The Crime Scene

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The Crime Scene

• Investigative Photography

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Physical Evidence

• Physical evidence is any object that can
  establish that a crime has been committed or can
  link a crime and its victim or its perpetrator.
• Forensic science begins at the crime scene. The
  investigator must recognize physical evidence
  properly preserve it for laboratory examination.
• The evidence must be kept in its original
  condition as much as possible.

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Securing the Crime Scene

• Secure Isolate the Crime Scene
• First priority is medical assistance to
  individuals arresting the perpetrator.
• Ropes or barricades and guards will prevent
  unauthorized access to the area.
• Every person who enters the crime scene has the
  potential to destroy physical evidence.
• The lead investigator evaluates the scene
  determines the boundaries. They do an initial
  walk through develop a strategy.
• All items must be documented photographed.

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Recording the Crime Scene

• 3 methods of crime-scene recording photography,
  sketches, notes
• Ideally all 3 should be used

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Photography

• Evidence
• Close ups
• Perspectives
• Multiple angles

• Scene
• Multiple views
• Entrances
• Exits
• Windows

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Photography

• The crime scene should be unaltered, unless
  injured people are involved, objects must not be
  moved until they have been photographed from all
  necessary angles.
• If things are removed, added, or positions
  changed the photographs may not be admissible
  evidence.
• Photograph completely
• Area where crime took place adjacent areas
• Various angles

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Photography

• If crime scene includes a body
• Take photos to show bodys location position
  relative to the whole crime scene
• Take close-up photos of injuries weapons lying
  near the body
• After the body is removed, photograph the surface
  underneath.
• When size is significant, use a ruler or other
  measuring scale
• Digital cameras allow for enhancement
  examination in fine detail.
• Videotaping a scene is also becoming popular.

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INVESTIGATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY
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INVESTIGATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY
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INVESTIGATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY
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INVESTIGATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY
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Purpose of Crime Scene Photography

• 1. To record the original scene and related areas
  
• 2. To record the initial appearance of physical
  evidence
• 3. It will provide investigators and others with
  this permanent visual record of the scene for
  later use
• 4. Photographs are also used in court trials and
  hearings

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Admissibility of photographic evidence

• 1. Three major points of qualification of a
  photograph in court
• a. Object pictured must be material or relevant
  to the point in issue
• b. The photograph must not appeal to the emotions
  or tend to prejudice the court or jury
• c. The photograph must be free from distortion
  and not misrepresent the scene or the object it
  purports to reproduce
• 2. You do not need to be an expert in photography
  to take crime scene photographs or testify about
  them

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• Any picture an officer takes may wind up in
  Court.
• You will be safe if you keep this in mind for
  every photo you shoot.
• Experience has shown that attention to a few
  simple rules can make pictures acceptable to most
  judges.

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Taking overview photographs

• Purpose
• a. To show the scene exactly as it was when you
  first saw it
• (1) If something was moved before you arrived,
  don't try to reconstruct the scene as it was.
• The photographs should show the scene as you
  found it

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• a. First discuss the crime, evidence and
  photographs needed with other investigators at
  the scene
• b. Be careful not to destroy any evidence while
  taking the photographs

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Outside the scene

• (1) Exterior of the building where the crime
  occurred and in some cases the whole locale
• (2) Aerial photographs of the scene and the
  surrounding area can be useful in some types of
  cases
• (3) Original series of photographs should also
  show all doors, windows and other means of
  entrance or exit

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Inside the scene

• (1) Begin with a view of the entrance
• (2) Then photograph the scene as it appears when
  you first step into the room
• (3) Next, move around the room to get photographs
  of all the walls
• (a) These photographs should also show the
  positions of any potential items of evidence
• (4) Include photographs of other rooms connected
  with the actual crime scene

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Photographs to record items of evidence

• 1. Take two photographs of each item of evidence
• a. One should be an orientation (midrange) shot
  to show how the item is related to its
  surroundings
• b. The second photograph should be a close-up to
  bring out the details of the object itself

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• 2. Measuring and marking devices
• a. Take two photographs if a marking or measuring
  device is used
• (1) One photograph without the device, the other
  with the device
• (2) So the defense can't claim that the scene was
  altered or that the device was concealing
  anything important

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PHOTOGRAPHING SPECIFIC CRIME SCENES

• Each crime scene has unique characteristics and
  the type of photographs needed will be determined
  at the scene by the investigator familiar with
  the crime.

