Documentation is
an essential part of any crime scene investigation
Everything that is associated w/ the csi must be
documented in writing & becomes part of the permanent case file
Juries are composed of a more informed citizenry whose demands for facts are
based on testimony but are substantiated by documentation
The documentation of a csi
starts w/ the initial call assigning the CSI to respond to a crime scene & continues through every aspect of the response
Written documentation is
a very detailed written description of a crime scene
While written documentation can be very exact (ex. using measurements to list the precise location of an item of evidence),
in most cases you will not know exactly where the evidence or other items described in the scene are located withing a scene w/o a visual reference of it
Photographic documentation is
a two-dimensional representation of a crime scene
Photographs provide the reader of written documentation with
a visual reference of the scene
Photographs contain some degree of
spatial distortion, because they present a single-point perspective & may mislead the viewer as to the spatial relationships of the info portrayed in the photo
Sketching documentation is
a two-dimensional representation of a crime scene
Of the 3 methods of documenting a crime scene
sketches drawn to scale provide the viewer w/ the most defined or clearest understanding of spatial relationships of a crime scene
Sketches
tie together all information presented in the written & photographic documentation
When documenting the scene remember
Time is important. Record scene in original state. Take photos, measurements for sketches & notes of how scene was
When taking photographs remember
To get overall shots to show entire scene & relations of evidence. Get mid range shots. Get close ups for detail. If body present photo orientation, injuries, & weapons. Photo physical evidence
When making sketches
make a rough sketch w/ all essential measurements & info drawn at the scene (data, time, location, evidence). Then make a finished sketch that is neater & drawn to scale
When taking notes remember
Notes supplement photos & sketch. They are taken before & while processing. Write down all observations because years later all info is needed. Should include locations of items in scene such as evidence, body, weapons. Who was present & who collected wha
When scene searching remember
to come up w/ a systematic approach to cover whole scene & look for physical evidence. Mark evidence. Photos. Collect are documenting