BASCO, Braulio Santos - Professor

Subject : Special Crime Investigation

Code :
Year & Sec : 3rd Year

INTRODUCTION:
A crime scene is the locale within the immediate vicinity of the occurrence
wherein evidence may be found. Processing the crime scene is normally one of the
most important phases of the investigation. It is here that the investigator focuses in
the search for physical evidence. All crime scenes, to a variable degree, contain physical
evidence. This may be visible to the naked eye or minute to the point of being
microscopic.

OBJECTIVES :
At the end of this course, the students should be able to:
1. Observe why the crime scene has become a major element of criminal investigation;
2. Recognize the importance of proper crime scene protection;
3. Comprehend the techniques used in crime scene photography;
4. Able to draw the appropriate crime scene sketch;
5. Know how to compare and contrast crime scene photography and crime scene
sketch;
6. Acquaint with the methods of searching a crime scene; and
7. Understand the role and field notes.

MODULE I (PART 1)

The investigator must be prepared to apply crime scene skills virtually anywhere
crime is pervasive- it knows no boundaries. It is a common misconception that most
crimes conveniently occur indoors, in spacious, well-lighted rooms. Unfortunately, they
do not. Criminal offenses occur in nearly every locality imaginable: indoors, outdoors, in
automobiles- literally in any place, at any time.

According to Gilbert (2004), the true challenge of the crime scene is in the area
of detection. Again, evidence that could solve the crime will frequently be present at
the scene. Successfully locating this evidence is essential, for such tracing clues can
often aid locating the perpetrator of the offense. Or the evidence may help investigator
determine the type of criminal offense that has taken place. Further, the evidence may
identify the victim, if the victim’s identity is not known. The officer shall not totally
limit the search for physical evidence of the crime scene locally. Physical evidence can
also be found on the person of the victim or suspect within their immediate
environment.
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The officer must also be attentive to objects that are seen foreign to the crime scene
environment. Bloodstain articles of clothing lying about, and scattered items in an
otherwise orderly place would be examples of foreign objects. Because every item of
physical evidence is potentially important to the case, the officer must be extremely
thorough on important rule that applies to all investigations that each and every item
of evidence found at the scene should be considered essential until proven otherwise.

There are basically two (2) types of crime scenes:

1. The indoor scene is normally located within a residence or counter.

2. The outdoor scene may be a very large area, such as part of wooded area, or a
smaller area such as a residential backyard, the more common, with the outdoor
scene occurring at the approximate rate of 30 percent.

PROTECTING THE CRIME SCENE

Crime scene protection is extremely important with regards to subsequent success

in admitting evidence in judicial proceedings. Only items demonstrated to be authentic
to the scene and free from contamination will be allowed to be entered as evidence
during a trial. It must be kept in mind that anytime anyone enters a scene, he or she
brings something to the scene, and when leaving takes something away. This is the
theory of transfer. Transfer of objects or materials is helpful in regard to the
movements of criminal suspects but is natural enemy of the investigator in unprotected
crime scene.

It is the primary duty of the first officer to arrive to protect the entire scene. The
true size of the scene may be deceiving, in that the suspect had to enter and exit from
it. For many individuals, the attraction of a crime scene is nearly irresistible; frequently;
they will do their utmost to enter it. Thus, one of the major problems protecting the
scene is keeping the curious public and fellow police officers away. It is not uncommon
for officers to find people already present when they arrive.

If the investigator is the first person at the scene of the crime:

1. He must protect crime scene from further contamination;

2. Get everyone who does not belong there away from the crime scene;
3. Other officers who have no responsibility for investigation should leave the crime
scene;
4. Guard against touching or moving anything;
5. Do not form any opinion;
6. Write down the time you arrive at the scene and take note of weather condition;
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7. Note if doors and windows were open or closed and whether if these are locked;
8. Note the license plate numbers of all cars at the scene of the crime;
9. Do not do anything until you have carefully inspected the crime scene and
observed as much as possible;
10. Be careful the you may accidentally touch, destroy anything at the scene.

