CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY

WHAT IS CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY?

 A branch of the field of photography which is focused on taking accurate photographic of crime
scenes and criminal evidence, so that these photographs can be used in the investigation of
crimes and in the prosecution of criminal activity.
 In modern scientific crime detection, photography is indeed, an excellent aid of the investigator.
 The investigator could not just rely on his memories and therefore need an artificial recorder for
him to remember all the things and facts that he had investigated.
 Aside from the notes of the investigator, he needs a camera because there are things which
require accurate descriptions of subjects or objects being investigated, hence photograph will
serve the purpose.

CRIME SCENE

A place where the crime was perpetrated, and physical evidence found thereat.

FIVE LEGAL METHODS OF PRESERVING THE CRIME SCENE

 Photography
 Sketching
 Notes taking or descriptions
 Manikin method – molding or casting
 Preservation in the mind of the witness

OBJECTIVES OF CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY

 To produce a pictorial record of everything regarding the crime

 To help in keeping the police officer’s memory accurately as possible as where he find things.
 To help in securing or obtaining confession, description, and information to the case.

IMPORTANCE OF CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY

 For identification of persons, documents, fingerprints, shoe print and splashes of blood.
 Preservation of evidence in court.
 Described better than words.
 Proves statements.
 Crime reconstruction/re-enactment.
 Records things you may fail to notice.

Note: Upon arrival at the crime scene, photograph the whole area before anything is moved. Take shots
from different angles to show the whole area.
 SOP’S IN CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY

 Obtain photographs of crime scene early in the investigation preferably before anything has
been moved.
 Photograph from several angles so that so proper dimensions may be shown.
 When dimensions are important, use some sort of scale (ruler) in the photography so that
enlargement or reduction maybe measured.
 Record in your note data concerning the photographs including directions and distances from
the principle objects in the crime. Sketches may be helpful also.
 For special equipment call the laboratory.

RULES IN THE PRESENTATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE

 Consistent
 Clarity
 Scale

BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF A PHOTOGRAPH ADMITTED AS EVIDENCE IN COURT

 Accurate representations of the crime scene or the object it purports to reproduce

 Free of distortion
 Material and relevant
 Unbiased

Material: Photograph should relate to the case such that the photograph depicts that a crime was
actually committed and what crime was committed.

Relevant: It explains or assist the testimony. Photographs may serve as a refresher to the witnesses as to
the elements of the crime.

Competent: When photographs accurately depicts what happened at crime scene, showing the actions
of the suspect, the tools used, and the injuries sustained by the victim.

Free of Distortion and Accurate: When the investigator is able to testify as to the condition upon which
used photographs were taken; that it actually represents what the investigator saw or discovered at the
crime scene.

Non-Inflammatory: Referred to here as that which is objective is such that pictures may emotionally
influence as to the facts of the case. A photograph should have no other purpose than to present the
facts of the case.

 Negatives are enough to refute any allegations hence, negative must always be properly filed
and bring it always in court.

RULES ON ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE

What are Electronic Documents?

 Information or the representations of information, data, figures, symbols or other modes of

written expression, described or however represented, by which a right is established or an
obligation extinguished, or by which a fact may be proved and affirmed which is received,
recorded, transmitted, stored processed, retrieved or produced electronically.
 It includes digitally signed documents and any print-out or output, readable by sight or other
means, which accurately reflects the electronic data message or electronic document. For
purposes of these Rules, the term “electronic document” may be used interchangeably witch
electronic data message.

SECTION 1. ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS AS FUNCTIONAL EQUIVALENT OF PAPER-BASED DOCUMENTS.

 Whenever a rule of evidence refers to the term of writing, document, record, instrument,
memorandum or any other form of writing, such term shall be deemed to include an electronic
document as defined in these Rules.

SECTION 2. ADMISSIBILITY

 An electronic document is admissible in evidence if it complies with the rules on admissibility

prescribed by the Rules of Court and related laws and is authenticated in the manner prescribed
by these Rules.

RULE 11 – AUDIO, PHOTOGRAPHIC, VIDEO, AND EPHEMERAL EVIDENCE

 Section 1. Audio, video, and similar evidence. – Audio, photographic and video evidence of
events, acts or transactions shall be admissible provided it shall be shown, presented, or
displayed to the court and shall be identified, explained, or authenticated by the person who
made the recording or by some other person competent to testify on the accuracy thereof.

CRIME SCENE DOCUMENTATION

Four basic shots in crime scene documentation

  Orientation (establishes general location of the crime scene)
 Relationship (establishes location and position of evidence)
 Identification (shows evidence identity clearly)
 Examination Quality (establishes size of evidence)

PROCEDURES AT THE CRIME SCENE

 General view or long-range view

 Medium view or mid-range view
 Close-up view
 Extreme close-up

PROGRESSIVE PROCEDURE

 Establish shot – This is an over-all view from extreme to the other, it shows where we are, a busy
intersection, a far, a residential area, an airport, a factory, or even at the middle of a jungle.
 The Building – The next photograph should show the building in which the crime was
committed. This whether it is a private home, a factory, a small shop, a hotel, or a garage, usually
two photograph will be needed of the front and back of the building.
 The Entrance – This is usually the door, but it may be a window in a house breaking robbery. If
there is a gate and a door, take photograph one for each entrance.
 The Hallway – The camera now shows us what we would observe immediately after we enter
the building. It should show the location of the other doors or rooms through which we must
pass to get to the room in which the crime was committed.
 The Room – This maybe a bedroom, an office. The most difficult problem is to include the entire
are sometimes like a building shots, two photographs from opposite corners will be enough. A
wide lens is used. However, the investigator’s note should also be carefully marked with the
Information.
 Close-up – The number and types of close-up photograph will of course depended upon the kind
of crime.

TO BE TAKEN WITH CLOSE UP….

 Object attacked – this maybe a person, safe cash box or a display counter. The purpose of these
pictures is to show the amount and kind of damage the method of attack.
 The weapon or tools used – the photographer must be careful here to show a reference point in
every picture, it shows which are right, left, up, down, north, south etc.
 Significant clues – these maybe fingerprint, bloodstain, footprints, skid marks, tool marks,
broken glass, or any other physical evidence, fingerprint in particular should be photographed
after dusting but before lifting.
 ITEMS OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED

 All materials which serve to establish the fact that the crime has been committed or the corpus
delicti.
 Physical evidence which would connect the suspects to the crime. Any mark such as fingerprints,
shoe or footprint, splashes of blood, hair strands, etc.
 Evidence relating to the manner in which the crime committed or the modus operandi of the
criminal
 Objects which might provide clue to the identity of the perpetrator
 Clues which would connect the suspect to the crime.

Note: Shoe print or tire impression should be photograph before addition of a scale or label.

REQUIREMENTS BY CRIME TYPES

Homicide inside a residence

 Use color film

 Take pictures of the following
 Exterior of the building
 Evidence outside the building
 Entrance into the scene
 Room in which the body was found
 Adjacent room, hallways, stairwells

Homicide Photography

 Close up of body wounds

 Trace Evidence
 Weapons
 Evidence of struggle
 Signs of activity prior to the homicide
 View from the positions witnesses had a time of the crime

Suicide Photography

 Photograph the scene as if it were a homicide

 Take close up shots of wounds, ligature marks, overdose and self-induced deaths
 Photograph weapon used
 Document from all angles

LIGHTNING TECHNIQUES

 Direct/front lightning – illumination is in front the subject

 Oblique/Side – illumination is at the side at an oblique angle. Used to show the 3 dimensions
 Backlightning (Transmitted) – illumination is against the camera