sketching the crime scene

disadvantages of photos to record crime scenes:

• lack of depth

• fail to provide accurate representation of distances between items of evidence.

• camera angle and distance from which a photograph is taken, can lead to false interpretation of critical relationships among objects.

Advantages of sketches to record crime scenes:

• It accurately portrays the physical facts

• it relates to the sequence of events at the scene.

• establishes the precise location and relationships of objects and evidence at the scene.

• A permanent record of the scene

• Usually in admissable in court.

• assists in interviewing and interrogating

What must be inlcuded in sketching the scene

• location

• date

• name of person who drew sketch

• indicate with arrow and the letter “N”, “true north”

• measurements

• legend

• scale

• type of crime

• case number

• victim’s name (if known and applicable)

• other officers

Location

Indicate location of all fixed objects

• doors (used a curved line to show which way the door swings)

• windows

• stairs (use an arrow to show the direction of stairs)

Indicate location of all movable objects (on legend)

• Furniture

• Evidence

correct measurements

• include the dimensions of the room or area drawn

• include distances between objects shown

• include dimensions of large pieces of furniture

• have another officer verify your measurements

• show all measurements on the drawing

the scale

• must include a disclaimer if “not to scale”

• scale should be included somewhere on the drawing.

• included on most professional drawings

• software can automatically do this

the legend

• indicate location of any item that may be moved from the room not just evidence

• non-evidence items could be labeled on the sketch or as a separate list on the legend, typically with letter, color, patterns, etc.

• All evidence should be marks on the sketch with a number with the corresponding number and a label on the legend

types of sketches

1. “rough sketch

• developed ons scene

• typically not to scale

• can be drawn with any medium

2. Final sketch

• finished product

• must include a disclaimer if not to scale

• lines should be straightened and circles

• labels + measurements = typed

3. courtroom sketch

• prepared for court presentation