1. Recording a Crime
Scene
A how to guide

2. Recording the scene
• There is no question that
there is a limited amount of
time that a crime scene stays
undisturbed; in that time
frame the scene must be
accurately recorded in its
original state before it is lost
• This is a vital step for the
presentation of the
investigation to the courts

3. How do you record the scene?
• There are several methods for recording the crime
scene…
• Photography
• Computer drafts
• Sketches
* Rough sketches
* Final sketches

4. Photography
• The most important prerequisite for photographing a
crime scene is having it its unaltered condition…
why?
• If items are changed, moved, or removed prior to
photographing then they are not admissible in court
• If anything must be moved prior to photographing it
must be mentioned in a report with an explanation

5. • Photographs of the crime scene should be taken as
completely as possible including…
• The area the crime actually took place
• All adjacent areas where important acts occurred
before and after the crime
• All walls within a room
• All walls within adjacent rooms

6. • Any weapons, puncture
marks, wounds, blood, and
the surface under the body
must also be photographed
• If the crime scene includes
a body then the position of
the body, as well as the
position relative to other
parts of the room must be
photographed.

7. • As physical evidence is discovered it must be
photographed in its original state before it is
removed for processing
• If the size of an item is important, how can we show
relative size in a picture?
• Once an overview of the area an item is located has
been photographed then a close up picture must also
be taken to show details.

9. Sketches
• Many of us in this room right now, like the
investigators of a crime, do not have the talent to
create an extremely detailed sketch of a crime
scene…instead they start by making a rough sketch

10. Rough Sketch
• A rough sketch needs to contain an accurate
depiction of the dimensions of the scene and the
important evidence within the scene
• Distance measurements need to be made accurately
to depict the size of the crime scene and the location
of particular items in the crime scene by using a tape
measure

11. Things to include
• Designation of items in a sketch can be made by
assigning a letter or number for the item and creating
a legend for the items in the sketch
• The sketch should also include compass, date, time,
and incident description

12. Finished sketch
• Drawn with care and concern for appearance and
accuracy
• Must reflect the information in the rough sketch to
be admissible in court