Documenting the Scene:
Note Taking,
Photographing and
Sketching
Introduction
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Documentation is vital
throughout an investigation
Written and photographic
documentation records the
condition of the scene as first
observed, providing a
permanent record.
Paperwork can constitute up to
70% of an investigator’s job.
Field Notes
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Investigative notes are a
permanent written record of the
facts of a case to be used in
further investigation, in writing
reports and in prosecuting the
case.
Detailed notes can make or
break a conviction.
When to Take Notes
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Start to take notes as soon as
possible after receiving a call to
respond and continue recording
information as it is received
throughout the investigation.
Most people will give information
freely.
But what about the reluctant
witnesses?
What to Record
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Record all facts, regardless of
where they may lead.
Information establishing a
suspect’s innocence is as
important as that establishing
guilt.
Answer these questions:

Who? What? Where? When?
How? And Why?
What to Record
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Describe the physical scene
including general weather
conditions.
Do not jot down information
unrelated to the investigation.
Where to Record Notes
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Use a notebook
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Don’t use your hands!
The notebook remains the simplest,
most economical and most basic of
investigative tools.
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Advantages?
Small
 Easy to carry
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Disadvantages?
Small
 Not as organized
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How to Take Notes
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Write brief, legible, abbreviated notes
that others can understand.
Omit unnecessary words such as “a,
and, the” -- don’t need them. Be
precise
Use abbreviations
If you make an error, cross it out so
not erase?
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Why is this?
You can also use a tape recorder
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Also has advantages and disadvantages
Characteristics of Effective
Notes
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Effective notes are complete,
accurate, specific, factual, clear, well
organized and legible.
Be as specific as possible:
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Instead of saying tall
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State about 6 foot 1 or 2.
The basic purpose of notes is to
records facts.
I always referred to the official report.
Characteristics of Effective
Notes
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Legibility refers to the distinctness
of your letters and numbers.
Clarity refers to the distinctness of
your statements.
Avoid wordiness
Length alone doesn’t make for
quality
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Believe me I know~
Use spell checkers
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Watch for words that are misspelled that
are not misspelled.
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“there and their”
Filing Notes
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If notes are retained, file them in
a secure location readily
accessible to the investigator.
Admissibility of Notes in Court
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Properly introduced original
notes made by the testifying
officer can be used in a criminal
proceeding.
Officers may also refer to their
notes in court to refresh their
memory.
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Defense counsel will get a copy of
those notes though.
Admissibility of Notes in Court
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Original notes are legally
admissible in court, and officers
may use them to refresh their
memories. Officers should take
to court only those notes that
pertain to that particular case.
Formal Notes
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Use standardized format
Use chronological order
The narrative
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The opening paragraph states the time,
date, type of incident and how you came
involved.
Next, what you were told by the victim
witnesses. Use separate paragraph for
each witness.
Record what you did.
Effective Report Writing
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An effective report uses
paragraphs, the past tense and
is in first person. It is factual,
accurate, objective, complete,
concise, clear, mechanically
correct, written in standard
English, legible and reader
focused.
Paragraphs
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Paragraphs should be short
about 100 words.
You should start a new
paragraph when:
Change speakers
 Change location
 Change time
 Change idea
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Some more info on Reports
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Past tense
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1st Person
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Uses verbs that denote that events have
already occurred.
I responded to the call
Be objective
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Keep to the facts
Which of these is objective?
the man cried
2) 2) the man wept
3) 3) the man blubbered)
1)
Investigative Photography: An
Overview
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This is one of the first investigative
tasks.
Precedes sketching, note taking,
and searching.
Do not touch or move any evidence
until photo’s have been taken.
Purpose
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To record the scene permanently.
Pictures taken immediately, using
proper techniques to reproduce
the entire crime scene, provide a
factual record of the highest
evidentiary value.
Advantages
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Taken immediately
Accurately represent the crime
scene
Highly effective visual aids
Corroborate facts
Create interest and attention to
testimony given
Disadvantages
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Not selective
Do not show actual distances
May be distorted
Color
 Distance
 Lighting
 Can be damaged
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Basic Equipment
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35 mm camera
Video camera
Fingerprint camera
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Trace evidence camera with 4 bulbs
Digital camera
Pixels are the dots making up a
digital image.
