Rungta International Skills University, Bhilai C.G.

Lecture-wise Content Preparation Template

Subject Details
Program BSc Forensic Science
Subject Name Crime Scene
Subject Code
Semester 1st semester
Unit No. 01
Faculty Name Himani

Lecture Details (Repeat for Each Lecture)

Lecture No. 01
Duration 60 min
Planned Date

1. Learning Objectives (LOs)

 By the end of this lecture, students will be able to:

 Explain the steps in crime scene sketching.

 Understand the difference between rough and final sketches.

 Identify methods of measuring and scaling a scene.

 Apply labels, legends, and directional markers correctly.

2. Prerequisite Knowledge Students should:

 Be familiar with basic crime scene layout and types.

 Know the need for documentation at a crime scene.

3. Content to be Delivered

 Crime Scene Sketching:

 Purpose of sketches in investigations

 Types of sketches: Rough vs. Final

 Elements of a Crime Scene Sketch:

 Heading, legend, directional arrow (North), scale

 Measurement and placement of evidence

 Sketching Techniques:

 Triangulation Method

 Baseline Method

 Rectangular Coordinate Method

 Use of Graph Paper and Digital Tools

 Common Mistakes in Sketching

4. Examples / Demonstrations

 Show a real rough sketch and final sketch sample.

 Live demo: how to sketch a classroom crime scene layout using rectangular method.

 Diagram: Correct placement of directional arrow and legend box.

 5. Case Study / Application / Use-case

  Case Example: Jessica Lal Murder Case

 How sketching helped map shooter’s position and bullet trajectory.

6. Practice Problems related to this lecture

 Differentiate between rough and final sketch.

 Label key components of a crime scene sketch.

 Draw a rough sketch of a simple room with 3 pieces of evidence.

 What is the purpose of using scale in sketching?

7. References

 Saferstein, R. – Criminalistics

 Sharma, B.R. – Forensic Science in Criminal Investigation & Trials

 Online Tool: https://www.crimescene.com/sketch-tools

8. Remarks / Notes for Faculty

 Ask students to bring graph paper for sketching practice.

 Offer 5–10 minutes of hands-on practice during class.

 Use classroom furniture and props to simulate a mock crime scene.

9. Attachments (if any)

 PPT: Lecture 4 – Crime Scene Sketching
 Handout: Sketching Methods Summary
 Practice Sheet: Create Your Own Sketch Activity
Learning Outcomes

After studying this module, you shall be able to learn-

 About field notes

 Crime scene sketch and their significance

2. Field Notes

The documentation of the case starts as soon as an officer gets a call that a crime has

occurred till the moment of case closing. It is a most important as well as time consuming

process. Documentation of crime scene is done to record and preserve the location &

condition of evidence. The respective location of evidences with each other is also

recorded. Usually four types of documentation methods are adopted by investigating

officer. These are:-

1) Reports and note-taking or field notes (sometimes audio)

2) Photographs

3) Videography

4) Crime scene sketching and mapping

Now let us understand the significance of field notes in detail.

Field notes are short written record of events, places, times, suspects, witnesses and other

relevant information. This information is used to prepare report. Some elements should be

included in all reports. Regardless of the offense, the effective and complete notes are

important. On arrival at the crime scene, an effort should be made to gain as much as

information as possible. The reason behind is the information that seem unnecessary at first

may later proves to be highly valuable to the investigator.

Field Notes must be prepared which shows what actually is demonstrating in photographs.

It helps in preventing the investigator from getting the picture back at a later date and

trying to figure out what he or she was trying to accomplish with the photo.

Now let us discuss the importance of Fields Notes:-

1) Detailed notes can make or break a conviction

2) Reliability:-Field notes are more reliable than memory of investigating officer. Later in

any stage of investigation the officer may forget or skip some potential detail. It only takes
a short period of time for some important details to slide away from the memory. To

prevent the loss of potential information is to depend on field notes prepared by the

investigating officer.

3) Primary Source of Information: - Primary information source are Field Notes for the

Offense Report because the first-responding officer is usually the person who writes any

incident report which is required by the situation.

4) Representative: - Field notes are significant as they present the detail which makes the

content of the event report.

