CRIME SCENE SKETCH

A crime scene sketch is a permanent record of the size and distance relationship of the crime
scene and the physical evidence within it. It establishes the precise location and relationship of objects
and evidence at the scene. It helps to create a mental picture of the scene for those not present (What
are crime scene sketches? n.d.) A crime scene sketch depicts the overall layout of a location and the
relationship of evidentiary items to the surroundings. It can show the path a suspect or victim took
and the distances involved. Overview sketch– consists of a bird's-eye-view or floor plan sketch of the
scene.

The crime scene sketch is the permanent record of the actual size and distance relationships
between the crime scene and its physical evidence. The sketch must correlate and supplement the still
photographs taken at the scene. The sketch further supports the relevancy, reliability, and validity of
physical evidence found at the crime scene (CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION LABORATORY
MANUAL 73, n.d.)

Crime scene sketch preparation requires some planning and organizational skills by the crime
scene investigator. There are two basic types of crime scene sketches that are part of a crime scene
investigation: a rough sketch and a to-scale, finished, or final sketch.

A rough sketch is made at the crime scene before evidence collection. It shows all the
evidence to be collected, major structures present in the crime scene, and other relevant structures in
or near the crime scene. The rough sketch will show all the measurements taken to determine the size
and distance relationships at the crime scene. A final or finished sketch, drawn to scale, is prepared
from the rough sketch. The final sketch is normally prepared for courtroom presentation. It will
show the relevant structures within the crime scene and all items of evidence. It should never show
any measurements. It has a clean, uncluttered, appearance

There are three measuring techniques for sketching the crime scene and evidence:
triangulation, polar coordinates, and base line or fixed line.

Triangulation

Absent the availability of a transit and the trained personnel to use it, triangulation is generally
considered the most accurate method for measuring the relative position of an object within a scene.
Triangulation utilizes two or more reference points to establish the position of an object. By drawing a
line that connects the two reference points and extending a line from each of the reference points to
the object being measured, a triangle is formed. Ideally, the distance between both reference points
and the object being measured would be the same. This, however, is rarely the case.
Polar coordinates

Utilizing polar coordinates is the fourth method of crime scene mapping used to document evidence
location at a crime scene. Like those previously mentioned, this is a two-dimensional system that
indicates the location of an object by providing the angle and distance from the fixed or known point.
Obviously, in order to conduct measurements by this method a transit or compass is necessary to
measure the angles and polar directions. This method is best utilized in large outdoor scenes with very
few landmarks (e.g., a plane crash in forest or large field). (Evidence Technology Magazine -
Documenting the Crime Scene, n.d.)

Linear Coordinate or Baseline Method

One of the most common methods used to measure a crime scene is known as the baseline
measurement system. The baseline method generally begins by the establishment of a single reference
point. A tape measure is then extended (parallel to the scene) from the reference point to an end
point, which then becomes a second reference point. A baseline is most often established along a curb
or sidewalk in order to simplify the measurement process. Measurements are then made from a point
on the tape to an object in the scene. Measurements are always made at a 90-degree angle to the tape.

The baseline method is generally the simplest method to set up, but it is also the least accurate
method. As the distance between the baseline and the objects being measured increases, so does the
potential for error. This method is only recommended when the distance between the baseline and the
objects to be measured is less than 30 feet. As distances increase and the complexity of an outdoor
scene increases, consideration should be given to switching to the Triangulation Method. Switching
from one method to another and even back again is perfectly acceptable as long as the reference point
utilized and the method employed is clearly documented as part of the measurements.