Criminal Justice 2011
Chapter 2:
The Crime Scene:
Field Notes,
Documenting, and Reporting
Criminal Investigation
The Art and the Science
by Michael D. Lyman
Copyright 2011
CHAPTER SUMMARY
2.1 Explain the ways that field notes can be used
to assist the investigator in the preparation of his
or her report.
2.2 Learn the proper structure of the report.
2.3 Explain the proper methods of crime scene
photography and preservation of photographic
evidence.
2.4 Understand how to properly capture the crime
scene on digital video.
2.5 Understand the usefulness of the rough and
finalizing the crime scene sketch.
Learning Objectives
After this lecture, you should be able to complete the following Learning Outcome
2.1
Explain the ways that field notes can
be used to assist the investigator in
the preparation of his or her report.
2.1
Field Notes
Investigators must take DETAILED notes
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2.1
Field Notes
The time to take notes… As the events occur
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2.1
Field Notes
Police reports are derived from notes taken at the
scene…
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3.4
Field Notes
Notes should contain…
Who is
involved
What
happened
When did it
occur
Where did it
occur
What was the
motivation
How did it
happen
The elements
of the offense
A sketch of
the scene if
appropriate
2.1
Field Notes
Victim
Suspect
Witnesses
Reporting
Persons and
Others
involved
Learning Objectives
After this lecture, you should be able to complete the following Learning Outcome
2.2
Learn the proper structure of the
report.
2.2
The Police Report
Structure and Format
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2.2
The Police Report
List of all
evidence
Statements
made by
victims,
witnesses and
suspects
How the
suspect was
identified
Names, DOBs,
addresses,
phone
numbers of all
involved
Learning Objectives
After this lecture, you should be able to complete the following Learning Outcome
2.3
Explain the proper methods of crime
scene photography and preservation
of photographic evidence.
2.3
Crime Scene Photography
Relevant
Authenticated
2.3
What to Photograph
What
happened
Where did it
happen
How did it
happen
What
specifically
was involved
2.3
Learning Objectives
After this lecture, you should be able to complete the following Learning Outcome
2.4
Understand how to properly capture
the crime scene on digital video.
2.4
Use the same
basic
principles as
when
photographing
a scene
Do not narrate
the scene
Pan very
slowly and
avoid using
zoom or
transition
features
Learning Objectives
After this lecture, you should be able to complete the following Learning Outcome
2.5
Understand the usefulness of the
rough and finalizing the crime scene
sketch.
2.5
Steps to Create a Crime Scene Sketch
Measure
the scene
Locate
the items
to be
included
Create a
rough
sketch
Complete
a scaled
diagram
2.5
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2.5
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2.5
Different Measuring Methods for the
Crime Scene Sketch
Coordinate
Triangulation
Baseline
Using
laser
stations
2.5
Example of the Baseline Method
2.5
Example of the Triangulation Method
2.5
Example of the Cross Projection Method
2.5
Example of the Baseline Method
2.5
Creating the Finished Drawing
Computer Programs
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CHAPTER SUMMARY
2.1 Explain the ways that field notes can be used
to assist the investigator in the preparation of his
or her report.
2.2 Learn the proper structure of the report.
2.3 Explain the proper methods of crime scene
photography and preservation of photographic
evidence.
2.4 Understand how to properly capture the crime
scene on digital video.
2.5 Understand the usefulness of the rough and
finalizing the crime scene sketch.