5) An investigating officer may need to contact the victims or witness of the crime

regarding information that was overlooked or questions that were not asked in the initial

contact. Once in a while, victims and witnesses get annoyed and even angry when they are

re-contacted by an officer who obviously did not take good field notes when he/she talked

to them earlier and therefore cannot complete the incident report without additional

information. Detailed Field Notes May Reduce the Need to Re-contact the Parties involved

(victims and witnesses).

6) Field Notes can be used to defend the integrity of the Incident/Offense Report. 7) Refreshing Memory:-
Finally, it is not uncommon for officers/investigators to testify in

court several months or years later regarding a particular investigation. Comprehensive

field notes help refresh the investigator‟s memory as well as strengthen his or her court

testimony.

The field notes can be used during courtroom testimony to refresh recollection of the

events. Field notes are more trustworthy than an individual‟s memory as it can be used as a

source of particular facts and details that else may be forgotten.

8) Investigative notes are a permanent record of the evidences of a case to be used for

further investigation or in writing reports.

9) There are numerous other questions which must be asked called primary questions.

These include: what, when where, who, how, and why. Although no single set of questions

can meet the needs for investigating all types of crime, there are six primary questions

which have long be recognized in the field for being useful.

10) While preparing field notes

a) Don‟t include words such as: a, and, and the

b) Use standard abbreviations such as mph, DWI, and Ave

c) Describe everything; the location, weather, type of crime, all physical evidence, etc.

d) Make notes in ink, in a bound notebook, with pages numbered sequentially.

e) Do not erase errors; cross them out with pen.

f) Make notations in chronological order.

g) Evidence is documented by describing: Type and condition of evidence, Time of

discovery, Name of discoverer, Placement, Collection, Packaging & Labeling of

Evidence Recovered. Crime Scene Sketch

Preparing a crime scene sketch is the final phase in crime scene documentation. A crime

scene sketch is a permanent record of the size and distance relationship of the crime scene

and the physical evidence within it. Sketching of crime scene provides spatial relationship

between objects. While other methods do not allow the viewer to measure easily the

distances and dimensions, the crime scene sketch solves this purpose by elucidating the

information contained in the photographs and video documentation.

A sketch is the most simplistic manner in which to present crime scene layout and

measurements. In crime scene sketching the position of camera and the photographer may

also be noted.

Photographs provides a 2-dimensional representations of three-dimensional objects which

distort the spatial relationships of the photographed objects causing items to appear closer

together or farther apart than they actually are.

If spatial relationships of the evidence are important or if something needs to have

proportional measurements included in it for calculations (such as bullet trajectory angles,

accident reconstructions, etc.) then a sketch must be made of the crime scene.

Two types of sketches are produced with regards to crime scene documentation:

1) Rough Sketches:-Rough sketches are prepared during the crime scene

assessment/preliminary scene evaluation phase to assist with development of a

strategic plan for processing. The sketch is not done to scale, can be drawn with any

implement (crayon, chalk, pencil, pen, etc.), and is very rough artistically. As work

progresses at the crime scene, the sketch will include not only the crude crime scene

layout, but also will be used to record measurements of items and structures, and

distances between items.2) Final/Finished Sketches: - A final sketch is a finished rendition of the rough sketch.
They are usually prepared for courtroom presentation and often will not show all

Measurements and distances originally recorded on the rough sketch. Only

Significant items and structures are typically present within a final sketch. A final

Sketch is produced in either ink or on a computer, in a manner that is not able to be

Modified (i.e., not in pencil!). The sketch should be clutter-free and should

Accurately depict all pertinent items of evidence, typically through the use of an

Accompanying legend. A legend is a note of explanation, outside of the sketch area,

Which relates to a specific item, symbol, or information contained within the

Graphical representation of a sketch.

A rough sketch at the scene is usually made first on graph paper in pencil with so many

Squares representing so many square feet or inches. Using a tape measure or other

Measuring devices, measurements are taken at crime scene of the distances between objects

And/or structures at the crime scene. These measurements are proportionally reduced on the

Rough sketch and the objects are drawn in. Two measurements taken at right angles to each

Other or from two reference points will usually suffice in placing the objects where they
Belong in a sketch. Double measurements should also be taken to make sure they are

Correct. This is especially true where calculations will later be used. A final sketch should

Be made later using inks, paper, and ruler, or a computer. The original rough sketch should

Be reserved and well-kept-up in case it is required at a later date. The scene should be

Carefully documented then the evidence collection can initiate.