Steps to be Followed Upon Arrival at any Crime Scene for First Responders

1. Record the date, arrival time and weather condition;

2. If an injured person is on the scene, arrange for medical attention, identification and
removal. The scene should be disturbed only to the extent necessary to have
medical aid rendered to the injured or to have a doctor examine a deceased
victim. Each alteration should be accurately recorded.
3. If the offender is at the scene . apprehend him;
4. If the scene is not fully protected, ensure its protection by using other policemen or
other responsible persons to keep witnesses, suspects, and victims who are present
from disturbing the scene;
5. Isolate witnesses and remove others from the immediate area;
6. Ascertain whether or not any evidence is present and control its condition;
7. Request back-up;
8. If possible, take an unobtrusive photo of any crowd.

PHOTOGRAPHING THE CRIME SCENE

Photography is the first means by which the crime scene is processed and in
many ways, the most important. Proper photographs provide a permanent record of
how the scene appeared after the offense was discovered. Additionally, the
photographs support the investigator’s testimony during a trial. It is vital that crime
scene photographs be taken before any items are moved or altered. If physical evidence
is moved before being photographed, the pictures may not stand up as evidence. This is
due to the legal objection that the photographs do not represent the scene in its true
state.

Crime scene photographs are generally taken in coordinated series. Very general
pictures are taken first, with more specific ones following. For example, the
photographs of a gas station armed robbery are long range pictures of the entire
building. These are followed by views of the room in which the robbery actually took
place. The final photos are close-up views of single items of physical evidence located in
the room.
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In photographing small items found at the crime scene, a measurement marker
should be used. A ruler or an easily recognized small object, such as a coin, can be
placed next to the evidence and photographed, so that the true size of the evidence
item becomes apparent. Photographs containing evidence markers may be objected to
in court, however.

Each photograph taken at the crime scene must be fully identified. Very few things
can be more embarrassing to the investigator than being unable to identify
photographs during courtroom testimony.

Identification date of photographs includes the following:

1. Data to identify the subject of the photograph. Often, crime scene photographs
contain many extraneous items of little significance to the investigation.
2. Data to identify the location of the photograph. The state, city, street address, and
detailed location of the room within the building are items frequently listed.
3. Data to identify the photographer (e.g. name, police agency, badge, or identification
number).
4. The case number, if known at the time of the marking. The case number may be
automatically assigned when the call is dispatched or assigned at a later date.
5. The time the photograph was taken. The investigator must take care in marking this
item, for crimes occur with more frequency during the early morning hours, when dates
have recently changed.
6. The series number, if applicable.
7. Data to describe weather condition, photographic equipment, shutter speeds and
film type, and developing and printing techniques (if applicable). Many defense
attorneys ask highly technical questions, with the intent of discrediting the officer’s
competence. The astute investigator will be prepared.

3 Stages of Photographing a Crime Scene

1. General Views
The general photograph is a sweeping view of the crime scene area (i.e. overall
scene of the neighborhood, including angles from all streets leading to the crime scene).
It demonstrates what the scene looks like in its own environment.

Examples are:
 Photo of a bank that was robbed
 Photo of a house that was burglarized
 Abandoned “getaway” car in a wooded area
 Photo of crashed airplane
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Photos depicting the preceding scenes should be taken at a distance revealing
the natural surroundings of the location. In the case of a bank robbery the bank should
be photographed from across the street and from both of the building. This will give
judges a perspective of where the structure was situated and the location of possible
escape routes.

2. Medium-Range Views
As we move in closer to the subject of the crime scene, additional photographs
should be taken. These photos should be taken at a distance no greater than 20 feet
away from the subject or item being photographed. The intent of medium range photo
is to depict specific items or objects in the crime scene.

3. Close-up Views
Moving from the broad to the specific, the last phase in photographing, the
crime scene is the close-up. These photos are taken at a distance of less than five feet
and should focus on small segments of a larger surface or on specific objects in the
scene. Examples are bullet holes in the walls, weapons, blood splatter stains, latent
fingerprints and so on. As with the medium-range photo, these photographs should
include some identifiable item from the medium-range photos to link object(s) being
photographed with the general crime scene.

CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY

Any picture an officer takes may wind up in court. You will be safe if you keep
this in mind every photo you shoot. Experience has shown that attempt to a few simple
rules can make pictures acceptable to most judges.

Rule 1: Do Not Disturb the Scene

This is the cardinal rule of crime scene photography. Both later investigators and
judges need to se the scene as it was when the police arrived.

Some courts have held that a scene is disturbed by the addition of even such
simple things as measuring scales and labels. Leave them out of your first series of
pictures.

As far as possible, plan your pictures before you shoot. Make sure to cover the
whole scene before it is touched or altered in anyway. After the scene has been
photographed in its original state, you may shoot a second series of pictures with many
changes. You can add measuring scales, remove obstacles blocking the view or do
anything else which will make the scene clearer. If you are working with a partner, take
pictures of him moving objects or adding them to the scene. This will show the judge
exactly what was done and why.
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Rule 2: Get a Complete Series of Pictures
You must move around the scene to see everything. So must the camera.
Generally speaking, each important object in the scene should appear in at least three
pictures an overview; a mid-range shot; a close-up.

The overview should cover the entire scene to bring out the relationships
between the objects. The mid-range shot shows and important objects and its
immediate surroundings. Finally, each close-up shows a key detail clearly.

All of these pictures are important. A close-up alone does not indicate where the
object was located; an overview alone does not bring out all items sharply enough to
permit a detailed examination.

Rule 3: Pay Attention to Camera Angles

Relationships of size and distance may be destroyed by the wrong viewpoint.
Examine the scene in the view finder. This shows the scene as your camera will see it.

Ask yourself questions such as:

 Does this picture reveal the true position of the witness to the crime?
 Do the skid marks seem longer or shorter in the viewfinder that they are in real
life?
 How large is the lead pipe used as a weapon?

Shoot most pictures with the camera at eye level. This is the height from which
people normally see things and that makes it easier to judge perspective.

Rule 4: Record All Data

You will often want to stress key details in a picture. If you do that by marking on
the print itself, a defense lawyer may accuse you of altering it. For this reason, it is wise
to do your marking on a transparent overlay which can be removed to show the
untouched print.

Another way to avoid possible objections is to label the micro sd, sd or the sim card
where the picture was stored.and take them with you in court.

Finally, you may want to support your prints with a “sketch map” of the crime
scene and indicate the camera position for each shot. This is not a must; however, in
your first few cases this procedure may be useful. In the Canadian Judicial system
another member who was present and accompanying the photographer at the time
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the photographs were taken may enter the photograph as exhibits. Surely, you can
attest to the question imposed by the Courts, “Do these photographs truly depict the
scene as you saw it that day?” An answer, “Yes” is all that is required to enter the
photographs as evidence.

If you follow these guidelines, you should have no trouble in getting your
photographs accepted as legal evidence. But in order to be useful, pictures must also be
Sharp, Focused and Properly Exposed.

Admissibility of Photographs (By PNPCL SOCO)

1. The photograph must be relevant to the case.
2. The photograph should not incite prejudice of sympathy.
3. The photograph should be free from distortion (twist of shape).
4. The photograph should be properly identified.

The proper identity would include not only the identification of the photo as
being taken at the scene, but with what equipment was used. All the details of the
processing should also be included.

THE ROLE OF FIELD NOTES

Field notes have many benefits for both the officer and the department. Most
notes will result from interviews, but there are other uses as well. For example, notes
may be the most important step in documenting a crime scene initially. An
investigator’s field notes are his or her most personal and readily available record of the
crime scene search. It is difficult, if not impossible, to recommend a particular form of
field note taking, as most officers usually adopt their own style. However, one objective
of this process remains clear: The notes taken at a crime scene must adequately reflect
the condition and state of the location at the time of the crime scene search.