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Homicide

• 1. Use color film
• 2. Photographs (example homicide inside a
  residence)
• a. Exterior of the building
• b. Evidence outside the building
• c. Entrance into the scene
• d. Room in which the body was found

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• e. Adjoining rooms, hallways, stairwells
• f. Body from five angles
• g. Close-up of body wounds
• h. Weapons
• i. Trace evidence

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• j. Signs of activity prior to the homicide
• k. Evidence of a struggle
• l. View from positions witnesses had at time of
  the crime
• (1) Use a normal lens
• m. Autopsy

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Suicide, other dead body calls

• 1. If there is any doubt, photograph the scene as
  a homicide

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Assaults, injuries

• 1. Photographing injuries
• a. Face of victim in the photographs
• b. Bruises
• c. Bite marks
• (1) Orientation shot
• (2) Close-up at 90 degree angle to avoid
  distortion
• (3) Ruler in same plane as bite mark
• (4) Focus carefully
• (5) Bracket exposures

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PHOTOGRAPHING EVIDENCE

• Fingerprints
• 1. When to photograph fingerprints
• a. Before lifting on major cases or if the
  latent may be destroyed when lifting
• b. To bring out detail in a latent

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Impressions

• 1. Footprints and tire tracks
• a. Procedure
• (1) Take an orientation photograph to show where
  in the scene the impression is located
• (2) Take a close-up for detail
• (a) Use a scale on the same plane as the
  impression

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Bloodstain photography

• 1. Use color film
• 2. Orientation photographs to show locations of
  bloodstain evidence at the scene
• 3. Close-up photographs to show detail
• a. Use a scale on the same plane as the
  bloodstain
• b. Keep the film parallel to the plane of the
  bloodstain

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Ask yourself questions such as

• Does this picture reveal the true position of the
  witness to the crime?
• Do the skid marks seem longer or shorter in the
  viewfinder than they are in real life?
• How large is the lead pipe used as a weapon?

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• Shoot most pictures with the camera at eye level.
  
• This is the height from which people normally see
  things and that makes it easier to judge
  perspective.

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• One practical way to assure complete coverage and
  to provide correct perspective is to follow the
  FOUR CORNER APPROACH. (Fig.1)

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Figure 1.
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Sketches

• Once photos are taken, sketch the scene.
• A rough sketch is a sketch, drawn at the crime
  scene, that contains an accurate depiction of the
  dimensions of the scene shows the location of
  all objects having a bearing on the case.
• All measurements are made with a tape measure
• Show all items of physical evidence
• Assign each item a number or letter and list it
  in the legend
• Show a compass heading designating north
• A finished sketch is a precise rendering of the
  crime scene, usually drawn to scale.
• Computer-aided drafting (CAD) has become the
  standard.

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Rough-sketch diagram of a crime scene. Courtesy
Sirchie Finger Print Laboratories, Inc.,
Youngsville, N.C., www.sirchie.com.
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Rough Sketch to Final
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Notes

• Note taking must be a constant activity
  throughout the processing of the crime scene.
• The notes may be the only source of information
  to refresh memory.
• Tape-recording notes at a scene can be
  advantageous detailed notes can be taped much
  faster than they can be written.

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Dealing with Physical Evidence

• Once found, physical evidence must be collected
  stored in a way that preserves its integrity for
  forensic comparison analysis.
• The search for physical evidence must be thorough
  and systematic, even when suspects are
  immediately seized.
• A forensic scientist is not usually needed at the
  scene unless the evidence is complex or it is a
  major crime.
• Some police agencies have trained field evidence
  technicians.

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Searching the Crime Scene

• One person should supervise coordinate.
• Include all probable entry exit points in
  search
• What to search for will be determined by the
  particular circumstances of the crime.
• Examples
• Homicide
• Hit-and-run
• In most crimes, a search for latent fingerprints
  is required.

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CRIME SCENE SEARCH PATTERNS

• Spiral
• Strip/Line
• Grid
• Zone/Quadrant
• Pie/Wheel

• The crime scene coordinator may choose from a
  variety of crime scene search patterns based upon
  the type and size of the crime scene.

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Systematic Search
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Collect Physical Evidence

• Physical evidence can be anything from massive
  objects to microscopic traces.
• It may be necessary to take custody of all
  clothing worn by the participants in a crime.
• Handle carefully wrap separately to avoid loss
  of trace evidence.
• Critical areas of the crime scene should be
  vacuumed the sweepings submitted to the lab for
  analysis.
• Mobile crime-scene vehicles carry supplies to
  protect the crime scene photo, collect,
  package evidence develop latent fingerprints.

