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Crime Scene Photography: Essential Guidelines for Evidence Collection

This comprehensive guide outlines the crucial steps and techniques for documenting crime scenes through photography to ensure accurate evidence collection and presentation in court. From basic functions to marking devices and types of photographs, every aspect of crime scene photography is covered for investigative purposes.

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Crime Scene Photography: Essential Guidelines for Evidence Collection

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  1. Criminal Investigation Crime Scene Processing Part 10

  2. Crime Scene • Evidence - most crimes - to identify - to convict a. Reproduce the crime - evidence collection - forgery / shoplift: no crime scene b. Prepare while enroute - observant / mental notes

  3. Scene, cont. (1) Check for suspect - officer protection (2) Injuries to victim - medics / pronounce dead (3) Call for assistance - additional officers / experts b. Protect scene - neighbors / officers / news / medics

  4. Scene, cont. - guided through (1) First officer - in charge until relieved (2) Building search - two officers - stay together (3) Protection methods - vehicles to block streets / alleys / etc

  5. Scene, cont. - officers at certain points - police tape (4) Information in report - necessary for court - defense attorney • Crime scene search - probative value - items of no value

  6. Search, cont. a. Basic function - thorough / legal - evidence present (1) Goal of search - crime occurred / type - when committed - identify who - how committed - suggest why (motive)

  7. Search, cont. (2) Do not search until: - photo / sketching complete - conduct walk-through / mental picture b. Photography - important role - court presentation (1) Picture / video - accurately represents - immediate / kept in roll

  8. Search, cont. (2) Equipment - instamatic - Polaroid - Press cameras (35mm) - fingerprint camera (1 x 1) - movie / videotape - specialized cameras (3) Lens / filters - wide angle / fisheye / telephoto / micro - eliminate colors

  9. Search, cont. (4) Film - black and white / color / infrared - ASA: speed of film • What to photograph - general areas - specific locations - objects of evidence a. Long-range pictures - take of locality

  10. Search, cont. - suspect’s entry / exit (1) Entry toproperty - doors / gates / etc (2) Exterior - buildings / grounds (3) Identification shots - street sign / house numbers - other identifiable structures

  11. Search, cont. b. Medium-range pictures - immediate crime scene - objects of evidence c. Close-range pictures - entire surfaces (bullet hole / chair / table / etc.) - specific (hair / fiber / blood / finger-footprint) (1) Several shots - different locations - do not disturb

  12. Search, cont. d. Instant photos - bruises / wounds - vandalism - photo array • Properly performed - most valuable aids - little expertise - become familiar - basic class

  13. Photos a. Investigative photographs - any made to record object / event - clarify a point (1) Photo laboratory - greater enhancement b. Admissibility - if investigator can testify - accurately depict - area he/she observed

  14. Photos (1) Accuracy - degree it represents appearance - form / tone / color / scale (2) Camera lens - not pickup perspective / scale / distance - supported: sketch / investigative notes - ruler / scale measurement (3) Negative - sufficient proof / refute allegations

  15. Photos c. Highest quality of evidence - depict scene precisely - as found (1) Exclusive function - no people working in scene - no police equipment d. ID of photographs - precisely identified - data noted on each shot taken

  16. Photos (1) Technical history of photo - recorded in notes - how relates - permanent part of case e. Custody - establish chain of evidence (1) Who took photos - primary / lab technician

  17. Photos (2) Who maintained the film - evidence locker - case file - locked desk (3) Who developed - police crime lab - commercial processor: mail/return receipts (4) Who maintained pictures - detective / evidence technician?

  18. Photos f. Admissibility - material / relevant / competent (1) Material - relates to the case (2) Relevant - assists or explains testimony (3) Competent - represents what it purports

  19. Photos - properly identified - follows chain of evidence • General considerations - time: an essential factor - preempt other aspects of investigation a. Cannot be moved / examined - until photographed - all angles

  20. Photos (1) Undergoes significant change - passage of time (2) Photo ASAP b. Camera positions - recorded on crime scene sketch (1) Measure distance - immoveable object - vertical line / from camera lens

  21. Photos (2) Interior scenes - depict as a whole - move in closer - specific object • Marking devices - used in the field of view a. Rulers - good method - relationship of objects

  22. Devices b. Identifying letters - A / B / C / etc. - used to describe items of evidence - letter ‘A’ next to bullet hole - shown in notes / reports c. Similar marking devices - chalk marks / string / etc. (1) Can be contested - not truly represent original scene

  23. Devices (2) Two photographs - one with marking device - one without • Types of photographs a. Victims (1) All possible angles - impossible to “over-photograph” - controlled / protected crime scene

  24. Types (2) Obtain: body part not visible - back of body - if found on back b. Witnesses - same approximate location (1) Statement from witness (2) Review at trial - help from being confused

  25. Type c. Clothing - description recorded - before moving body (1) Clothing removed - photograph where found - accurate measurements taken d. Weapons - photo where found - before moving

  26. Type (1) Unable to photo - take of general area - notes taken: allow accurate testimony e. Bloody areas - colored photos - large concentrations / small bloodspots (1) Include ruler (2nd photo) - bloody drag marks - photo completely

  27. Type (2) Photo any / all clothing - boot / shoe - ruler next to (3) Notes at time - direction blood was traveling - approximate size of spots f. Scrape / drag marks - all that show a struggle - bent grass / heel marks in sand

  28. Type (2) Important role - what actually happened - before / during / after g. Impressions - tire / shoe / boot - fabric on dirt / paint / dust - ruler: oblique lighting h. Other articles - bottles / glasses / cups / playing cards / etc.

  29. Type (1) No object should be moved - until photographed - original location • Most important element - maintaining perspective a. Viewed from particular point - relative position / size b. Any distortion

  30. Type c. Natural perspective - aiming camera at 90 degree angle - opposite wall - outdoors: fixed object d. Keep at eye level - unless tripod - viewer can see at eye level e. Overlapping segments - one direction around the room / area

  31. Type • Critical photographic requirements a. Approaches to the scene b, Surrounding areas c. Close-up: entrance / exit d. General scenario shot e. Minimum: 2 photos of body / 90 degree angles

  32. Type f. Body close-ups g. After removal of body h. Fingerprints i. Blood stains j. All items of evidence

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