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Unit 23 lab notes
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Documentationprinciple: An assessment of the scene determines what kind of documentation is needed (e.g., photography, video,
sketches, measurements, notes).
Policy: The investigator(s) in charge shall ensure documentation of the scene.
Procedure: The team member(s) should:
a. Review the assessment of the scene to determine the type of documentation needed.
b. Coordinate photographs, video, sketches, measurements and notes.
c. Photograph (see Photography section for details):
• Scene utilizing overall, medium, and close-up coverage.
• Evidence to be collected with and without measurement scale and/or evidence identifiers
• Victims, suspects, witnesses, crowd and vehicles.
• Additional perspectives (e.g., aerial photographs, witness’s view, area under body once body is removed).
d. Record video as an optional supplement to photographs
e. Prepare preliminary sketch(es) and measure:
• Immediate area of the scene, noting case identifiers and indicating north on the sketch.
• Relative location of items of evidence, correlating evidence items with evidence records.
• Evidence prior to movement.
• Rooms, furniture or other objects.
• Distance to adjacent buildings or other landmarks.
f. Generate notes at the scene:
• Document location of the scene, time of arrival and time of departure.
• Describe the scene as it appears.
• Record transient evidence (e.g., smells, sounds, sights) and conditions (e.g., temperature, weather).
• Document circumstances that require departure from usual procedures.
Collect, Preserve, Inventory, Package, Transport, and Submit Evidence
Principle: The handling of physical evidence is one of the most important factors of the investigation.
Policy: The team member(s) shall ensure the effective collection, preservation, packaging, and transport of evidence.
Procedure: The team member(s) should:
a. Maintain scene security throughout processing and until the scene is released.
b. Document the collection of evidence by recording its location at the scene, date of collection, and who collected it.
c. Collect each item identified as evidence.
d. Establish chain of custody.
e. Obtain standard/reference samples from the scene.
f. Obtain control samples.
g. Consider obtaining elimination samples.
h. Immediately secure electronically recorded evidence (e.g., answering machine tapes, surveillance camera
videotapes, computers) from the vicinity.
i. Identify and secure evidence in containers (e.g., label, date, initial container) at the crime scene. Different types of
evidence require different containers (e.g., porous, nonporous, crush-proof).
j. Package items to avoid contamination and cross-contamination.
k. Document the condition of firearms/weapons prior to rendering them safe for transportation and submission.
l. Avoid excessive handling of evidence after it is collected.
m. Maintain evidence at the scene in a manner designed to diminish degradation or loss.
n. Transport and submit evidence items for secure storage.
Sketching
Equipment Needed:
• Graph paper
• Paper
• 50- to 100-foot retractable measuring tape
• 1000-foot walking wheel
• Folding rule
• Ruler
, • Oversize clipboard with storage pocket
• Eraser
• Magnetic compass
• Personal protective equipment (when needed)
• Flashlight
• Notebook
• Pencil
The accuracy of all measuring devices should be ensured by comparison to a measure of certified accuracy, such as a
NIST traceable ruler.
General Considerations:
• A sketch of a crime scene is required when spatial relationships or proportional measurements are needed.
Use spatial relationships to relate evidence to other objects. Use proportional measurements to calculate
such things as bullet trajectory angles or to reconstruct accident details.
• The rough sketch is the first sketch drawn at the scene; multiple rough sketches may be required depending
on the crime. The sketch includes a scene outline with the location of objects and evidence clearly marked. A
finished sketch is derived from the rough sketch.
• Draw the rough sketch before anything is moved or destroyed, and after photographs are taken. Do not alter
the scene.
• Depending on the crime, draw one or all of these types of sketches: a sketch showing the surrounding areas,
a sketch showing only measurements, and a sketch showing locations of objects, such as the locations of
evidence, victim(s), etc.
• Measurements should be accurate to within ¼”.
• Include, outside of the drawn crime scene, measurements for dimensions of rooms, furniture, doors and
windows, and distances between objects, entrances and exits, bodies and persons. Draw details, such as
object size, proportionally in a rough sketch.
• Take measurements from fixed location reference point, such as walls or curbs, or from stationary
appliances.
• Include as much information as possible in the sketch: streets, plants, entry and exit points, location of
bullets and cartridges, etc.
• Do not alter a rough sketch after leaving the crime scene. If changes are required of the rough sketch,
photocopy the original rough sketch to preserve its integrity.
• Newer technology makes use of laser scanning devices to perform crime scene sketching. The employment
of these devices should be reserved to investigators trained in their use.
Information That Should be Documented
• Record the time, date, name of the person who contacted the authorities, and incident information as
soon as notification of a crime is received. These notes should be kept separate from the sketch.
• Initial notes about the incident should answer the who, what, when, where, why and how questions.
• Incident information includes who reported the incident, when the incident was first reported, the crime
scene location, a description of incident and participant names.
• Gather information to use when sketching by talking to others at the scene. Record that information in the
notes.
• Questions that can provide valuable information include:
− How did the victim or suspect arrive at or leave from the scene?
− How was the crime committed?
− Which items were handled?
− Which items were moved?
− Which items are broken or stained?
• Have potentially flammable vapours been detected at the scene? (When potentially flammable conditions
exist, take appropriate precautions.)
• While sketching the scene, record related information in the notes. It is critical to use a systematic
approach to notetaking while sketching to maintain a record of your activities and the order of sketches
made.
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