Villanueva,HazelAnnB
BSCRIM3C
MIDTERM “SPECIALCRIMEINVESTIGATION REVIEWER”
6. Crime Scene Documentation
1. Photography and or video
The main objective of photography is to create an
accurate objective visual record of the crime scene
before any item is moved or removed.
1. The crime photographer will enter the crime scene
and take a photograph of the crime scene from general
to specific. Photograph should show a general view of
the front and back of the crime scene, entrance and exit
at the crime scene, the possible entrance and exit use
by suspect.
2. The next photograph is a medium view of the
entrance and exit at the crime scene (indoor), the
possible entrance and exit used by the suspect. An
overlapping view of the immediate crime scene (for
uniformity clockwise), if possible take a top view
photograph of the crime scene. The next round of
photograph on this overlapping view will be taken after
putting marker/tags on the evidence with individual
close-up photograph of the physical evidence and
another round after collecting all the physical evidence.
3. Close-up photograph of physical evidence. A second
round of photograph after the search that include
exhibit number.
4. Additional close-up photograph be taken with a scale
beside the evidence that helps in determining its size.
5. The photographer prepares and fills-up photographic
log.
2. Crime Scene Sketch
Sketches are prepared to indicate exact location of
objects and its relationship to each other and other
objects at the crime scene. It is useful in questioning of
suspects and witnesses as well as in the writing of
investigative reports.
Sketches are excellent companions to photograph.
Where photographs provide exact details, sketches
offer accurate information about the placement of
objects and they show relationship and distances
between things.
* Things to consider in preparing a crime scene rough
sketch
Must present the exact measurement & info
about the placement of objects.
1. Must be oriented to the north or show the direction
of the north.
2. Must indicate an accurate measurement of objects
and location of physical evidence.
3. Must use the one of the commonly known type of
measurement either English or American.
4. Must always use fixed point or object as reference
point.
5. Must indicate the tag or evidence designated number
on the sketch.
6. Must contains the following information; case
number, crime committed, time and date it was
prepared, location of the crime scene, rank and name of
investigator, name of victim, rank, name and signature
of sketcher, name and signature of witnesses.
7. The finish sketch will be prepared at the office for
court presentation.
8. Use the universally recommended symbols.
Note: While preparing the sketch, the sketcher should
stay in one place.
* Main Type of Crime Scene Sketch
1. Rough Sketch
A rough sketch is drawn free-hand by the sketcher at
the crime scene. Changes should not be made to it after
the sketcher has left the scene. This sketch will not
normally be drawn to scale, but will indicate accurate
distances, dimensions, and relative proportions.
2. Smooth/ Finish Sketch
A smooth or finish sketch is one that is finished and is
frequently drawn to scale from the information
provided in the rough sketch. If a sketch is drawn to
scale, the numbers concerning the distances can be
eliminated. However, if the sketch is not drawn to scale,
the distances need to be shown.
* Recommended Legend Symbols
Motor Vehicle Skid marks/ Tire prints
Motor Cycle Utility Post
Tree Fence X X X method is useful in an outdoor situation where there
Shrubs North Direction N triangle.
Camera position Explosion Crater
* Types of Crime Scene Sketch
1. Location/ Neighborhood sketch (See Figure 6)
It is used to document important items within a
large scene involving a large tract of land and/or many
buildings. The sketch can show the location of evidence
and its relationship to the overall scene, the relationship
of each building to one another, the location of major
vegetation, fences street signs, path of egress used by
the suspects, the location of witnesses in relation to the
scene. Its up to the discretion of investigator what
should be included or excluded in the sketch.
2. Floor plan/ bird’s eye view sketch
Is the simplest and most common one used in
diagramming crime scenes. It may be used in nearly all
crime scene situation where the items of interest are
located in one plane. It is also the easiest for lay people
such jury members/judges to comprehend.
3. Exploded sketch/ Cross projection sketch
Is the sketch that uses the combination of the
floor plan and the four elevation views (the walls) of a
room. The walls and ceiling are drawn as if they are
folded out with the ceiling placed on one of the walls.
The purpose of this type of sketch is to show points of
interest on the walls, ceiling and floor.
4. Elevation sketch
The elevation sketch depicts a side, front, or
rear of the exterior of a structure or one of the interior
walls in a room used when the vertical, rather than
horizontal plane is of interest. Thus, if bloodstains were
present on a wall of the house, the elevation drawing of
the wall would be used to depict this scene.
* Type of Measurements
1. Triangulation Method
An object is located by drawing two straight
lines from two fixed points creating a triangle; the
object is in angle formed by the line. The triangulation
are no easily identified edges of roads or field to use as
reference points. Measurement follows the shape of a
2. Coordinate/ Angular method
This method uses two walls in a room as
fixed points, from which distances are measured at right
