Police Photography: Documentation of the Crime Scene PDF

MODULE POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY CHAPTER 9: DOCUMENTATION OF THE CRIME SCENE OBJECTIVES: a. Identify the methods of photographing the crime scene b....

MODULE POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY CHAPTER 9: DOCUMENTATION OF THE CRIME SCENE OBJECTIVES: a. Identify the methods of photographing the crime scene b. Identify the sequential photographs to be taken in the crime scene PHOTOGRAPHING THE CRIME SCENE The purpose of crime scene photographs is to give a documented record of the scene as it is observed. The photographers should begin taking photographs of the scene as soon as possible upon arriving on the area. This will assure that the scene is depicted as it is observed in its original uninterrupted state. Nothing should be touched, moved. Or initiated into the scene until it has been thoroughly photographed and documented. The goal is to record useful information in a series of photographs which will enable the viewer to understand where and how the crime was committed. The crime scene not only refers to the immediate locality in which the crime took place, but also to adjacent areas where important acts took place immediately before or after the crime was committed Photographs of the broad area of the crime scene should be supplemented by closer shots of sections containing important detail. Each area or object should be photographed so that it can be located readily in the overall pictures, which will enable the viewer to gain a clear concept of its position with reference to other objects at the scene. 1|Page  MODULE POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY Ranges of Photographs An important aspect to consider regarding the various ranges of photographs is the general point-of-view established by the camera locations. These locations will enable the viewer of the pictures to orient the crime scene in a logical manner. 1. General View or Long Range General view or long-range photographs of the overall scene are fundamentally taken to portray the areas as if a person viewing the scene is seeing it from the standing position. To obtain this result, the photographer takes the photograph with the camera at eye level. 2. Medium View or Mid-range Medium view or mid-range photographs are taken in a manner which portrays the scene from approximately ten to twenty feet of distance from the subject matter. In order that the viewer, be permitted to associate the crime scene with separate areas of the scene photographed, these areas should contain sufficient detail to permit the viewer this association. 3. Close-up View/Range Close-up range photographs are normally taken approximately five feet or less from the subject matter. The attention of close up photography is directed to objects which could not effectively be seen in the long-range and mid-range photographs. Take necessary extreme close-up shot of the subject to show the extent of damage. 2|Page  MODULE POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY Methods of Photographing the Crime Scene There are two general methods of photographing the crime scene. 1. Overlapping Method A photographic method of taking a series of photographs in a circular or clockwise direction, overlapping each other slightly to show the entire crime scene. If a single photograph cannot show the entire crime scene, apply this method. 2. Progressive Method A photographic method of taking crime scene photographs starting from a fixed point, photographing each piece of evidence from general to specific as the photographer moves toward it, and progressively getting closer. Sequential Photographs of the Crime Scene Each crime has individual features that should be photographed. Keep in mind the nature of the offense and try to show those features that establish the elements of the offense. The following photographs should be taken. 1. Views of the exterior of the building/vehicle, with relation to other buildings/vehicles, roads, streets, etc. 2. Point of entry, outside and inside 3. Point of exit, outside and inside 4. Condition (s) of the crime scene 5. Area from which valuable articles were removed 6. Articles left at the scene 7. Trace evidence, such as hairs, fibers, and cigarette butts 8. Tool marks and impressions of shoes or tire tracks 9. Fingerprints and footprints, as well as articles on which these prints may be found 3|Page  MODULE POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY Standard Operating Procedures in Photographing the Crime Scene PNP’s forensic photographers follow these basic rules for Scene of Crime Operation (SOCO) and Field Laboratory Work (FLW): 1. Photograph the entire scene or the general view to include nearby surroundings pertinent to the case, indicating the case number, time, date, and initial of the photographer. 2. Take an overlapping shot of the immediate scene from four different angles. 3. Photograph the entrance and exit of the crime scene. 4. Photograph the body (victim/s or suspect/s) showing the exact location, direction where it tends. After removal of the body take a photograph of the scene with the white outline to indicate the place where the victim was lying. 5. Take close-up photographs of the body showing the face for proper identification. 6. Take mid-range and close-up photographs of all pieces of evidence found at the crime scene with a measuring tool of scale, if necessary, including the case number, date and initial of the photographer. 7. Take close-up photographs of the bullet hole if there is any, and photograph the area showing the appropriate distance of fire by making a straight line on the direction of the bullet hole. 8. The crime scene should be sketched in the presence of the investigator or other authorized person. The investigator should sign in the rough sketch to attest the authenticity of the crime scene sketch. Record on the photographic log book the weather condition, type of lens, film and camera used. 9. Negatives and photographs should be placed in a plastic holder and put inside a white mailing envelope with proper case identification such as case number, time and date before filing in a steel cabinet. 4|Page  MODULE POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY Issuance/ Release of Photographic Evidence A written request addressed to the Director; Crime Laboratory is required from the investigating units having jurisdiction over the case prior to the release/issuance of photographic evidence. Upon receipt of the approved request, photographs and other photographic evidence should be released within minimum period of one day. Likewise, requests for court presentation should be attended without delay. Forensic Photographer subpoenaed by court should personally print the negatives as soon as possible and prepare the materials, photo log and crime scene sketch for court presentation NOTE TAKING The investigator/photographer’s notes are personal records of the search for evidence. The objective of note taking at a crime scene is to make detailed notes that will remain fully meaningful even months after the event. Oftentimes, a note that is completely clear to the writer a short time after being made later becomes unintelligible. Notes are valuable not only as an aid to an accurate recall of events to be testified in court, but also to furnish the raw material needed in the written formal report of the case. The notebooks should be kept permanently in a safe place. The notes taken should begin with the investigator’s name and assignment to the case, Notes should be supplemented by sketches and photographs of the scene. Notes