CRIME SCENE DOCUMENTATION

THREE BASIC WAYS

OF DOCUMENTING A CRIME SCENE

NOTE TAKING

PHOTOGRAPHY

SKETCHING

NOTE TAKING
NOTES ARE VALUABLE . . .

AS AN AID TO AN ACCURATE RECALL OF EVENTS

TO BE TESTIFIED IN COURT.

TO FURNISH RAW MATERIAL NEEDED IN A FORMAL

REPORT.

ESSENTIAL ITEMS OF INFO TO BE INCLUDED DURING

NOTE TAKING

TIME & DATE OF ARRIVAL AT THE CRIME SCENE

NATURE OF THE CASE
(Shooting Incident, Stabbing Incident, Alleged Suicide, Found Dead Body,
etc,,)
PLACE OF OCCURENCE
FIRST RESPONDERS
TIME & DATE DISCOVERED
WHO DISCOVERED THE SCENE?
STATUS OF THE VICTIM
NAME OF THE VICTIM
WHEN THE VICTIM WAS LAST SEEN ALIVE?
WHAT WAS THE ACTIVITY & WITH WHOM?
NAME OF THE SUSPECT (IF IDENTIFIED)
DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECT (IF AVAILABLE)
NAMES & ADDRESSES OF WITNESSES
WEATHER CONDITION
PERSONS WHO ENTERED THE CRIME SCENE
PURPOSE OF ENTERING THE CRIME SCENE
OTHER INFO AS ACQUIRED
TIME & DATE CRIME SCENE RELEASED

CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY

THE GOAL IS TO RECORD USEFUL INFORMATION IN

A SERIES OF PHOTOGRAPHS WHICH WILL ENABLE
THE VIEWER TO UNDERSTAND WHERE & HOW THE
CRIME WAS COMMITTED.

IMPORTANT REMINDER:

PHOTOGRAPH . . .
THE SCENE BEFORE EXAMINATION
THE ITEMS BEFORE MOVING OR TOUCHING
THE POSSIBLE POINTS OF ENTRY & EXIT OF THE SUSPECT
(ENTRANCE & ESCAPE ROUTES)

Four (4) Corner

Shots:

CRIME
SCENE

3 TYPES OF RANGES

LONG-RANGE
(General View)

MID-RANGE
(Medium View)

CLOSE-UP RANGE
(Less than 5 ft.)

Long Range or General

View

CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY

Long Range or General
View

CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY

Mid-Range or Medium View

Mid-Range or Medium View

CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY

Close-up
Range

Close-up Range

TAKING PHOTOGRAPH
With Measuring Device and Case
Number

SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION A PHOTOGRAPHER SHOULD

RECORD IN A PHOTO LOG
TYPE OF CAMERA USED
FILM - (COLOR OR BLACK & WHITE / NUMBER OF SHOTS)
LENS OPENING
SHUTTER SPEED
WITH FLASH OR WITHOUT FLASH
LIGHTING CONDITION IN THE AREA
TIME & DATE PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN
NAME OF PERSON WHO DEVELOPED THE FILM
TIME AND DATE DEVELOPED
PLACE DEVELOPED
NAME & SIGNATURE OF PHOTOGRAPHER

FILM IS EVIDENCE
KEEP IT FOR FUTURE PRESENTATION IN COURT

START SHOT

END SHOT

CASE NO: SOCO-2007-98

CASE NO: SOCO-2007-98

CASE: SHOOTING INCIDENT

CASE: SHOOTING INCIDENT

TIME & DATE: 2100 Hrs, 21 SEP 07

TIME & DATE: 2100 Hrs, 21 SEP 07

PLACE: RM 69, SKY MOTEL, CEBU CITY

PLACE: RM 69, SKY MOTEL, CEBU CITY

CRIME SCENE SKETCHING

CRIME SCENE SKETCH SHOULD ALSO BE ROUTINELY MADE.

CRIME SCENE SKETCHING

SKETCHES SUPPLEMENT PHOTOGRAPHS.

