Module 5.2

Question 1

Photography

Answer 1

Valuable to document crime scenes, injuries, evidence
Can communicate more about this than written report can sometimes

Question 2

Documenting crime scene

Answer 2

Permanently record scene in original state
For subsequent investigation, presentation of cases at trial-document and location

Question 3

Photo board

Answer 3

Case #/animal ID
Date
Time of exam
Photographer name
Work agency
+/- clinic (city, state), crime scene address

Question 4

Photography

Answer 4

Must be in original state unless injured party, do not move objects
Photograph as completely as possible-where crime occurred, adjacent areas to important acts, immediately before/after crime
Ensures integrity of scene and to prove evidence existed
Evidence pics may verify witness statements

Question 5

Admissibility of photographs in court

Answer 5

3 points of qualification:
1. Object pictures must be relevant to point in issue
2. Content must not appeal to emotions or tend to prejudice court or jury-very difficult in animal/child abuse->use small portions/X-rays/imaging
3. Must be free from distortion

Question 6

Overview (global) photographs

Answer 6

Capture global aspects of crime scene
-show exactly where scene was and to show all boundaries of scene from distance
-may identify spatial relationships between evidence (not main goal)
Includes entire scene and surrounding area
-must be taken from various angles-overlap each other
-if indoors, entire room should be photographs
-if the crime scene includes a body, photographs must be taken to show the body’s position and location
-if of animal, all side of the animal

Question 7

Mid-range photos

Answer 7

View from outside -> inside
Transition the viewer from an “outsider” perspective to a more involved perspective
Identify spatial relationships between the evidence

Question 8

Close-up photographs

Answer 8

Used to depict specific evidence on the scene
-close up photographs can depict injuries and weapons lying near body
After the body is removed from the scene, surface beneath the body should be photographed
As items of physical evidence are discovered, they are photographed to show their position and location relative to the entire scene
-close up photographs should then be taken to record the details of object itself
If size of an item is important, ruler or other measuring scale may be placed near the object and included in the photograph as a point of reference (w & w/o scale)

Question 9

Intake photographs

Answer 9

Series of 6-7 photographs showing the animal from all angles
-cranial (includes face)-w/wo photo board
-caudal (tail end, may need 2 photos-tail up and down)
-R lat
-L lat
-ventral (abdomen-lifted)
-dorsal (back)
ALWAYS take a picture of the photo board before taking photos of the animal
Do not need photo board in all photos, but should have face photograph with/without a photo board

Question 10

What if photograph is bad?

Answer 10

If you take it, needs to stay
-someone might claim it would have exonerated the client

Question 11

Photography tips

Answer 11

Do not use your personal cell phone to take photographs for casework-may get taken
Always take more photos than necessary
Make sure perspective, lighting, exposures are correct
Use scales to depict size only WHEN NECESSARY (don’t need for every photograph)