should be recorded in the order that the observations they pertain to are made and will not necessarily be in logical order. During the initial stage of the recording process, it is important only that the notes are complete, as the investigator will later reorganize the information during the writing of the formal report. Essential Items of Information to Be Included During Note Taking 1. Dates, times, and locations 2. Detailed description of the victim and his/her clothing 3. Wounds the victim has received 4. A general description of the crime scene 5|Page  MODULE POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY 5. The type of camera and film used in photographing the crime scene 6. Discovery of each significant item of evidence 7. The failure to locate items Note the absence of items that would normally be associated with the crime being investigated, the area of the crime scene. Or items missing from a deceased victim such as items of clothing that could not be located at the scene of the crime. CRIME SCENE SKETCHING The final phase in documenting the scene is making a crime scene sketch. The drawback of the photographs is that they e two-dimensional representations of three- dimensional objects, a result, most photographs can distort the spatial relationships of the photographed objects causing items to appear closer together or farther apart than they actually are. If spatial relationships of the evidence are important or if something needs to have proportional measurements included in it for calculations (such as bullet trajectory angles, accident reconstructions, etc.) then a sketch must be made of the crime scene. Photographs alone are not sufficient for the adequate recording a crime scene. A crime scene sketch will complement the photographs and notes made during the crime scene search. The purpose of a sketch is to portray the information accurately, not necessarily artistically. It is not required that the crime scene sketcher have any artistic ability in order to construct an adequate sketch of a crime scene. Crime scene sketches clarify the appearance of the scene and make it easier to comprehend. A sketch is usually made of the scene as if one is looking straight down (overhead sketch) or straight ahead (elevation sketch at a crime scene. A rough sketch at the scene is usually made first on graph paper in pencil with so many squares representing square feet or inches. Directionality of the overhead view is determined by using a compass. Using a tape measure or other measuring devices, measurements of the distances between objects and/or structures at the crime scene are taken. These measurements are proportionally introduced on the rough sketch and the objects are drawn in. Two measurements taken at right angles to each other or from two reference points will usually suffice in placing the objects where they belong in a sketch. Double measurements should also be taken to make sure they are correct. This is especially true where calculations will later be used. A final sketch can be made later using inks, paper and ruler, or a computer. The original rough sketch should be retained and preserved in case it is needed at a later date. Once the scene has been thoroughly documented then the evidence collection can commence. Use a measurement table for the evidence in your sketch. The table is adaptable to any coordinate system (triangulation, rectangular. Baseline or even radial). The table may help in reminding you to measure the height, which is frequently overlooked. 6|Page  MODULE POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY Eliminating needless measurement lines will rid confusion by making your sketch look cleaner instead of the walls you can use corners for triangulation. You are not limited to two reference points. Note the above “relationship” measurements. These measurements cannot accurately be made on a “scale” drawing at a later time. Information to be Included in the Sketch The sketch should include at least the following information: 1. The crime scene sketcher’s full name and assignment. 2. The date, time, crime classification, and case number. 3. The full name of any person who assists in taking measurement 4. Address of the crime scene, its position in a building, landmark and compass direction. 5. The scale of the drawing, if a scale drawing has been made. 6. The major discernible items of physical evidence and the critical features of the crime scene. The location of such items is indicated by accurate measurements from at least two fixed points, or by other methods discussed below. The measurements shown on sketch should be as accurate as possible and they need to be made and recorded uniformly. Steel tapes are the best means of taking measurements. It is difficult to explain an erroneous measurement on a drawing and can introduce doubt in minds of others as to the competence of the entire search of the crime scene. TYPES OF SKETCHES 1. Rough Sketch – A rough sketch is drawn free-hand by the sketcher at the crime scene. Changes should not be made to it after the sketcher has left the scene. This sketch will not normally be drawn to scale, but will indicate accurate distances, dimensions, and relative proportions. 2. Smooth Sketch – A smooth sketch is one that is finished and is frequently drawn to scale from the information provided in the rough sketch. If a sketch is drawn to scale, the numbers concerning the distances can be eliminated. However, if the sketch is not drawn to scale, the distances need to be shown. 7|Page  MODULE POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY METHODS OF SKETCHING 1) Coordinate Method The coordinate method measures the distance of an object from two fixed points. One form of this method uses a baseline which is drawn between two known points. The baseline could be a wall or drawn as a mathematical center of a room. The exact dimensions of which are known. The measurements of a given object are then taken from left to right along the baseline, to a point at right angles to the object which is to be plotted. The distance will be indicated in the legend with a number in parentheses following the name of the object. 2) Triangulation Method The triangulation method is useful in an outdoor situation where there are no easily identifiable edges of roads or fields to use as reference points. Two or more reference points are located and should be widely separated if possible. The item of interest is located by measuring along a straight line from the reference points. 3) Cross-Projection Method The cross-projection method is useful when the items or locations of interest are on or in the wall surfaces as well as elsewhere in an enclosed space. The walls, windows and doors in a cross-projection sketch are drawn as though the walls had been folded flat on the floor. Then a sketch is drawn of the measurements from a given point on the floor to the wall. GENERAL RULES OF SKETCHING 1. Decide what is to be sketched. 2. Indicate the direction of the compass. 3. Locate the objects exactly and represent distances between them accurately. 4. Include only the essentials. 5. Correction should be made while in the area. 6. Draw to scale and indicate them. 8|Page MODULE POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDtpP3bb10s References: The Process of Documentation: Handbook on Photography by https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufS55-PAzuM&t=21s Dr. Waynefred H. Villarba, PhD.Crim, printed by CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY Wiseman’s Books Trading, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C40KG7podus Quezon City, 2000 9|Page