SKETCHES CLARIFY THE APPEARANCE
OF THE CRIME SCENE.
SKETCH IS SIMPLY AN ILLUSTRATIVE
DIAGRAM OR DRAWING.
IT SHOULD BE SIMPLE THAT THE COURT
CAN EASILY COMPREHEND.
MEASUREMENTS HELP DETERMINE THE
RELATIONSHIP OF EACH EVIDENCE.

THERE ARE THREE (3) COMMON TYPES OF SKETCHES

1. The Overview or Floor Plan Sketch
2. The Elevation Sketch
3. The Cross Projection or Exploded Sketch

OVERVIEW OR FLOOR PLAN SKETCH

BED

1
2

LEGEND
V VICTIM
1 CAL .45 FIRED SHELL
2 9mm PISTOL

ELEVATION SKETCH

AIRCON

4
3

LEGEND
3 BULLET HOLE
4 BULLET HOLE

ELEVATION SKETCH
AIRCON

2 ft. 9 in.

2 ft. 3 in.

3 ft. 6 in.

LEGEND
6 bullet hole
7 bullet hole
8 blood splatter

LEGEND

CROSS PROJECTION OR
EXPLODED SKETCH

V Victim
1&2 9mm fired shell
3 More Cigarette butt

WALL

4 Pool of blood

AIRCON

5 deformed slug
7

6 & 7 bullet holes

8 blood splatter

T Table

5
T
4

3
S

V
V

BED

WALL

WALL
2

BR

CR

FLOOR
1

WALL

CROSS PROJECTION OR EXPLODED SKETCH

AIRCON

BED

CEILING

FOR PURPOSES OF REENACTMENT

LOCK THE EVIDENCE.
UNLOCKED / LOOSE

LOCKED

OVERVIEW SKETCH
(OUTDOOR)
4
EP

3
2

V
RIZAL ST. to CITY HALL

I
P
I
L
S
T

CONVENIENCE
STORE

LEGEND
SMART

RCBC

1-2 9mm FIRED SHELL

3-4 - .45 Cal FIRED SHELL
EP Electric Post
V - Vehicle

VEHICLE SKETCH

3
1

CASE NO. CPPO-N-01-2007

CASE: SHOOTING INCIDENT
DATE: 21 JANUARY 2007
PLACE: RIZAL ST. COR IPIL ST., NAGA, CEBU

LEGEND

VICTIM: ABU TAN

SUSPECT: UNIDENTIFIED
INVES ON CASE: SPO1 DON JUAN
UNIT; NAGA POLICE STATION
T/D SKETCHED: 1000H, 21 JANUARY 2007
SKETCHED BY: PO2 DANNY TECSON

SIGNATURE: _____________________
WITNESS:

______________________

1-7 Bullet Entrance Holes

8 - Blood

METHODS OF MEASUREMENTS
1.

TRIANGULATION METHOD
This method is useful in an outdoor situation where there are no easily
identifiable edges of roads or fields to use as reference points.

TRIANGULATION METHOD

METHODS OF MEASUREMENTS
2.

RECTANGULAR METHOD
This method uses two walls in a room as fixed points, from which distances
are measured at right angle from the object.

SINGLE REFERENCE POINT

100 meters
E
REF POINT

25m
50m
75m

REENACTMENT

100 meters

25m
50m
75m

COMMERCIAL BLDG.
HOUSE

GARBAGE

GARBAGE

LEGEND
5.56mm fired shell
9mm fired shell

Cal .45 fired shell

COMMERCIAL BLDG.
HOUSE

GARBAGE

GARBAGE

LEGEND
5.56mm fired shell
9mm fired shell
Cal .45 fired shell

Cal .45 fired shell

COMMERCIAL BLDG.
HOUSE

GARBAGE

GARBAGE

LEGEND
5.56mm fired shell
9mm fired shell
Cal .45 fired shell

Cal .45 fired shell

Questions?

Thank you!