This document discusses the application of photography in law enforcement, specifically for crime scene documentation. It outlines that crime scene photography serves as a permanent record of the scene and is indispensable for presenting evidence in court. The document then covers the uses of photographic evidence, including identification of subjects, preservation of evidence, describing the scene, and substituting for physical evidence. It also discusses the legal implications, admissibility requirements, and categorization of photographic evidence. Overall, the document provides guidance on proper crime scene photography techniques and standards for using photos as evidence in court.

1. Application of Photography
to Law Enforcement

2. What is Photography?
• Photography is the primary tool for crime
scene documentation. Proper crime scene
photography is a deliberate and
systematic process.
• Its main purpose is to visually convey all
aspects of the scene to someone who
wasn’t there.

3. What is Crime Scene Photography?
• Crime scene photography it serves as a
permanent record of the crime scene and
is considered indispensable to a
successful presentation of the case in
court.
• Photographs should also be taken after
the body or bodies have been removed

4. Uses of Photographs
1. Identification of the Subject
2. Preservation of Evidence
3. Description of the Crime Scene
4. Substitution to original documents/evidence

5. 1. Identification of the Subject
• The first step in the investigation
of any crime is to photograph all
aspects of the crime scene
completely and accurately before
any of the objects of evidence
are removed or otherwise
disturbed.

6. 2. Preservation of Evidence
• Prevent from necessary
handling of physical evidence
thus preserving the integrity if
the physical evidence.

7. 3. Description of the Crime Scene
• It proves statement.
Investigator describe in court
the details of the crime scene.

8. 4. Substitution to original documents/evidence
•The photographs can be made as a
representation of any evidence to
supplement the case report.
•It is classified as secondary
evidence
•It is not a legal substitute of the
original object
•It is a silent witness

9. Legal Implication of Photographic Evidence
• • A permanent record of
the crime scene is
considered indispensable to
a successful presentation of
the case in court.

10. 4 Usefulness of Photographic Evidence in Court
1. People vs. Sacab, 57 SCRA
707 and People vs Ison, 173
SCRA 118 – Physical evidence
is evidence of the highest
order. It speaks more
eloquently than a hundred
witnesses.

11. 4 Usefulness of Photographic Evidence in Court
2. People vs. Uycoque, 246 SCRA
769 and People vs. Nepomuceno
Jr. , 298 SCRA 450 - Physical
evidence is mute but an
eloquent manifestation of truth
and they rate high in our
hierarchy of trustworthy
evidence.

12. 4 Usefulness of Photographic Evidence in Court
• 3. Sison vs. People, 250 SCRA 58
- Photographs can be identified
by the photographer or by any
other competent witness who
can testify to its exactness and
accuracy.

13. 4 Usefulness of Photographic Evidence in Court
• 4. CALDE vs. CA. 52 SCAD 453,
233 SCRA 382 – Autopsic
preference is the acquisition
of knowledge from direct self-
perception or autopsy.

14. Categorizing Photographic Evidence
1. Location’s address, date and time
2. Type of incident and objects photographed
3. Type of film used and number of exposures
4. Type of camera used
5. Name of investigation on case/photographer
6.Names of victims and witness
7. Chain of custody
8. Weather condition

15. Preservation of Fingerprints Through Photographs
• Fingerprints found at the crime
scene should be preserved by
photography before any attempts
are made at preserving them.
• It easier to produce the evidence
in court.

16. Markings in the Field of View
•Measuring device such as
rulers, yardsticks, and tape
measures should be used to
show the relative size of, and
distances between objects, or
the degree of magnification of
the enlargement.

17. Basic Requirement for the Admissibility of
Photographs as Evidence in Court
1. Faithful representation or accurate representation of
the original object or subject
2. Relevant/material and competent
3. No inflammatory content/unbiased

18. 1. Faithful representation or accurate
representation of the original object or subject
• The photograph must be free from
distortion and must not
misrepresent the or object.
Faithful representation means the
same likeness as the original or as
seen by the naked eye.

19. 2. Relevant/material and competent
• Rule 128, Sec. 3 of the Rules of
Evidence states that evidence is
admissible when it is relevant to the
issue and is not excluded by the law
or rules of court.
• Materials refers to the probative value
of the evidence; relevant relates to
the case under investigation; and
competent means sanctioned by the
rules of court.

20. 3. No inflammatory content/unbiased
• Avoid in police photography is
the inclusion of emotional
matters that might be classed
by the court as inflammatory,
or tending to affect the
emotions of the viewer.