Crime scene sketch has its own significance:-

1. It accurately depicts the physical evidences.

2. It connects to the sequence of events at the scene.

3. It establishes the precise location and relationship of objects and evidence at the

Scene.

4. It helps to create a mental picture of the scene for those not present.

5. It is a long-lasting record of the scene.

6. It is acceptable in court.
7. It assists in questioning and cross-examining.

8. It assists in preparing the written investigative report.

9. It assists in presenting the case in court. Well-prepared sketches and drawings

Help judges, juries, witnesses, and others to visualize the crime scene.

10. Sketch all serious crimes and accident scenes after photographs have been taken

And before anything is moved.

11. Sketch the entire scene, the objects, and the evidence.

A final sketch should include:

1. Title (What does the sketch represent? For example, Sketch of Bank ABC

Robbery).

2. Legend (What do symbols within the sketch mean?).

3. Case Information. (i.e., date, time, place, case number).

4. Initials/Name (person who drew the sketch).

5. Indication of a direction (e.g., North).

6. Scale (e.g.: 1” = 1‟).

7. Measurement table (If measurements are not represented within the confines of the

Sketch, an accompanying measurement table should be included to explain the

Distances and measurements associated with it.).

8. There should be a system succeeding the scale or measurement table asserting: “All

Measurements are Approximate.” This will ensure that the sketch‟s author does not

Get into a credibility argument in court that a measurement is documented as the

Listed measurement, but could in fact be greater or lesser due to rounding errors or

Other factors.

Three different crime scene perspectives can be represented within a sketch. Sometimes

personnel choose to incorporate several perspectives within a sketch (e.g., using both

elevation and overhead sketches to draw an exploded or cross-sectional view of a scene).

1) The Bird’s Eye Or Overhead View: - An overhead or bird‟s eye view is the most

common form of crime scene sketching. It is prepared with the perspective being as though

the author was looking down upon the scene from above. This type shows the floor layout

but cannot represent heights of items or show associated evidence on walls. Direction of

the above view is done through a compass.

2) The Elevation Or Side View: - In order to show such information, a person must

sketch an elevation or side view sketch to show evidence located on a building façade,

interior wall, or any item of which height is an important aspect (e.g., death involving a

hanging).

3) The Three-Dimensional (3d) View:- A 3D crime scene perspective is created with the

aid of computers, and has its primary function as being crime scene activity reconstruction,

to help explain what happened and in what order. 4. Summary

1. Documentation of crime scene is done to record and preserve the location &

condition of evidence.

2. The four types of documentation methods are Reports and note-taking,

Photographs, Videography and Crime scene sketching & mapping.

3. To prevent the loss of potential information field notes must be prepared by the
investigating officer.

4. The questions like what, when where, who, how, and why must be asked during

interrogation.

5. Describe the location, weather, type of crime, all physical evidence, etc.

6. Evidence is documented by describing: Type and condition of evidence, Time of

discovery, Name of discoverer, Placement, Collection, Packaging & Labeling of

Evidence Recovered.

7. A crime scene sketch is a permanent record of the size and distance relationship of

the crime scene and the physical evidence within it.

8. Sketching of crime scene provides spatial relationship between objects.

9. Rough Sketches and final sketch are produced in crime scene documentation.

10. The sketch should be clutter-free.

11. The final sketch should accurately depict all pertinent items of evidence with the

help of using „legend‟.

12. A legend is a note of explanation, outside of the sketch area, which relates to a

specific item, symbol, or information contained within the graphical representation

of a sketch.

13. Crime scene sketch accurately portrays the physical facts, relates to the sequence of

events at the scene, and establishes the precise location and relationship of objects

and evidence at the scene.14. Three different crime scene perspectives can be represented within a sketch such
as

The Bird‟s Eye or Overhead View, The Elevation or Side View and the Three-

Dimensional (3d) View.

15. An overhead or bird‟s eye view is the most common form of crime scene sketching.

16. Overhead or bird‟s view is prepared with the perspective being as though the author

Was looking down upon the scene from above. It shows the floor layout but cannot
Represent heights of items or show associated evidence on walls. Directionality of

The overhead view is determined by using a compass.

17. The Elevation or Side View is used to show evidence located on a building façade,

Interior wall, or any item of which height is an important aspect (e.g., death

Involving a hanging).

18. A 3D crime scene perspective is created with the aid of computers, and has its

Primary function as being crime scene activity reconstruction, to help explain what

Happened and in what order.