angles. The baseline could be a wall, or drawn as a
mathematical center of a room.
3. Base line method – A straight line is established
from one fixed point to another fixed point. Using one
end of the line as a starting point, an object can be
located by measuring along either side of the baseline
at a right angle to the object.
4. Compass point method
A protractor is used to measure the angle
between two lines. One point along a wall is selected as
the origin. An axis line drawn from the origin is the line
from which
the angle is measured.
5. Grid method - Starting at a known permanent
reference point at the scene, a measurement of
predetermined increments is marked off horizontally
and vertically. On each horizontal and vertical
increment, a line or string is laid so that the scene
resembles many small squares. When a piece of
evidence is found, it is recorded to the nearest
increment from the reference point. A measurement
from the increment to the evidence is taken horizontally
and vertically.
3. Notes taking
Note taking must be a constant activity throughout the
processing of the crime scene. Prepare a narrative
description of the crime scene and take note of
everything that attracted one’s attention. Take down
extensive notes to document important factors. Nothing
is insignificant when it catches one’s attention. This
should start once you arrived at the crime scene until
the end of the crime scene examination.
* Things to be included in Notes taking
 1. Time and date arrival at the crime scene.
2. Weather condition
3. Name of investigator, first responder and time
of incident or discovery of the incident.
4. Status and detail description of the victim as to
body built, height, gender, age, injuries, estimated time
of death, clothing, finger nails and other pertinent
observation made.
5. Status of suspect if any and their personal
circumstances.
6. Detailed written description of the crime scene
with locations of physical evidence and other pertinent
observation noted.
7. The person who discovered and collected the
physical evidence.
8. How the evidence was packaged and marked.
9. The disposition of the item when it was
collected.
10. Take note of everything that will help you in
preparing a narrative report about how you process the
crime scene.
11. The time and to whom you release the crime
scene.
7. Crime Scene Search
a. First to be observed before the searching start
1. Determine what type of searching patterns is
most appropriate to the crime scene.
2. Determine the number of searching team and
members of the searching team.
3. Mark/tags position of physical evidence with
designated evidence number.
2. Types of searching methods
1. The quadrant or zone method – In this
method, one searcher is assigned to a quadrant then
each quadrant is cut into another set of quadrant.
2. Strip method – In this method, the area is
blocked out in the form of a rectangular. The searcher
proceeds slowly at the same place along path parallel to
one side of the rectangle. When a piece of evidence is
found, the finder announces his discovery and the
search must stop until the evidence has been cared for.
At the end of the rectangle, the searcher turns and
proceeds along new lanes.
CS SKETCHING 14
3. Grid or double strip method – this method is a
modification of strip search method. Here, the rectangle
is traversed first, parallel to the base, then parallel to
the side.
DSC05183
4. Spiral method – in this method, the searchers
follow each other along the path of a spiral beginning
on the outside and spiraling in towards the center or
vice versa.
5. Wheel method – this method of search, the
area is considered to be approximately circular. The
searchers gather at the center and proceed outward
along the radius or spokes. The procedure should be
repeated several times depending on the size of the
circle and the number of searchers.
Disadvantages of the wheel search method
1. Great increase in the area
2. Possibility of evidence contamination.
8. Collection of Physical Evidence
This is accomplished after the search is completed,
the rough sketch finished and photographs taken.
Fragile evidence should be collected as they are found
but mark its location and reflect it on the sketch.
1. Things to consider before the collection of
physical evidence start:
1. Determine what physical evidence to be
collected first.
2. Determine what technique can be used to
collect and package physical evidence found at the
crime scene.
3. Mark and package all physical evidence with
complete data needed to identify the evidence. The
case number, evidence number, type of crime if
possible, description or type of evidence, time and date
collected and location if possible, name of the collector
with his initial or signature, name of victim, name of
investigator and name of suspect.
 4. All evidence collected should be properly
marked and labeled before its submission to the
evidence custodian.
5. Evidence custodian to prepare an inventory of
the evidence recovered and fill-up the evidence log.
(See Figure 12)
9. Conduct of Final Survey
The crime scene should be surveyed and search for the
last time after collecting all the evidence to ensure that
no physical evidence is left behind. Different type of
search method as used in the first search can be
applied. A debriefing as to the completeness of the
examination can be conducted with the examining
team.
Reconstruction of the Crime
After completion of the search an effort must be
made to determine from the appearance of the place
and its objects what actually occurred and what were
the circumstances of the crime is known as the
