Scene Documentation With Photography and Video

Although few, if any, crime scene investigations have access to all of the sophisticated tools shown on popular television crime shows, equipment for photography and videography are essential for crime scene investigations.

Prior to arrival on the crime scene, the investigator should be familiar with the operation of the equipment. If the equipment uses a digital date and time stamp, this should be checked for accuracy before being used on scene. Backup batteries, SD cards, and cameras are integral to proper preparation. The equipment should be checked for operation and cleanliness, especially the lenses.

One general principle of scene documentation is that the photographs and video should progress from general to specific. Both photographs and videos should start with an overview that covers the entire area. Once the overview is complete, mid-range photographs or videos should be taken. These photographs and videos must be done in such a manner that the location or relevance of the object documented is clear. Close-up documentation of the object should proceed upon conclusion of the mid-range documentation. Again, this needs to be done so that it is clear where and why the photograph or video was taken (Figure 1.1).

Each area or piece of evidence should be photographed and videoed prior to modification. The next set of documentation should show the area or evidence with its identification marker. For clarity, fully document that area, animal, or evidence before moving on to the next. If you realize that additional photographs or videos would be beneficial to the case, start again with the full identification of the object and then take the additional photographs or videos as appropriate.

Figure 1.1 (a-d) Series of scene photographs showing progression from overview to macro-photograph for proper evidence documentation.

Diagramming and Sketching of the Crime Scene

Step 8 of the FBI’s 12-step process is the preparation of the diagrams and sketches of the scene. Sketches and diagrams can show the overall layout of a scene and detail the relationship between pieces of evidence in a way not possible by photographs or videos. Depending on the type of scene and the preference of the person, the sketches can be drawn on plain, lined, or graph paper.

Although particulars of the sketch will depend on the scene, most sketches should indicate the north direction and depict the major unmovable landmarks. Several sketches may be required to fully capture the elements of the scene. Just as with photographs, overall sketches should be drawn for orientation and the mid-level sketches give the details of the evidence. Bird’s-eye or plan view show objects on a horizontal level. An elevation sketch shows objects in a vertical plane so that the differences location in height can be clarified. The cross-projection sketch combines elements of the plan and elevation views.

Sketches are not typically drawn to scale but measurements between landmarks and evidence are noted on the sketches. At least two measurements for each point should be noted. To keep the sketch from becoming overly cluttered, the measurements may be numbered or otherwise labeled. If the measurements are numbered or labeled, then somewhere on the sketch the actual measurements should be recorded (Fish et al., 2011; Merck, 2013; U.S. Department of Justice, 2013; Fitch, 2015].

A legend should be included for each sketch. The legend should include at least: type of plan/ sketch, location depicted in the sketch, name and identification of the sketcher, date the sketch was made, North arrow, scale of sketch or disclaimer that the sketch is not drawn to scale (Fish et al., 2011; Merck, 2013; U.S. Department of Justice, 2013; Fitch, 2015] (Figure 1.2).

Figure 1.2 Rough, not-to-scale sketches should be done at the scene. This example shows a plan view, or bird's-eye, sketch with a legend, a north indicator, and the disclaimer "not to scale."

Search For Evidence At the Crime Scene

The search for evidence must be thorough and detailed. Remembering that seized evidence must conform to the constraints of the Fourth Amendment, it is imperative that all relevant evidence is recognized as such. Henry Lee stated: “The foundation of all forensic investigations is based on the ability of the crime scene investigator to recognize the potential and importance of physical evidence, large and small, at the crime scene” (Lee et al., 2007). Once the scene has been released, the opportunity to recognize and collect evidence in pristine condition and circumstance may be lost.

Crucial to this ninth step is the training and experience of the personnel on scene. The highly trained personnel will be able to recognize otherwise mundane-appearing objects as critical evidence. For instance, those trained on cockfighting paraphernalia will understand the significance of waxed string and hacksaw blades in kits at fight scenes. Although treadmills can be found in many homes and garages, they can have special significance when found at a scene where dogfighting is suspected, as this item is often associated with the training of fight dogs.

Evidence that is not recognized as such cannot be collected and documented in the next step.

Fish noted, "if it catches your attention, document it” (Fish et al., 2011). By the same token, excessive collection of irrelevant objects will just bog down and hinder the efficient processing of the scene. Particularly on the large scene or the scene subject to impending modification (e.g., tide changing on a beach, snow melting, approaching rain), implementation of an efficient, systematic method of searching is essential. The lead agency may decide to conduct a particular pattern of searching, such as strip search, grid search, link search, zone search, wheel search, or spiral search (Fish et al., 2011; Merck, 2013; Fitch, 2015).

The same methodical approach is required for smaller areas of a crime scene. For example, a kennel full of animal housing units requires the same detailed approach. Each unit must be meticulously searched as well as the areas around the unit (above, beneath, and around all sides). The area to be searched may be a single animal. Again, starting at one point the investigator then moves down and across the animal until all parts of the animal have been examined, as well as the areas adjacent to the animal, if it is still in situ.

When planning out a search of an area, whether it be a large property or a single room, there are four general search patterns. They are:

• 1. Spiral: This pattern is often used for crime scenes within a facility or structure. Typically, a person starts on the perimeter of the area to be searched and slowly spirals inward searching for evidence. This pattern is not typically utilized.
• 2. Line: This type of search is commonly used in large outdoor scenes in which a line of personnel walk with equidistant spacing, usually at arm’s length, over a defined area together. The boundaries of the area should be marked out and the integrity of the line has to be maintained in order not to skip areas.
• 3. Grid: The grid search is essentially a line search that has a second line search perpendicular to the initial line search. Again, this is typically used in scenes that cover a large amount of territory.
• 4. Zone: Zone searches are for small, usually confined areas or larger areas that can be subdivided into distinct regions (Fish et al., 2011; Fitch, A., 2015). This pattern can be utilized in lieu of a spiral search in interior locations.

As animal crime scenes are as varied as the crimes investigated, a combination of these types of searches may be used on a particular scene.