capability
• Disadvantages
Poor focusing
Overusing the zoom
Unintentional audio
Hess 2-9
11. Training in and Using Investigative Photography
WHAT TO PHOTOGRAPH OR VIDEOTAPE
• Plan shots that least disturb scene
• Use overlapping to cover entire scene
• Long-range shots of the locality
• Medium-range shots of the immediate crime scene
• Close-range shots of specific evidence
Hess 2-11
12. Training in and Using Investigative Photography
ERRORS TO AVOID
• Be familiar with your equipment
• Maintain proper perspective
• Show the objects in their relative size and position
• Take pictures from eye level
• Checklists help eliminate errors
Hess 2-12
13. Types of Investigative Photography
TYPES
• Crime scene
• Surveillance
• Aerial
• Night
• Laboratory
• Mug shots
• Lineup
Hess 2-13
14. EVIDENCE MAINTENANCE
• Identifying
Include backing information
• Filing
Cross-reference by case number
Follow department policy
• Maintaining security
Hess 2-14
Identifying, Filing and
Maintaining Security of Evidence
15. Admissibility of Photographs in Court
CRITERIA
• Must meet specific criteria to be admissible in court
A material photograph relates to a specific case and
subject
A relevant photograph helps explain testimony
A competent photograph accurately represents what it
purports to represent
Hess 2-15
16. Crime Scene Sketches: An Overview
SKETCHES AS INVESTIGATIVE AIDS
• Accurately portrays the physical facts
• Relates to the sequence of events
• Precise location and relationship of objects
• Helps create a mental picture of the scene
• Permanent record of the scene
• Usually admissible in court
Hess 2-16
17. WHAT TO SKETCH
• Better to include too much rather than too little
• Do not include irrelevant objects
• Area to be sketched depends on the crime scene
Large scene
Small area
• Original floor plans
Continued
Hess 2-17
The Rough Sketch
18. SKETCHING MATERIALS
• The first pencil-drawn outline of a scene
• Paper of any type will do
• Keep two or three pencils on hand
• Use a measuring tape for measuring long distances
• Use a compass to determine true north
Hess 2-18
The Rough Sketch (Continued)
19. Steps in Sketching the Crime Scene
TO SKETCH A SCENE
• Observe and plan
• Measure distances
• Plot objects
• Take notes
• Use a legend and scale
• Reassess the sketch
Hess 2-19
20. FILING OVERVIEW
• Place rough sketch in a secure file
• May be used later to question witnesses or suspects
• Keep the rough sketch in its original form
• May be needed for testifying later
Hess 2-20
File the Sketch
21. The Finished Scale Drawing
SCALE DRAWING OVERVIEW
• Done in ink
• Drawn to scale
• Materials needed
• Made at police station
• Simple or complex
Hess 2-21
23. Admissibility of Sketches and Drawings in Court
ADMISSIBILITY ISSUES
• Investigator must be prepared to testify about:
Information contained in the sketch
Conditions under which it was made
The process used to construct it
• Well-prepared sketches and drawings help people
visualize crime scenes
Hess 2-23
24. Summary
• Investigative notes and reports are critical parts of a
criminal investigation
• Record all relevant information concerning the crime
• Photography has become increasingly important in
criminal investigation
• Videos are now well established as an investigative tool
• In addition to photographs, crime scene sketches are
often used
Hess 2-24
Editor's Notes
Learning Objective:
Do you know why notes are important in an investigation?
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.
Learning Objective:
Do you know when to take notes?
Start taking notes as soon as possible after receiving a call to respond and continue recording information as it is received throughout the investigation.
Learning Objective:
Do you know what to record in investigative notes?
Record all information that helps to answer the questions Who? What? Where? When? How? and Why?
Learning Objective:
Do you know what the characteristics of effective notes are?
Effective notes are complete, factual, accurate, specific, legible, clear, arranged in chronological order and well-organized.
Learning Objective:
Do you know what the characteristics of effective notes are?
Effective notes are complete, factual, accurate, specific, legible, clear, arranged in chronological order and well-organized.
Learning Objective:
Do you know where to file notes if they are retained?
If notes are retained, file them in a secure location readily accessible to investigators.
Learning Objective:
Do you know what purposes are served by crime scene photography?
Photographs and video recordings reproduce the crime scene in detail for presentation to the prosecution, defense, witnesses, judge and jury in court and are used in investigating, prosecuting and police training.
Learning Objective:
Do you know what the advantages and disadvantages of using photography are?
Advantages of photographs: They can be taken immediately, accurately represent the crime scene and evidence, create interest and increase attention to testimony.
Disadvantages of photographs: They are not selective, do not show actual distances and may be distorted and damaged by mechanical errors in shooting or processing.
Learning Objective:
Do you know what the advantages and disadvantages of using videography are?
Advantages of videos: They accurately represent the crime scene and evidence, are able to show distance more clearly than photos and have sound capability to more fully document what is being seen.
Disadvantages of videos: Many people mistakenly believe that no training in videotaping is necessary, which leads to poor video quality and a diminished value in the video’s documentation of the crime scene.
Learning Objective:
Do you know what the minimum photographic equipment for an investigator is?
At a minimum, have available and be skilled in operating a Polaroid-type instant-print camera, a point-and-shoot camera, a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera, a fingerprint camera and video equipment.
Learning Objective:
Do you know what to photograph at a crime scene and in what sequence?
First, photograph the general area, then specific areas and finally specific objects of evidence. Take exterior shots first because they are the most subject to alteration by weather and security violations.
Learning Objective:
Do you know what errors in technique to avoid?
Take photographs and videos before anything is disturbed. Avoid inaccuracies and distortions.
Learning Objective:
Do you know what types of photography are used in criminal investigations?
Types of investigative photography include crime scene, surveillance, aerial, night, laboratory, lineup and mug shot.
Learning Objective:
Do you know what basic rules of evidence photographs must adhere to?
Photographs must be material, relevant, competent, accurate, free of distortion and noninflammatory.
Learning Objective:
Do you know what purposes are served by the crime scene sketch?
A crime scene sketch assists in (1) interviewing and interrogating people, (2) preparing the investigative report and (3) presenting the case in court.
Learning Objective:
Do you know what should be sketched?
Sketch all serious crime and crash scenes after photographs are taken and before anything is moved. Sketch the entire scene, the objects and the evidence.
Learning Objective:
Do you know what materials are needed to make a rough sketch?
Materials for the rough sketch include paper, pencil, long steel measuring tape, carpenter-type ruler, straightedge, clipboard, eraser, compass, protractor and thumbtacks.
Learning Objective:
Do you know what steps to take in making a rough sketch?
Observe and plan.
Measure distances and outline the area.
Plot objects and evidence within the outline.
Take notes and record details.
Identify the sketch with a legend and a scale.
Reassess the sketch.
Learning Objective:
Do you know how plotting methods are used in sketches?
Plotting methods are used to locate objects and evidence on the sketch. These methods include the use of rectangular coordinates, a baseline, triangulation and compass points.
Learning Objective:
Do you know when a sketch or a scale drawing is admissible in court?
An admissible sketch is drawn or personally witnessed by an investigator and accurately portrays a crime scene.
A scale drawing also is admissible if the investigating officer drew it or approved it after it was drawn and if it accurately represents the rough sketch. The rough sketch must remain available as evidence.
