Documenting the Scene: Note Taking, Photographing and Sketching

Documenting the Scene: Documenting the Scene: Note Taking, Note Taking,

Photographing and Photographing and SketchingSketching

IntroductionIntroduction

Documentation is vital Documentation is vital throughout an investigationthroughout an investigation

Written and photographic Written and photographic documentation records the documentation records the condition of the scene as first condition of the scene as first observed, providing a observed, providing a permanent record.permanent record.

Paperwork can constitute up to Paperwork can constitute up to 70% of an investigator’s job.70% of an investigator’s job.

Field NotesField Notes

Investigative notes are a Investigative notes are a permanent written record of the permanent written record of the facts of a case to be used in facts of a case to be used in further investigation, in writing further investigation, in writing reports and in prosecuting the reports and in prosecuting the case.case.

Detailed notes can make or Detailed notes can make or break a conviction.break a conviction.

When to Take NotesWhen to Take Notes

Start to take notes as soon as Start to take notes as soon as possible after receiving a call to possible after receiving a call to respond and continue recording respond and continue recording information as it is received information as it is received throughout the investigation.throughout the investigation.

Most people will give information Most people will give information freely.freely.

But what about the reluctant But what about the reluctant witnesses?witnesses?

What to RecordWhat to Record

Record all facts, regardless of Record all facts, regardless of where they may lead. where they may lead. Information establishing a Information establishing a suspect’s innocence is as suspect’s innocence is as important as that establishing important as that establishing guilt.guilt.

Answer these questions:Answer these questions: Who? What? Where? When? Who? What? Where? When?

How? And Why?How? And Why?

What to RecordWhat to Record

Describe the physical scene Describe the physical scene including general weather including general weather conditions.conditions.

Do not jot down information Do not jot down information unrelated to the investigation.unrelated to the investigation.

Where to Record NotesWhere to Record Notes

Use a notebookUse a notebook Don’t use your hands!Don’t use your hands!

The notebook remains the simplest, The notebook remains the simplest, most economical and most basic of most economical and most basic of investigative tools.investigative tools. Advantages?Advantages?

SmallSmall Easy to carryEasy to carry

Disadvantages?Disadvantages? SmallSmall Not as organizedNot as organized

How to Take NotesHow to Take Notes

Write brief, legible, abbreviated notes Write brief, legible, abbreviated notes that others can understand.that others can understand.

Omit unnecessary words such as “a, Omit unnecessary words such as “a, and, the” -- don’t need them. Be and, the” -- don’t need them. Be preciseprecise

Use abbreviationsUse abbreviations If you make an error, cross it out so If you make an error, cross it out so

not erase?not erase? Why is this?Why is this?

You can also use a tape recorderYou can also use a tape recorder Also has advantages and disadvantagesAlso has advantages and disadvantages

Characteristics of Effective Characteristics of Effective NotesNotes Effective notes are complete, Effective notes are complete,

accurate, specific, factual, clear, well accurate, specific, factual, clear, well organized and legible.organized and legible.

Be as specific as possible:Be as specific as possible: Instead of saying tall Instead of saying tall

State about 6 foot 1 or 2.State about 6 foot 1 or 2.

The basic purpose of notes is to The basic purpose of notes is to records facts.records facts.

I always referred to the official report.I always referred to the official report.

Characteristics of Effective Characteristics of Effective NotesNotes LegibilityLegibility refers to the distinctness of refers to the distinctness of

your letters and numbers.your letters and numbers. ClarityClarity refers to the distinctness of refers to the distinctness of

your statements.your statements. Avoid wordinessAvoid wordiness Length alone doesn’t make for qualityLength alone doesn’t make for quality

Believe me I know~Believe me I know~ Use spell checkersUse spell checkers

Watch for words that are misspelled that Watch for words that are misspelled that are not misspelled.are not misspelled.

““there and their”there and their”

Filing NotesFiling Notes

If notes are retained, file them in If notes are retained, file them in a secure location readily a secure location readily accessible to the investigator.accessible to the investigator.

Admissibility of Notes in CourtAdmissibility of Notes in Court

Properly introduced original Properly introduced original notes made by the testifying notes made by the testifying officer can be used in a criminal officer can be used in a criminal proceeding.proceeding.

Officers may also refer to their Officers may also refer to their notes in court to refresh their notes in court to refresh their memory.memory. Defense counsel will get a copy of Defense counsel will get a copy of

those notes though.those notes though.

Admissibility of Notes in CourtAdmissibility of Notes in Court

Original notes are legally Original notes are legally admissible in court, and officers admissible in court, and officers may use them to refresh their may use them to refresh their memories. Officers should take memories. Officers should take to court only those notes that to court only those notes that pertain to that particular case.pertain to that particular case.

