NCJ Number
64670
Date Published
1977
Length
0 pages
Annotation
TAPED INSTRUCTION MATERIAL WITH SLIDES TEACHES POLICE INVESTIGATORS HOW TO RECORD THE SCENE OF A CRIME USING FIELD NOTES, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND SKETCHES, ALL OF WHICH ARE NECESSARY FOR REPORT COMPLETENESS.
Abstract
A COMPLETE AND ACCURATE INVESTIGATORS' RECORD IS ESSENTIAL TO PROSECUTORS FOR CASE PLANNING AND TO THE INVESTIGATING OFFICERS THEMSELVES IN SUBSTANTIATING AND CLARIFYING COURT TESTIMONY. A NECESSARY ACCOMPANIMENT TO THE RECORD FIELD NOTES SHOULD GIVE A DETAILED WRITTEN RECORD OF THE SCENE AND ANY PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, FACTS OBTAINED FROM TALKING TO WITNESSES, AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE INVESTIGATORS' ACTIVITIES DURING THE SEARCH. SUCH NOTES ARE IDEAL FOR RECORDING VEHICLE SPEED, TEMPERATURES, ODORS, AND OTHER IMPRESSIONS THAT PHOTOGRAPHS OR SKETCHES CANNOT CONVEY. WHILE PHOTOGRAPHS PROVIDE A PERMANENT VISUAL RECORD, THEY CANNOT CAPTURE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS, TEXTURES, AND MINUTE OBJECTS, SO THE SKETCH FILLS THESE GAPS. SKETCHES ALSO PROVIDE A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF THE SCENE, AND IDENTIFY ALL RELEVANT OBJECTS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER. AMONG SHORTCOMINGS OF SKETCHES ARE THEIR INABILITY TO RELAY INFORMATION ON QUALITY OR CHARACTER OF SETTINGS AND THEIR PREPARATION TIME. THE PROCESS OF RECORDING A CRIME SCENE REQUIRES FIVE CLEARLY DEFINED STEPS: (1) SECURING THE SCENE, (2) TAKING PRELIMINARY NOTES, (3) TAKING OVERVIEW PHOTOGRAPHS, (4) MAKING A BASIC SKETCH, (5) RECORDING EACH SEPARATE ITEM OF EVIDENCE. SPECIFIC DETAILS FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF EACH STEP ARE DELINEATED. THE KIT INCLUDES STUDY NOTES AND A QUIZ. (MRK)