reconstruction of the crime.
Kinds of Reconstruction
1. Physical Reconstruction
The physical appearance of the crime scene is
reconstructed from the description of the witnesses and
the indication of the physical evidences.
2. Mental Reconstruction
After physical reconstruction, some conclusions can
be made concerning the consistency of the accounts of
the various witnesses. No assumption should be made
concerning actions where which are not supported by
evidences. The final theory developed by the
investigator should provide a line of investigative action.
Photographing the crime scene (after reconstructing the
crime scene)
The following are the minimal requirements to be
observed by the investigator to insure admissibility of
photographs in courts:
1. the object which is represented should not be
immaterial or irrelevant
2. the photograph should not unduly incite
prejudice or sympathy.
3. the photograph should be free from distortion.
There must be a series of photographs of the crime
scene to supply the maximum information and to
enable the viewer to understand how the crime was
committed.
Kinds of Photographs at the scene of the crime
1. Over-all Photograph
Carried on clockwise until at least four general
view photographs have been taken.
2. Photograph of the Deceased
A set of views showing the relationship of the
dead body with the surrounding.
3. Photographs of articles of evidence
Weapons, blood stains, hair, fibers, papers, etc.
soon at the crime scene must be photographed before
removal.
4. Special Techniques
Ultra-violet, infra-red, orthostercoscopy,
photomicrography, micrography, radiography,
gammagraphy, cinematography and projection work.
5. Photographing the environments
6. Photographing the body after removal
a. photograph for identification of the victim
b. close up pictures of the wounds.
Crime Scene Sketch
The sketch is the simplest and the most effective way of
showing actual measurements and of identifying
significant items or evidences in their location at the
scene. Sketching is supplementary to photography.
Kinds of Sketch
1. Rough Sketch
Made by the investigator at the crime scene.
No scale, proportion ignored, and everything are
approximate. It is to be used as a basis of the finished
sketched.
2. Finished Sketch
Made primarily for court presentation. Scale
and proportion are observed.
Kinds of Police Sketching
1. Sketch of Locality
The sketch of locality gives a picture of the
scene of the crime and its environs, including such items
as neighboring buildings, roads, loading to the location
of the house, etc. in arson cases, the sketch of location
is of great value as an aid in determining whether the
fire was caused by nearby inflammable property.
2. Sketch of Grounds
The sketch of grounds picture the scene of the
crime and its environs/with its nearest physical
surrounding/, i.e., a house with a garden.
3. Sketch of Details
The sketch of details describes the immediate
scene only; for instance the room in which the crime
was committed and the details thereof. Nowadays, the
sketch of details of a room is generally carried out by
what is known as a cross projection. In this method,
walls and ceilings are pictured as if on the same plane as
the floor. This will give a clear impression of the scene in
cases blood stains and bullet holes are found in the
walls or on the ceilings.
Elements of Sketching
1. Measurements
2. Compass Direction
A standard arrow to designate the North must
be indicated to facilitate proper orientation.
3. Essential Items
Sketch must include important items of
investigation.
4. Scale Proportion
It must be accurate.
5. Legend
The explanation of any symbol used to identify
objects must be stated. Put excessive lettering in the
sketch generally result in a crowded sketch and obscure
the essential items.
6. Title
This includes case identification, identification
of the victim, scene portrayed, location, date and hour
made and name of sketcher.
Care of Physical evidence
Physical Evidence
Articles and materials which are found in
connection with an investigation which aid in
establishing the identity of the perpetrator or the
circumstances under which the crime was committed or
which in general, assists in the prosecution of the
criminal.
Kinds of Physical Evidence
1. Corpus Delicti - Objects or substances which are
an essential part of the body of the crime.
2. Associative Evidence - Evidence which links the
suspects to the crime scene or offensive. Fingerprints or
shoe impressions are good examples.
3. Tracing Evidences - Articles which assists the
investigator in locating the suspect.
Procedure of Care of Physical Evidence
In order to introduce physical evidence in trial,
three important factors must be considered:
1. The article must be properly identified.
2. Continuity or chain of custody
3. Competency must be proved, that the evidence
is material and relevant.
Chain of Custody
The number of persons, who handle evidence
between the time of commission of the alleged offense
and the ultimate disposition of the case, should be kept
to minimum. Each transfer of evidence should be
receipted. The recipient of the evidence shall be
accountable during the time it is in his possession,
protect it and he must record the person whom he
received, and to whom it was delivered.
Protection of the Physical Evidence
Evidence must be presented in court in the same
substantial condition as it is at the time the offense was
committed. It must be protected form accidental, discoloration of the area affected. It appears usually 3-6
intentional and even from natural alteration. hours following death.

