Importance of Crime Scene Photography to Law Enforcement - Essay Example

INTRODUCTION Most crime profilers would agree that second to Jack the Ripper, the most notorious criminal that wreaked terror in American households was a killer named Zodiac. In Zodiac’s case, there were 2,500 potential suspects that were questioned but the case ended unsolved due to the forensic technology that was not conclusive enough to support evidence ( Wark 2008 ). Nowadays, crime scene investigation is complete with equipment and technology that is substantial in supporting law enforcement. One of the crucial elements in investigation is crime scene photography, also known as Forensic Photography or Forensic Imaging. Basically, it is visual art that involves procuring exact or very accurate reproduction of an accident or a crime scene. The contents of the pictures shows bodies, objects, places (location), materials that support the investigators in analyzing the crime. Similarly, pictures of accidents include injured or dead people, mangled cars and location of the vehicles involved. A lot of factors like right angle of lenses, correct lighting, and varying viewpoints influence the quality of this kind of photography. Importance of Crime Scene Photography to Law Enforcement There are many reasons why photographs are important in investigation. The photographs can used to record a “victim’s lifestyle and personality “such as showing tattoo marks that can revealing of a person’s association with a gang or fraternity ( FBI). The photographs can also illustrate the socioeconomic conditions or physical environment that surrounds the crime scene especially to people at the laboratories who did not see the actual crime scene. The National Institute of Justice (2004) asserts that : “Critical to the administration of a crime is the objective recognition, documentation, collection, preservation, and transmittal of physical evidence for analysis” ( CSI: A Reference for Law Enforcement Training ). The purposes of Crime Scene photography was clearly defined by the Criminal Justice and Research Training of the University of California, among them: to record the original scene and related areas, record the initial appearance of physical evidence, provide investigators and other authorities with a permanent visual record of the scene for later use, and serve as evidence in court trials and hearings. In the Course Outline for Forensic Technician ( 2006), the following topics are discussed which emphasized the importance of photographs in law enforcement and criminal justice: B. Admissibility of photographic evidence 1. Three major points of qualification of a photograph in court a. Object pictured must be material or relevant to the point in issue b. The photograph must not appeal to the emotions or tend to prejudice the court or jury c. The photograph must be free from distortion and not misrepresent the scene or the object it purports to reproduce The main objective of taking pictures of violent crime scenes is to record as many as possible information that can assist the investigators in understanding how the crime was committed and where exactly did it happen. If the crime happened inside a house, then there is a possibility that the attempt to kill a victim started in the porch or doorsteps and ended in the kitchen as the victim attempted to escape a burglar trying to kill him. A picture of a broken door or window can establish that the intruder is a stranger which is critical in establishing identity of assailant. The FBI Academy’s Behavioral Science Investigative Support Unit claims that photography also is important during a rape investigation since the pictures can record any signs of struggle, effort of victim to fight the assailant (as shown by torn clothing, bruises and even bite marks), as well as depict where the heinous scene really took place . A known Forensic scientist, Schiro (n.d.) asserts the importance of a photograph of shoeprint found at a crime scene “can be provided to investigators who are running a search warrant on a suspects residence. The photo will tell them the type of shoe for which they are searching”. Indeed, photographs do not only reveal what is shown but can also imply ideas or details that could be missed in the investigation. Crime Scene Photography : Part of Scene Assessment In the preliminary investigation of a crime, a scene assessment is conducted by the investigator that would help him determine the type of incident as well as the level of investigation that has to be conducted ( CSI 2000 ). In a scene assessment, the final step that must be taken is ensuring preliminary documentation of the scene, people who were injured, as well as vehicles with purpose of “ ( allowing) for the exchange of information among law enforcement personnel and the development of investigative strategies” (CSI 2000 ). Another important fact about “crime scene” is that is not only the nearby areas where a crime took place “but adjacent areas where important acts occurred immediately before or after the commission of the crime” ( FBI ). It is therefore of paramount importance that photographs be taken from different distances such as close-up, medium and long-range which gives the profiler a better understanding of how things are connected. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also highlights the use of aerial photographs in serial rape or murder investigations since this establishes the geographical link of the crime scenes. From this photographs, viewers can plot or predict where a serial killer may possibly strike next. In relation to Law Enforcement, the overseeing authority such as FBI can alert local authorities to secure an area. This would then act as a deterrent to the serial killer in repeating the crime, or would lead to his possible arrest if the police assumptions were correct. CONCLUSION Crime Scene Photography or Forensic Imaging plays a crucial role in law enforcement since it can be admissible evidence in court. Its main purpose of documenting the crime scene gives investigators a complete picture of the environment surrounding the crime as well other details that matter such as where the crime happened and what transpired in the crime scene. More importantly, crime scene photography helps investigators and law enforcement agency to communicate information that is crucial in leading to the arrest of a perpetrator or avoidance of the occurrence of the crime. WORKS CITED Course Outline Photography for the Crime Scene Technician (n.d.) Criminal Justice Research and Training, California State University .Retrieved from http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/fet-ol.htmlForensic on April 15,2009. Behavioral Science Investigative Support Unit. FBI Academy - Quantico, Virginia . Retrieved from http://www.geocities.com/cfpdlab/csphoto.html on April 16,2009. FBI Academy .Crime Scene Photography Requirements of Criminal Investigative Analysis. Behavioral Science Investigative Support Unit. Quantico, Virginia . Retrieved from http://www.geocities.com /cfpdlab /csphoto.html on April 2,2009. Schiro George (n.d.).Examination and Documentation of the Crime Scene Retrieved from http://www.crime -scene-investigator.net/evidenc2. on April 10,2009. U.S. Department of Justice.Crime Scene Investigation: Research Report.2000. http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/fsc/backissu/april2000/twgcsi.pdf U.S. Department of Justice .Crime Scene Investigation: A Reference for Law Enforcement Training.(2004) Retrieved from http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/nij/200160.pdf Wark,Jake (2008 ).The Zodiac Killer.trutv.com Retrieved from http://www.trutv.com/l ibrary/crime/ serial_killers/notorious/zodiac/2.html on on April 12, 2009 Read More