CRIMINAL
INVESTIGTATIONS
CHAPTER 2
DOCUMENTING THE CRIME SCENE: NOTE
TAKING, PHOTOGRAPHING, AND
SKETCHING
INITIAL RESPONDERS
Must protect the scene by;
Conceptualizing the crime scene
Establishing boundaries
Keep none essential personnel out
Remove unauthorized personnel
Detaining and separating witnesses
Containing area until relieved
Detective/investigator response
CASE STUDY
THE WALK-THROUGH
Conducted to give you a prospective on
type crime, how committed and what evidence to look for
Evidence is located and protected, allows scene boundaries to be set
Should include: entry/exit pts., crime route, contact objects, waiting areas, missing objects, turf markings, unusual
M.O.’s, did they eat anything
DOCUMENTING THE CRIME SCENE
Field notes: Not only a Police
Problem!
An essential part of the investigators job Don’t rely on your memory!!!
Help you write report and testify
Best evidence rule?
Field note are the essence of your
report, the five W and an H
They help impeach, rehabilitate, prepare for interviews/interrogations, etc. FIELD NOTES CHECKLIST
Write legible
Complete thoughts
Date and hour all
entries
One case one set of notes Can use notes to share information
Use of field notes in court
Corroborate all
information
Too much better than not enough
Use of a tape recorder Keep your report current Where to store your notes
To keep ort not keep is the question FIELD NOTES CHECKLIST
REMEMBER :
Effective
notes are complete
Factual
Accurate
Specific
Clear
Arranged
in chronological order
Well organized.
INVESTIGATIVE
PHOTOGRAPHY
Conducted after walk through, before
anything is touched or moved.
Take far to close, big to small
Photographs
Laying the foundation
Videotapes
Logging of photos and tapes
Number (chronologically) and describe, far to close, general to specific Type equipment , film used, case number, disposition of film
FIELD NOTES CHECKLIST
Admissibility of Notes
Use of notes in court is the most important legal application
All officers who are present at the scene and who witness the writing of the notes, can testify to it
Your police report is a summary of the notes taken and essentially becomes your notes for testimony
PHOTOGRAPHY
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
1. Taken
immediately
2.
3.
4.
5.
Accurately Represent the crime scene in court
Effective on a jury
Corroborate the facts presented
Digital photography
1.
2.
3.
4.
Contain both relevant and irrelevant Irrelevant material may distract viewers Cameras my lack the capability to see discrete evidence
Distance
PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPHY
TERMS
1.
2.
3.
Material
PhotographRelevant
Photograph
Competent
Photograph
1. Relates to
Specific Case and
Subject
2. Helps Explain
Testimony
3. Accurately
Represents What it purports to represent VIDEO
ADVANTAGES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
DISADVANTAGES
Bring Crime Scene to Life
Shows Distance
Incorporate Audio(smell)
More likely to capture all evidence
Fully Document what is being seen
1.
2.
3.
CSI Effect (Juries Expect it)
Many agencies don’t provide training Poor video can damage a case
VIDEO
Surveillance Photography or Video
Establishes
and records the criminal behavior without the suspect knowing
Businesses have Surv. Video
In car cameras
Undercover operations
Suspects own cell phone video( Think social media)
Case Study
Case Study
Case Study
Case Study
THE CRIME SCENE SKETCH
Portrays the physical facts
Relates to the sequence of events
Establishes the precise location and
relationships of objects and evidence at the scene
Creates a mental picture
Permanent record
Can and is usually admissible in court
CRIME SCENE SKETCHES
The rough sketch
Steps in sketching the crime scene
Observe and plan
Measure
Locate objects and evidence
Record details
Make notes
Identify sketch with legend and scale
Reassess
CRIME SCENE SKETCHES
The finished scale drawing
