Documentation is an important form of crime scene work. What are the different forms of documentation? What are the types of photographs needed in documenting crime scenes? Why sketches are an important form of documenting crime scenes and the important elements that must be included in the sketch. You will do a rough sketch of the outside of your home
Sample Answer
Crime scene documentation is the backbone of the forensic process. It creates a permanent record that allows investigators, forensic scientists, and juries to "revisit" the scene months or years later.
1. The Four Forms of Documentation
Effective documentation utilizes a "layered" approach, where each form compensates for the limitations of the others.
Photography: Captures a true visual representation of the scene in its unaltered state.
Sketches: Provides a simplified, overhead view that emphasizes the spatial relationships and exact distances between objects, which photos can distort.
Videography: Offers a "walkthrough" perspective, showing the path of entry and exit and the continuity of the scene.
2. Types of Crime Scene Photographs
Photographers follow a specific "Lead-In" sequence to provide context for every piece of evidence.