Chapter 2 Documenting the Crime Scene: Note Taking, Photographing and Sketching Hess 2-1

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

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

EFFECTIVE NOTES Complete Factual Accurate Specific Continued Hess 2-4 Characteristics of Effective Notes

EFFECTIVE NOTES Legible Clear Arranged in chronological order Well-organized Hess 2-5 Characteristics of Effective Notes (Continued)

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

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 Admissibility of Notes in Court

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 Investigative Photography: An Overview

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF VIDEO Advantages  Can show distances  Audio capability Disadvantages  Poor focusing  Overusing the zoom  Unintentional audio Hess 2-9 Investigative Photography: An Overview (Continued)

MINIMUM PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT Instant-print cameras Point-and-shoot cameras Digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras Fingerprint cameras Video cameras Accessories Hess 2-10 Basic Photographic Equipment

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 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 Training in and Using Investigative Photography

TYPES Crime scene Surveillance Aerial Night Laboratory Mug shots Lineup Hess 2-13 Types of Investigative Photography

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

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 Admissibility of Photographs in Court

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 Crime Scene Sketches: An Overview

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

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)

TO SKETCH A SCENE Observe and plan Measure distances Plot objects Take notes Use a legend and scale Reassess the sketch Hess 2-19 Steps in Sketching the Crime Scene

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

SCALE DRAWING OVERVIEW Done in ink Drawn to scale Materials needed Made at police station Simple or complex Hess 2-21 The Finished Scale Drawing

CAD Benefits  Accuracy  Repeatability  Simplicity  Speed  Portability Hess 2-22 Computer-Assisted Drawing

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 Admissibility of Sketches and Drawings in Court

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