Documenting the Crime Scene: Note Taking, Photographing, and Sketching Chapter 2 Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Copyright 2010 Delmar, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Case Documentation 70% of an officer’s job is paperwork. Field notes are brief records of what is seen or heard. Investigative notes are a permanent record to be used in writing reports and prosecution. Start note taking immediately. Record all facts, regardless of where they lead. Who? What? When? Where? and How? Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Copyright 2010 Delmar, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Note taking is an acquired skill Write brief, legible notes that others can understand. Omit unnecessary words and don’t erase. Use a tape recorder. Notes should be complete, accurate, specific, factual, clear, well-organized and legible. Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Copyright 2010 Delmar, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Photographic Tips Photographs and videotapes reproduce the crime scene in detail for court presentation. They are used in investigating, prosecuting, and police training. Always photograph the scene from general to specific. A marker or ruler should be used in a photo for scale. Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Copyright 2010 Delmar, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Photographs can be taken immediately not selective Advantages can be taken immediately accurately depict the crime scene and evidence create interest increase attention to testimony Disadvantages not selective do not show actual distances may be distorted mechanical errors in shooting or processing Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Copyright 2010 Delmar, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Copyright 2010 Delmar, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Immersive Imaging A type of computer software that stitches together digital photos of 180 degrees or more to create one 360-degree photo. Overlapping Imaging A process by which the scene is photographed clockwise until the entire scene has been photographed. Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Copyright 2010 Delmar, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Types of investigative photography Crime Scenes Indoor/Outdoor Weather Day/Night Surveillance Aerial Infrared Telephoto Laboratory: Microscopic Line-up Mug shot Injuries/Wounds Fingerprints Blood spatter Evidence “in situ” Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Copyright 2010 Delmar, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Photograph Terminology A photographs must be: Material relates to a specific case and subject Relevant helps explain testimony Competent accurately represents what it purports to represent Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Copyright 2010 Delmar, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Digital Photography No film developing costs Image storage considerations Image authentication is providing proof that the image introduced into evidence is the same image taken at the crime scene. Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Copyright 2010 Delmar, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Crime Scene Sketch Accurately portrays the facts Relates to the sequence of events at the scene Establishes the precise location and relationship of objects and evidence Helps create a mental picture of the scene Is a permanent record of the scene Is usually admissible in court Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Copyright 2010 Delmar, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Sketches Rough sketch Pencil drawn at the scene. Although usually not drawn to scale, distances are measured and entered. Scale drawing Shows the precise distance and location of objects in question (also known as a finished drawing). Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Copyright 2010 Delmar, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Rough Sketch Sketch by R. Michelson Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Copyright 2010 Delmar, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Sketches—plotting methods Rectangular-coordinate method Locates objects by using adjacent walls as fixed points of reference at right angles Baseline method Establishes a straight line from one fixed point to another, from which measurements are taken at right angles Triangulation method Uses straight-line measurements from two fixed objects to the evidence to create a triangle with the evidence in the angle formed by the straight lines Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Copyright 2010 Delmar, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Types of Sketches, continued Elevation (terrain) Sectional (cut-away) Perspective (3-D) Overview (floor plan) Exploded Is one type enough? Advantages/Disadvantages Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Copyright 2010 Delmar, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. 14

Key Points for Identification Using Fixed Points Triangulation 2 consistent reference points and direction Transect Line to 2 points and measure from the line Rectangular Indoor version of transect (using walls) Polar Coordinates Central point, precise direction, and distance Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Copyright 2010 Delmar, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. 15

The sketch should include: Case identifier (Case number; usually includes the department name, and a number assigned by the date and number of cases) Date, time, and location Weather and lighting conditions Identity and assignments of personnel Hess/Hess Orthmann, Criminal Investigation, 9e Copyright 2010 Delmar, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. 16