7S's
First Priority of securing the crime scene
5 things every note must include?
Who, What, When, Where, and How
Types of Photos?
Overall Medium and Close-up
The difference between rough and final sketches?
Rough sketches are not to scale and contain quick measurements and notes while final sketches are drawn to scale, neatly labeled.
Best pattern for small indoor room?
Spiral
Why separate the witnesses?
Prevent collusion
Give an example of a poor note
Missing any of the 5 things example.
What must be included in a close-up?
Ruler/scale
Why do sketches help juries?
They simplify the scene and clearly show the distances and relationships and layouts.
Best pattern for large outdoor with many investigators?
Line
What is the difference between scan and see?
Scan is getting and overall look of the scene. and see is taking photographs.
Why are notes sill needed if you have photos or sketches
Any of the following:
Record conditions that photos/sketches cannot capture
Record human observations
Provide written chronology
Support Chain of custody
Fill in gaps that photo/sketches may miss
Required for admissibility
Professional accountability
Why take overall photos?
To get a visual of what the crime scene sketch could not show.
Example of missing info that would make a sketch incomplete.
Missing scale, legend, north arrow, case information, measurement, evidence lables, or investigators name and signature.
Best pattern for wooded area
Grid
Which S involves photos?
See the scene
Which Detail would make notes inadmissible?
If they were not taken at the time of investigation
What is the problem if evidence is moved before a photo?
The original placement and context are lost, making the evidence less reliable or inadmissible in court.
What must be included in a final sketch?
Case #, legend, north arrow, scale
Why package evidence separately?
Avoid contamination
Order the 7S's
Secure the Scene
Separate the wittnesses
Scan the scene
See the scene
sketch the scene
Search For evidence
Secure and collect evidence
Why are notes considered more reliable than memory?
Because they are taken at the time of investigation
Why can't photos replace sketches?
Sketches simplify and highlight in a way that photos cannot.
Why can;t sketches replace photos?
Photos provide and objective, detailed, and visual record of the scene that captures what sketches cannot capture fully
Correct packaging for: bloodstained shirt, arson debris, coin
Bloodstained shirt, paper bag
Arson debris, clean airtight metal container
Coin, sealed coin envelope or small evidence bag.