What to Write Down

It would be ideal if investigative notes could begin with the assignment of the
officer of the case and follow through in a logical flow of events to the culmination of
the investigation. In reality, however, they will most probably be written in the order in
which information is learned, resulting in fragmented problem for the investigator
provided that notes are complete and well organized. Remember to get the specifics.
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WHO:
 Observed the crime?
 Saw the suspects?
 Committed the crime?
 Had a motive for committing the crime?
 Accompanied the suspect?
 Called the police?
 Is/Was the victim/s?

WHAT:
 Crime was committed?
 Was stolen, damaged, or otherwise affected?
 Evidence has been located?
 Statements were made?
 Additional information is needed?

WHEN:
 Was the crime reported?
 Did the crime occur?
 Where the police notified?
 Was any evidence located?

WHERE:
 Did the crime occur?
 Was the evidence located?
 Do the suspects live?
 Do the witnesses live?

WHY:
 Was the crime committed?
 Was that victim chosen?
 Was that location chosen?
 Was that specific property taken?

HOW:
 Did the suspects get in?
 Was the crime committed?
 Was evidence discovered?
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ESSENTIAL TOPICS OF INFORMATION IN NOTE TAKING PROCESS

1. Dates, times and location. (exert time or arrival at the crime scene, location of the
scene lighting, weather condition, names of other officers and other persons present at
the scene.

2. Description of victim. This information should include all identification of the victim,
including name, age, social security number, height, weight, color of hair and eyes, and
so on. In addition, clothing should be noted as to style (if possible) and color of
garment. Special attention should be given to extemporaneous identifiers such as
complexion, tattoos or scars or other or identifying marks.

3. Wounds on the victim. Notes regarding the type and location of wounds should be
documented carefully. It is important to emphasize descriptions of the wound, and if it
is a bruise, its color should be noted. For example, notes of a gunshot wound might
read: “ Gunshot wound approximately 1/4 inch in diameter to the left temple and
approximately 1 1/2 inches from the left eye. A dark gray circle about 1/4 inch in
diameter surrounds the entire wound.”

4. Overall description of the crime scene. Investigators must note anything unusual at
the crime scene. This includes items damaged or in disarray, items that seem misplaced
or that don’t seem to belong in the scene, open (or closed) doors or windows, and so
on.

5. Notes on photographs taken on the scene. For every photograph taken of the scene
(and there should be many), the F-stop, shutter speed, distance, and the direction of
the photo should be logged in on the officer’s notes. Also included should be the time
and location of each paragraph. In the event that a video camera is used to document
the scene, an officer’s notes should include the type of camera and any special
attachments that may have been used.

6. Type and location of each piece of evidence. An investigator should be careful to

document adequately the location of each piece of evidence found at the crime scene.
This includes its description, location, the time it was discovered and by whom, the type
of container in which it was placed, how the container was scaled and marked, and the
disposition of the item after it was collected.
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For example:

9mm cal. S&W model 669 semiautomatic handgun, nickel plated with wooden grips,
Serial # 36348, 71 inches from the S.W. corner of the master bedroom. Marked “WI” on
evidence tag placed on trigger guard. Placed in manila evidence envelope, sealed with
tape, and marked #11 WT 7-21-01 at 03:25 hrs. Released to officer Mary Walter,
laboratory firearms examiner, 09:35 hrs. 7-21-01.

7. Absence of items. This notation includes the documentation of items not at the
crime scene that probably be, such as certain articles of clothing, missing from the
deceased or certain home furnishings absent from the scene.

8. All measurements that he/she made.

9. After the officer has made his report, he should keep a copy of his notes
permanently in some safe place. Although the criminal may be convicted by the courts
and sent to prison, there is always a chance that civil action or an appeal will be taken.
The officer may have to refresh his recollection many years later.

ACTIVITY 1

Name______________________________Yr and Sec___________Date_____________

1. Enumerate and explain what are the three (3) stages of Photographing a Crime
Scene?

QUIZ 1

1. Enumerate and explain the four (4) rules on Crime Scene Photography.
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