Formal NotesFormal Notes

Use standardized formatUse standardized format Use chronological orderUse chronological order The narrativeThe narrative

The opening paragraph states the time, The opening paragraph states the time, date, type of incident and how you came date, type of incident and how you came involved.involved.

Next, what you were told by the victim Next, what you were told by the victim witnesses. Use separate paragraph for witnesses. Use separate paragraph for each witness.each witness.

Record what you did.Record what you did.

Effective Report WritingEffective Report Writing

An effective report uses An effective report uses paragraphs, the past tense and paragraphs, the past tense and is in first person. It is factual, is in first person. It is factual, accurate, objective, complete, accurate, objective, complete, concise, clear, mechanically concise, clear, mechanically correct, written in standard correct, written in standard English, legible and reader English, legible and reader focused.focused.

ParagraphsParagraphs

Paragraphs should be short Paragraphs should be short about 100 words.about 100 words.

You should start a new You should start a new paragraph when:paragraph when: Change speakersChange speakers Change locationChange location Change timeChange time Change ideaChange idea

Some more info on ReportsSome more info on Reports

Past tensePast tense Uses verbs that denote that events have Uses verbs that denote that events have

already occurred.already occurred. 11stst Person Person

II responded to the call responded to the call Be objectiveBe objective

Keep to the factsKeep to the facts Which of these is objective?Which of these is objective?

1)1) the man criedthe man cried2)2) 2) the man wept2) the man wept3)3) 3) the man blubbered)3) the man blubbered)

Investigative Photography: An Investigative Photography: An OverviewOverview

This is one of the first investigative This is one of the first investigative tasks.tasks.

Precedes sketching, note taking, Precedes sketching, note taking, and searching.and searching.

Do not touch or move any evidence Do not touch or move any evidence until photo’s have been taken.until photo’s have been taken.

PurposePurpose

To record the scene permanently. To record the scene permanently. Pictures taken immediately, Pictures taken immediately, using proper techniques to using proper techniques to reproduce the entire crime scene, reproduce the entire crime scene, provide a factual record of the provide a factual record of the highest evidentiary value.highest evidentiary value.

AdvantagesAdvantages

Taken immediatelyTaken immediately Accurately represent the crime Accurately represent the crime

scenescene Highly effective visual aidsHighly effective visual aids Corroborate factsCorroborate facts Create interest and attention to Create interest and attention to

testimony giventestimony given

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Not selectiveNot selective Do not show actual distancesDo not show actual distances May be distortedMay be distorted

ColorColor DistanceDistance LightingLighting Can be damagedCan be damaged

Basic EquipmentBasic Equipment

35 mm camera35 mm camera Video cameraVideo camera Fingerprint cameraFingerprint camera

Trace evidence camera with 4 bulbsTrace evidence camera with 4 bulbs Digital cameraDigital camera

PixelsPixels are the dots making up a are the dots making up a digital image. digital image.

One One mega pixelmega pixel is about 1 million is about 1 million dots. dots.

Errors to AvoidErrors to Avoid

Take photographs before Take photographs before anything is disturbed.anything is disturbed.

If you move something, do not If you move something, do not put it back and take a picture of put it back and take a picture of it.it.

What to Photograph & HowWhat to Photograph & How

Use the overlapping techniqueUse the overlapping technique

First photograph the general area, First photograph the general area, then specific areas and finally then specific areas and finally specific objects of evidence. Take specific objects of evidence. Take exterior shots first.exterior shots first.

Sound recordings are admissible if Sound recordings are admissible if using a video recorder.using a video recorder.

MarkersMarkers

A marker is anything used in a picture A marker is anything used in a picture to show accurate or relative sizeto show accurate or relative size

Be aware that using a marker Be aware that using a marker introduces something that is foreign to introduces something that is foreign to the crime scene.the crime scene.

Identifying EvidenceIdentifying Evidence

Use Field notesUse Field notes Use a chain of custody cardUse a chain of custody card

Admissibility of PhotographsAdmissibility of Photographs

A A material material photograph – relates the photograph – relates the specific case and subject being specific case and subject being discussed.discussed.

A A relevantrelevant photograph – assists or photograph – assists or explains testimony. It appears to the explains testimony. It appears to the matter in question. Determines truth to a matter in question. Determines truth to a matter in question.matter in question.

A A competentcompetent photograph – accurately photograph – accurately represents what it purports to represent.represents what it purports to represent.

Admissibility of PhotographsAdmissibility of Photographs

DistortionDistortion Unusual camera heightUnusual camera height For a direct photo without distance For a direct photo without distance

distortion, take at a 90 degree angle distortion, take at a 90 degree angle and about 12 inches above evidence.and about 12 inches above evidence.

