Crime Scene Sketch CJUS 201 Part 6 1

Crime Scene Sketch CJUS 201 Part 6. 1

Sketch 1. Advantage - essential details - indicates distance - spatial relationships a. Two types (1) Rough - relatively crude - free-hand representation - all essential information

Sketch - measurements - made at crime scene (2) Finished - more precise - lines clean / straight - typeset / typewritten - prepared at later time - info: rough sketch / notes / photos b. Scale drawing

Sketch - distances precise / proportional - skilled draftsperson (1) Court: exact distances - shows premeditation - run to kitchen to get knife (2) Commercially available - several templates - house / store / office

Sketch c. Measurements important - 2 reasons (1) Reconstruct crime - account given by suspect / witness (2) Clear / precise answers - cannot impugn competence 2. Methods used - evidence location at scene

Sketch a. Coordinate - using walls / fixed points - rectangle b. Triangulation - two lines / fixed points - corners of room - fixed objects outside c. Baseline - straight line / two fixed points

Sketch - measure off line - right angle d. Compass point - fixed point / protractor measure angle - draw lines from that point e. Cross-projection method - opening the room like a box - show floor / walls / ceiling

Sketch 3. More descriptive than words - physical facts - precise locations - relationship - create mental picture - admissible a. Rough sketch - pencil outline - location of objects - not to scale / distance measurements

Sketch (1) Depends on crime scene - large area / room / body - streets / blocks - acres of land - house / garage / swimming pool b. Steps - depends on techniques (1) Observe / plan

Sketch (2) Measure distances / record (3) Outline area (4) Locate objects / evidence (5) Record details (6) Notes: reference to sketch (7) Legend / scale

Sketch c. Materials - own sketch kit (1) Paper – plain / graph (2) Pencil / measuring tape (50’ to 150’) / protractor / scotch tape (3) Ruler / straightedge / clipboard / erasers / compass / thumb tacks

Sketch 4. Photos alone - not sufficient - clarify appearance - easier to understand a. Selective (advantage) - supplement with chart / sketch / diagram - exact location / bits of evidence - relation to other (1) Admissible: aide to court / jury

Sketch - never considered works of art - reasonably accurate / complete b. General rules - all objects bearing on crime scene (1) Entrances to buildings (2) Entrance to room (3) Door: hinges / swing

Sketch (5) Victim to stationary objects (6) Weapon / evidence relative to victim (7) 2 measurements to relocate c. Sketching: 3 types (1) Locality - scene of crime / environs - neighboring buildings / roads / etc.

Sketch (2) Grounds - crime scene / physical surroundings - house with garden - one or more floors (3) Details - immediate scene - where crime committed - details thereof 5. Overview most used

Sketch - cross projection - gain a 3 -dimensional view a. Rectangular coordinates - points measure from two walls - fixed corner / window / object b. Triangulation method - from two fixed points in triangle - corner / window / object

Sketch c. Legend (1) Evidence - blood / knife (2) Furniture - bed / chair (3) Use symbols / numbers / letters

Sketch (4) Compass point - (N) - draw to scale (1 inch = 3 feet) 6. Common errors a. Measure by pacing - expressing results in feet / inches b. Relying on memory - not taking notes at time

Sketch c. Drawing from accurate measurements - furniture: visual estimates 7. Decide beforehand - become familiar with scene a. Nothing irrelevant b. Contains only essentials