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Collect Physical Evidence

• The integrity of evidence is best maintained when
  the item is kept in its original condition as
  found at the crime scene.
• The entire object should be sent to the lab.
• If evidence is found adhering to a large
  structure, remove specimen with forceps or other
  appropriate tool.
• In the case of a bloodstain, one may either
  scrape the stain off the surface, transfer the
  stain to a moistened swab, or cut out the area of
  the object containing the stain.

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Collect Physical Evidence

• Each different item or similar items collected at
  different locations must be placed in separate
  containers.
• Packaging evidence separately prevents damage
  through contact and prevents cross-contamination.

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Autopsy Room

• Medical examiner or coroner carefully examines
  the victim to establish a cause manner of
  death.
• Tissues are retained for pathological
  toxicological examination.
• The following are collected sent to the lab
• Victims clothing
• Fingernail scraping
• Head pubic hairs
• Blood (DNA typing)
• Vaginal, anal, oral swabs (in sex-related
  crimes)
• Recovered bullets from the body
• Hand swabs from shooting victims (for GSR
  analysis)

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Tools for Evidence Collection

• Forceps
• Unbreakable plastic pill bottles w/ pressure lids
• Manila envelopes, glass vials, pill boxes
• Paper bags are better than plasticwhy?
• Fire evidence must be kept in an airtight
  container to prevent evaporation of petroleum
  residues
• Clothing must be air-dried placed in individual
  paper bags.
• http//www.crime-scene.com/ecpi/evidence_collectio
  n.shtml

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Chain of Custody

• Chain of custody is a list of all people who came
  into possession of an item of evidence.
• Chain must be established whenever evidence is
  presented in court as an exhibit.
• Failure to do so may lead to ? Regarding
  authenticity integrity of evidence.
• All items should be carefully packaged and marked
  upon their retrieval at crime sites.
• Normally, the collectors initials date of
  collection are inscribed directly on the article.
• The evidence container must also be marked with
  collectors initials, location of evidence,
  date of collection.

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Standard/Reference Samples

• The examination of evidence often requires
  comparison with a known standard/reference
  sample.
• A standard/reference sample is physical evidence
  whose origin is known, such as blood or hair from
  a suspect, that can be compared to crime scene
  evidence.
• Such materials may be obtained from the victim, a
  suspect, or other known sources.
• The presence of standard/reference samples
  greatly facilitates the work of the forensic
  scientist.

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Standard/Reference Samples

• Bloodstained evidence must be accompanied by a
  whole-blood or buccal swab s/r sample obtained
  from all relevant crime-scene participants.
• A buccal swab is a swab of the inner cheek,
  performed to collect cells for use in determining
  the DNA profile of an individual.
• Some types of evidence must also be accompanied
  by the collection of substrate controls.
• Normally collected at arson scenes.
• A substrate control is uncontaminated surface
  material close to an area where physical evidence
  has been deposited used to ensure that the
  surface on which a sample has been deposited does
  not interfere with laboratory tests.

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Submitting Evidence to the Lab

• Evidence is submitted to the lab either by
  personal delivery or by mail shipment.
• Most labs require that an evidence submission
  form accompany all evidence submitted.
• Enables the lab analyst to make an intelligent
  complete examination of the evidence.
• Provide a brief description of the case history
  so the examiner can analyze in a logical
  sequence.
• The particular kind of examination requested for
  each type of evidence should be delineated.
• A list of all items submitted must be included.

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Death Autopsies

• Forensic Pathology involves the investigation of
  unnatural, unexplained, or violent deaths.
• Forensic pathologists in their role as medical
  examiners or coroners are charged with
  determining cause of death.
• The forensic pathologist may conduct an autopsy
  which is the medical dissection and examination
  of a body in order to determine the cause of
  death.

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Crime Scene Safety

• The increasing spread of AIDS and hepatitis B has
  sensitized the law enforcement community to the
  potential health hazards that can exist at crime
  scenes.
• In reality, law enforcement officers have an
  extremely small chance of contracting AIDS or
  hepatitis at the crime scene.
• The International Association for Identification
  Safety Committee has proposed guidelines to
  protect investigators at crime scenes containing
  potentially infectious materials that should be
  adhered to at all times.