Crime Scene Processing Flashcards
What are the three types of evidence?
Testimonial
Documentary
Physical
What is Locard’s Exchange Theory?
There will be cross transfer of evidence when any object or person comes into contact with an object or person
How can physical evidence assist?
Prove a crime occurred or establish key elements
Can place a suspect in contact with a victim or crime scene
Can ID a suspect in a crime
Corroborate or refute witness testimony
Suspect may confess when confronted with evidence
Physical evidence can be more reliable than an eye witness
It is valuable and expected in more court cases
What are the 4 responsibilities from time of collection until court?
Identify each piece of evidence
Describe where it was found
Prove continuity
Describe changes in the evidence (damage, physical appearance etc)
What are some considerations upon your initial response to a crime scene?
Type of offence
Have enough or right equipment by asking questions
Is a search warrant required
Preliminary examination of crime scene steps
Speak with investigators
Check for perishable evidence and ensure crime scene is sufficiently secured
Conduct a walk through (to get a plan of attack)and make notes
Path of evidence - path most likely taken by suspect
Safe path - a path away from evidence path when able
Special attention to - POE and POX, attempted points,
What are some things to consider when processing the crime scene?
Be methodical
Photograph as you find it and plan how to photo to make it easy for follow in court
Take photos during/after processing items
LIKNKAGE - photographs should walk the viewer through the scene
What is the importance of crime scene photography?
Assists with the investigation
Provides a visual for court purposes
What are considerations needed to make photographs admissible in court?
Accurate representation of the scene
Need to be free of distortion (proper perspective)
Relevant and unbiased
No cropping allowed
What should you think about when photographing a scene?
Should be done in a way that tells a story
Viewer should be walked through the scene
Progress from general to specific
The photographs should be linked
What is meant by linkage in crime scene photography?
It links one photograph to the next by using a common object which is present between one photo to the next photo
What is the type/manner photographs need to be taken?
Overall
Mid-range
Close up
- without scale and with scale
When taking mid-range and close up of exhibits in scene don’t forget to take a re-establishing photograph
When/why do you use a fill flash?
When objects are in shadowed areas use a fill flash to help highlight the exhibit…it does not have to eliminate the shadows
What is the best ISO for photos of exhibits in the studio?
ISO 100
What are the two options for lighting in the studio?
Continuous lighting
Flash
What is the advantage of continuous lighting?
What you see in the view finder is what you will get in the photo
What are the two types of flash techniques you can use in the studio?
Feathered flash - helps reduce/eliminate shadows as the angle of flash can have shadows fall behind the exhibit
Bounce flash - flash is bounced off a ceiling/wall and the light will have the shadow fall under the exhibit. ***light will take on the colour of the ceiling/wall it is bounced off.
What are other ways of reducing/eliminating shadows?
Use a black background if appropriate
Raise the object off the surface (raised glass technique)
Use a light table (really small objects or physical match of exhibits such as turn signal lights
What techniques can be used to reduce glare?
Light diffusion
Tenting
Proper angle of illumination
When should you consider using macro photography?
Close up photography
Small objects
Details on larger objects (VIN’s and serial numbers)