 One mega pixel is about 1 million
dots.
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Errors to Avoid
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Take photographs before
anything is disturbed.
If you move something, do not
put it back and take a picture of
it.
What to Photograph & How
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Use the overlapping technique
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First photograph the general area,
then specific areas and finally
specific objects of evidence. Take
exterior shots first.
Sound recordings are admissible if
using a video recorder.
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Markers
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A marker is anything used in a picture
to show accurate or relative size
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Be aware that using a marker
introduces something that is foreign to
the crime scene.
Identifying Evidence
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Use Field notes
Use a chain of custody card
Admissibility of Photographs
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A material photograph – relates the
specific case and subject being
discussed.
A relevant photograph – assists or
explains testimony. It appears to the
matter in question. Determines truth to a
matter in question.
A competent photograph – accurately
represents what it purports to represent.
Admissibility of Photographs
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Distortion
Unusual camera height
 For a direct photo without distance
distortion, take at a 90 degree angle
and about 12 inches above evidence.
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Color
May be distorted
 May be objected to as inflammatory
 Take both color and black and white
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Types of Investigative
Photography
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Surveillance Photography
Concealing cameras?
 Is this hard to do?
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Trap Photography
Aerial Photography
Night Photography
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Use floodlights if available
Types of Investigative
Photography
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Microphotography – takes
pictures through a microscope
and can help identify minute
particles of evidence such as
hairs and fibers.
Macrophotography – enlarges a
subject such as fingerprints.
Laser-beam photography – can
reveal evidence indiscernible to
the naked eye.
Types of Investigative
Photography
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Ultraviolet-light Photography
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Uses the low end of the color
spectrum, which is invisible to
human sight, to make visible
impression of bruises and injuries
long after their actual occurrence.
Mug Shots
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Generally departments have a
policy relating to mug shots.
Types of Investigative
Photography
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Rogues Gallery
The computer can now make a
photo lineup.
Crime Scene Sketch: An
Overview
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A sketch is worth a1,000 words
Photo: http://www.sleeping-demon.freeserve.co.uk/23rd-ltr/part1.html
The Rough Sketch
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The rough sketch is the first
pencil drawn outline of a scene
and the location of objects and
evidence within this outline.
Sketch after photographs are
taken and before anything is
moved.
Sketching Materials
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Paper, pencil, long steel
measuring tape (longer the
better), ruler or straightedge,
clipboard, eraser, compass,
protractor and thumbtacks.
Steps in Sketching the Crime
Scene
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Observe and Plan
Measure distances
Outline the area
Locate objects and evidence within
the outline
Record details
Make notes
Identify the sketch with a legend and
scale
Reassess the sketch
Steps in Sketching the Crime
Scene
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Observe and Plan
Decide where to start
 Use fixed locations
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Measure Distances
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To Scale
Plot Objects and Evidence
Rectangular – Coordinate Method
 Baseline Method
 Triangulation Method
 Compass-Point Method
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Steps in Sketching the Crime
Scene
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Rectangular – Coordinate
Method
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Uses two adjacent walls as fixed
points. Measures at right angles.
Steps in Sketching the Crime
Scene
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Baseline Method
Steps in Sketching the Crime
Scene
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Triangulation Method
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Uses straight line measurements
from two fixed objects to the
evidence.
Steps in Sketching the Crime
Scene
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Cross Projection Method
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Presents the walls and floor as
they were one surface.
Compass Point Method
File the Sketch
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Place sketch in secure location.
The Finished Scale Drawing
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The finished scale drawing is
done in ink and on a good grade
of paper.
You will not be drawing a sketch
to scale at the crime scene.
Computer Assisted Drawing
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Many companies have
developed computer hardware
to assist in drawing a crime
scene.
Admissibility of Sketches and
Drawings in Court
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An admissible sketch is one
drawn or personally witnessed
by an investigator that
accurately portrays the crime
scene.