Purposes of Protection of Physical Evidence
1. Certain types of evidence, such as latent
fingerprints, are so fragile in nature that a slight act of
carelessness in handling can destroy their value as clues
and remove the possibility of obtaining form the m any
information which would further the investigation.
2. It is necessary the evidence presented in court
be in a condition similar to that in which it was left at
the time of the offense.
Alteration of Physical Evidence
Effort must be done to minimize the alteration of
the evidentiary evidence. Alteration of the evidence
may be due to contamination, chemical change,
alteration of shape, removal of part or condition of
extraneous characteristics and these may be due to
natural causes, negligence and accident and intentional
damage or theft.
c. Coagulation of blood inside the blood vessels
this usually occurs 6-8 hours following death
d. Volume of the stomach contents the stomach
usually empties 3-4 hours after the last meal.
e. Degree of decomposition of the body in tropical
climate decomposition starts 36 to 48 hours after
death. Bodies on surface ground is transformed into
skeleton in month time; twice longer when the body is
in water and one to three years when the body is buried
underground depending upon the nature of the soil,
humidity, depth, presence or absence of the embalming
fluid, integrity of the coffin, condition of the body at
time of death, etc.
f. Other proofs inferred form the surrounding
evidences, like the degree of the destruction of the
coffin, wearing

Time of Death

The investigator either by himself or with the aid of

the experts determine the approximate time of death.
This can be shown by:

1. Testimony of the witnesses who may correlated

the time with certain events, natural phenomena and
other conditions. It may be approximated from cock-
crow, position of the sun or the moon, dismissal of
classes, wearing apparel of the deceased and others.

2. Circumstantial proof as to the time of

occurrence, like the last time the victim was seen alive,
witnesses to prove the suspect coming from the crime
scene at certain approximate time, etc.

3. Expert or technical evidences:

a. Presence or absence or rigor mortis - rigor

mortis is the stiffening of the body following death. It
actually occurs 2-6 hours after death.

b. Presence or absence of Post-mortem lividity

this is the gravitation of blood in most dependent
portions of the body thus producing reddish