ColorColor May be distortedMay be distorted May be objected to as inflammatoryMay be objected to as inflammatory Take both color and black and whiteTake both color and black and white

Types of Investigative Types of Investigative PhotographyPhotography

Surveillance PhotographySurveillance Photography Concealing cameras?Concealing cameras? Is this hard to do?Is this hard to do?

Trap PhotographyTrap Photography Aerial PhotographyAerial Photography Night PhotographyNight Photography

Use floodlights if availableUse floodlights if available


Microphotography – takes Microphotography – takes pictures through a microscope pictures through a microscope and can help identify minute and can help identify minute particles of evidence such as particles of evidence such as hairs and fibers.hairs and fibers.

Macrophotography – enlarges a Macrophotography – enlarges a subject such as fingerprints.subject such as fingerprints.

Laser-beam photography – can Laser-beam photography – can reveal evidence indiscernible to reveal evidence indiscernible to the naked eye.the naked eye.


Ultraviolet-light PhotographyUltraviolet-light Photography Uses the low end of the color Uses the low end of the color

spectrum, which is invisible to spectrum, which is invisible to human sight, to make visible human sight, to make visible impression of bruises and injuries impression of bruises and injuries long after their actual occurrence.long after their actual occurrence.

Mug ShotsMug Shots Generally departments have a Generally departments have a

policy relating to mug shots.policy relating to mug shots.


Rogues GalleryRogues Gallery The computer can now make a The computer can now make a

photo lineup.photo lineup.

Crime Scene Sketch: An Crime Scene Sketch: An OverviewOverview

A sketch is worth a1,000 wordsA sketch is worth a1,000 words

Photo: http://www.sleeping-demon.freeserve.co.uk/23rd-ltr/part1.html

The Rough SketchThe Rough Sketch

The rough sketch is the first The rough sketch is the first pencil drawn outline of a scene pencil drawn outline of a scene and the location of objects and and the location of objects and evidence within this outline.evidence within this outline.

Sketch after photographs are Sketch after photographs are taken and before anything is taken and before anything is moved.moved.

Sketching MaterialsSketching Materials

Paper, pencil, long steel Paper, pencil, long steel measuring tape (longer the measuring tape (longer the better), ruler or straightedge, better), ruler or straightedge, clipboard, eraser, compass, clipboard, eraser, compass, protractor and thumbtacks.protractor and thumbtacks.

Steps in Sketching the Crime Steps in Sketching the Crime SceneScene Observe and PlanObserve and Plan Measure distancesMeasure distances Outline the areaOutline the area Locate objects and evidence within Locate objects and evidence within

the outlinethe outline Record detailsRecord details Make notesMake notes Identify the sketch with a legend and Identify the sketch with a legend and

scalescale Reassess the sketchReassess the sketch

Steps in Sketching the Crime Steps in Sketching the Crime SceneScene Observe and PlanObserve and Plan

Decide where to startDecide where to start Use fixed locationsUse fixed locations

Measure DistancesMeasure Distances To ScaleTo Scale

Plot Objects and EvidencePlot Objects and Evidence Rectangular – Coordinate MethodRectangular – Coordinate Method Baseline MethodBaseline Method Triangulation MethodTriangulation Method Compass-Point MethodCompass-Point Method

Steps in Sketching the Crime Steps in Sketching the Crime SceneScene

Rectangular – Coordinate Rectangular – Coordinate MethodMethod Uses two adjacent walls as fixed Uses two adjacent walls as fixed

points. Measures at right angles.points. Measures at right angles.


Baseline MethodBaseline Method


Triangulation MethodTriangulation Method Uses straight line measurements Uses straight line measurements

from two fixed objects to the from two fixed objects to the evidence.evidence.


Cross Projection MethodCross Projection Method Presents the walls and floor as Presents the walls and floor as

they were one surface.they were one surface.

Compass Point MethodCompass Point Method

File the SketchFile the Sketch

Place sketch in secure location.Place sketch in secure location.

The Finished Scale DrawingThe Finished Scale Drawing

The finished scale drawing is The finished scale drawing is done in ink and on a good grade done in ink and on a good grade of paper. of paper.

You will not be drawing a sketch You will not be drawing a sketch to scale at the crime scene.to scale at the crime scene.

Computer Assisted DrawingComputer Assisted Drawing

Many companies have Many companies have developed computer hardware developed computer hardware to assist in drawing a crime to assist in drawing a crime scene.scene.

Admissibility of Sketches and Admissibility of Sketches and Drawings in CourtDrawings in Court

An admissible sketch is one An admissible sketch is one drawn or personally witnessed drawn or personally witnessed by an investigator that by an investigator that accurately portrays the crime accurately portrays the crime scene.scene.

Documents

Documenting the Scene: Note Taking, Photographing and Sketching