Crim Justice 2 report

How Should a Crime Scene be Properly Documented?

Certain specifics should be included in crime scene documentation. The following are examples of some of the essential aspects of information for properly documenting a crime scene:

· Dates, times, and locations. To begin, the date and time of the investigator’s assignment to the case should be well recorded in his or her notes. Additionally, officers should include from whom they received the assignment. Supplementary information should include the exact time of arrival at the crime scene, the location of the scene, lighting and weather conditions, and the names of other officers contacted and other persons present at the scene.

· Description of victim. This information should include all identifiers of the victim, including name, age, Social Security number, height, weight, and the color of hair and eyes. In addition, clothing should be noted as to style (if possible) and color of garment. Special attention should be given to extemporaneous identifiers such as complexion, tattoos, and scars.

· Wounds on the victim. Notes regarding the type and location of wounds should be documented carefully. It is important to emphasize descriptions of the wound, and if it is a bruise, its color should be noted. For example, notes of a gunshot wound might read: “Gunshot wound approximately 1/4 inch in diameter to the left temple and approximately 1-1/2 inches from the left eye. A dark gray circle about 1/4 inch in diameter surrounds the entire wound.”

· Overall description of the crime scene. Investigators must note anything unusual at the crime scene. This includes items damaged or in disarray, items that seem misplaced or that don’t seem to belong in the scene, and open (or closed) doors or windows.

· Notes on photographs taken on the scene. For every photograph taken of the scene (and there should be many), the F-stop, shutter speed, distance, and direction of the photo should be logged in an officer’s notes. Also included should be the time and location of each photograph. In the event that a video camera is used to document the scene, an officer’s notes should include the type of camera and any special attachments that may have been used.

· Type and location of each piece of evidence. An investigator should be careful to document adequately the location of each piece of evidence found at the crime scene. This includes its description, location, the time it was discovered and by whom, the type of container in which it was placed, how the container was sealed and marked, and the disposition of the item after it was collected. For example:

9mm cal. S & W model 669 semiautomatic handgun, nickel plated with wooden grips, Serial #36348. 71 inches from the S.W. corner of the master bedroom, 16 inches E. of S. edge of W. door. Marked “WT” on evidence tag placed on trigger guard. Placed in manila evidence envelope, sealed with tape, and marked #11 WT 12-12-12 at 03:25 hrs. Released to Officer Mary Schultz, laboratory firearms examiner, 09:35 hrs. 12-12-12 WT.

· Absence of items. This notation includes the documentation of items not at the crime scene that probably should be such as certain articles of clothing missing from the deceased or certain home furnishings absent from the scene.