Crime scene documentation: Flashcards
T or F: Documentation starts before arrival
True
What is the order of four tasks:
- Note-taking
- Videography
- Photography
- Sketch
Documentation is done through . . .
“Step by Step actions”
Note taking is important because . . .
- Provides a permanent record (CSI may rely on notes in future)
- Seemingly insignificant info may be significant (everything has to be documented)
Guidelines for note taking:
- Notification (arrival)
- Info surrounding (initial walkthrough)
- Description of scene (conditions)
- Description of scene (all evidence)
T or F: It is ok to erase mistakes in prelim assessment
False
Guidelines at the scene:
- Notification
- Arrival
- Initial walkthrough
- Scene Description
- Victim (if applicable)
Notification follows . . .
- Date and time
- Method of notification
- Info received
- Any info relayed
Arrival:
- Means (transportation)
- Date and time
- Personnel present (scene)
- Name and affiliation
- Name of witness
Initial walkthrough:
Date and time began
- Who performed? Who else was in attendance
- Date and time ended
Scene description:
Description (scene location)
- Surrounding (house/streets)
- Indoor and Outdoor
- Condition/weather
Victim:
What info collected depends on weather the victim (alive/dead)
- Victim’s phys description
- Relevant demographic
- Description (wounds if visible)
- Presence/absence (identification)
Detailed evidence:
- Phy’s description (evidence exhibits)
- Location
- Position
- Evidence collection
- Who (name/affiliation)
- When (date)
What are the guidelines of videography . . .
Must remain objective (no audio)
- Clear photos
What must a scene video include?
Date and time
- Videography
- Location
- Case (number)
Effective scene video. . .
All aspects initial walkthrough
General view scene
- Enters scene moves through scene, shows items of evidence, wide-angle perspective
- Zoom in areas of evidence
- Leave scene (still record after left)
What purpose does photography hold?
- Refresh memory (CSI and witness)
- Demonstrates special relationships (scene and evidence)
- Convey image of the scene (circumstance of crime)
T or F: all photographs must show a photo log
True
Photo log:
Proof of documentation taken at the scene . . .
- Date
- Case number
- Photographers name
- Info of equipment used (take photo)
Information specific to each photo:
- Date and time
- Type of photo
- description
- Listing of each photo
Equipment photography:
Still, photo used (norm)
- 35 mm film single lens reflex (SLR)
- DSLR (48 mm)
Higher megapixel, allows for better close-up photos
Flash:
External flash, often better (flash built into camera)
Camera lens:
Tools to bring up light (focal point)
- Lenses within DSLR (interchangeable)
- Normal 55mm/CSI “macro lens”
- Duplicates what the normal eye perceives.
What do overall photos involve?
Arrival at scene
- Includes locator images
- Demonstrates (location scene)
- Serves (Capture scene condition, before alteration)
- Depicts overall scene context
What do overall photos involve:
Exterior, and Interior
Exterior:
Surrounding of scene
- Aerial photographs
- Location (indoor scene) relative to larger.
- Demonstrate perimeter large (outdoor scene)
Interior:
Actual scene
- Taken all 4 cardinal directions
each room (coroner of indoor)
- All photos (overlap)
- Should include doors leading to and from
Mid-door:
Intermediate of evidence establishing
- Shows where evidence is in the scene
- Transition viewer (overall close up)
- with and without evidence marker
close up:
purpose: show details specific evidence and detail scene (context)
What are the two types of close-up photos?
- Photographs (evidence exhibit found)
- Photograph (evidence exhibit) with marker
Sketches:
Permanent record size and distance
- Relationships (all scene) and assocsiated evidence using measurements
Routine for major crime
what are the two types of crime scene sketches?
Rough, and final
Rough:
Often done after the initial walkthrough
- measurements done after photo
Final:
Prepared for presentation in court
- Prepared based on rough
Every crime scene sketch:
Title and caption
- Legend
- Compass
- Docu block
- Case number
Offence type
- Victim names (if applicable)
- Date and time
- Name affiliation
- Scale
Types of sketches:
- Floor plan
- Site plan
- Elevation
- Cross-sectional plan
Floor plan:
Two dimensional sketch
- Birds eye view
- Indoor scenes (utilized)
Elevation:
Two dimensional (sketch) used for vertical plane
Site plan:
Two dimensional
- Bird’s eye view
- Obtained by other sources (at times)
- Utilized in outdoor
Cross-sectional plan:
“Exploded view”/ “cross projectional”
- Two-dimensional (sketch)
- Combination (Floor/elevation)
- Utilized in both indoor and outdoor
Measurements:
All sketches (contain measurements)
- Sketching often done last measurements
4 methods of search:
Triangulation, baseline, polar, perspective grid, photogrammetry
Triangulation:
measuring distances from two fixed points (locations of evidence)
- fixed point: unmoveable item
Requires multiple people
- Best for outdoor scenes
Baseline:
Measuring the distance other of objects from the baseline (right angle)
- Indoor: Baseline (wall)
- Outdoor: Baseline (related) to a fixed point (requires multiple people)
Polar coordinate:
“Map and compass”
- CSI stand at fixed point and sight evidence to exhibit
- Requires 2 people
Photogrammetry:
“Perspective grid method”
- Places an object of known measurements into a photograph
- Multiple (overlapping phos)/multiple angles
- Include standard measuring tool
