Intro to Criminalistics DB2

Criminalistics DB2

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Class

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Sketch of Crime Scene

One of the most important parts of gathering evidence at the crime scene is the documentation of the crime scene and the placement of the evidence. The best way to record the crime scene and the location of the evidence is through the crime scene sketch. The crime scene sketch provides a visual layout of the crime scene that can demonstrate a true and accurate relationship between objects or the size of the objects (Baldwin, 2006). In the information Age the sketch no longer has be hand drawn but can instead be drawn using software programs that will provide a more accurate and 3D depiction of the scene.

The introduction of the computer changed the way drawings of crime scenes are completed. Now even those who can't draw a straight line can operate a mouse and create a high quality finished drawing in a short time (Baldwin, 2006). One software program used to sketch the crime scene is the Crime Zone drawing software. This software program provides the crime scene investigator with a tool that allows them to create a more precise crime scene sketch. The use of crime scene software ensures that evidence placement is more accurate and the depiction of the scene can be animated making it more realistic.

The disadvantage of the computer program is the sketch is made later after the crime scene investigator leaves the scene. This can result in the depiction of the scene being inaccurate if a proper rough sketch is not dawn. A crime scene depiction must be completely accurate (Byrd, 2010). Secondly a rough sketch must still be drawn so it just doubles the work for the crime investigator. Even though it might be more work the crime scene drawing will be easier for members of the court to understand. Potential legal constraints involving the crime scene sketch created on a computer program involve the chain of evidence. If the crime scene sketch is created after the investigator leaves the crime scene has the chain of evidence been broken or because a rough draft was created is the chain still intact? This would be the only legal question that could arise with exception of having a search warrant before searching the scene.

References

Baldwin, H. (2006). Crime Scene Sketching. Retrieved August 27, 2014 from

http://www.feinc.net/sketch.htm

Byrd, M. (2010). Simple EZ Sketching by using all available resources. Retrieved August 27,

2014 from http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/sketch.html