Crime Scene Photography Essay

499 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Use of technology in crime investigation

Crime Scene Photography: Then & Now
Crime scene photography has become a very vital element when collecting evidence at the scene of a crime. The use of a photo however, did not start at the crime scene itself but rather, photos were used to capture mugshots and images for firearm identification. It was not until the 1870’s that courts began using photographic evidence. “In 1874, the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court in the case of Udderzork v Commonwealth, 76 Pa. 340 (1874) affirmed judicial notice of the use of photographs as an established means of reproducing a correct likeness of a person” (Robinson, 2010). One of the earliest units specified for photograph examiners can be dated back to 1942, when the FBI decided to add a special unit. …show more content…

“Spherical photography is a photographic technique that combines multiple images from a single position to present a composite image with up to a 360º by 180º field of view” (Tung, et al., 2015). This kind of technology, present in New Zealand, has enabled crime scene investigators to be able to capture the entire scene and provide an up-close “walk-though” of the area. The use of spherical photography has also enhanced the credibility of expert witnesses called to testify in court. “Between February 2011 and July 2013, six IEPs were used to support oral testimony delivered by forensic experts” (Tung, et al., 2015). The article went on to say that the use of spherical photography has also supported police witnesses such as, “first responders and officers in charge of the scene” (Tung, et al., 2015). These advances in crime scene photography continue to clarify the credibility of not only the crime scene investigator, but also the photograph. Christian ethics stand firmly to the foundation of credibility, as a crime scene investigator needs to maintain the credibility of their work. With the growth of technology comes the ability to very easily falsify evidence in photographs. Crime scene investigators need to keep the Christian moral of honesty and always present authentic

Show More
Related

  • Bones: The Real World Of Forensic Science

    720 Words  | 2 Pages

    The photographic logs details who took the photos of the scene, which light was used to take these pictures these pictures will later be used to construct a diagram. Finally, the evidence recovery log which lists what piece of evidence was recovered such as bone fragments, articles of clothing, or bullets from the crime scene (Swanson, et al., 2012) In this series, Dr. Brenan can be seen accompanying FBI agent Seeley Booth to interrogate both witnesses and possible suspects. Further, in the series, Dr. Brenan can be seen in possession of a weapon and join the hunt for the criminal. In reality, the forensic investigator is needed in the scene of the crime in order to collect evidence. This type of portrayal from the media is leading the public to believe that both the agent and the investigator or attorney will engage in the “exciting adventures” when the reality is it is just the way the media portrays these types of scenarios (Surette, 2015). The way the series portrays forensic science differs from the real world even though the author of the series is a forensic anthropologist

    Read More

  • Evidence Analysis: Homicide Scene Analysis

    1197 Words  | 3 Pages

    The following paper explores a homicide scene at a convenience store / gas station at 3 a.m. The material of the investigation is represented with a number of visible evidence, the dead body with an apparent gunshot wound in the chest and the testimony of the first officer at the scene. The paper is divided into four parts, including the general overview (introduction), latent impression processing, people’s involvement investigation procedure and evidence package for the further fingerprint analysis. The crime scene investigation protocol used in this paper includes interview, examination, photographing, sketching and processing itself (Castleman, 2000: 23). Observing the homicide scene we omit the analysis of the preliminary procedures as security of the scene, integrity precautions, photographing and sketching.

    Read More

  • Forensic Science Technicians

    942 Words  | 2 Pages

    Brief history of Forensic, it surfaced in the state of San Francisco in the 1850’s systematic photography was being used to obtain criminal identification. Later on in the 1920’s “Los Angeles Police Department established the first police department crime laboratory in the United States (Forensic science timeline (n.d). Forensic continued to progress over the years to became one of the most innovating fields in the criminal justice system. Forensic help in the prosecution of many cases as well as exclusion of the wrongfully accused (Forensic science timeline (n.d). Forensic tech work primarily for local governments and state in police departments, coroner offices, and crime laboratories. This field is a combination of lab and field work the best of both worlds (Career guide for forensic science technician (n.d). This is what makes Forensic Science Technician the field of interest; the customary duties of a forensic science technician consist of gathering evidence, investigation of evidence collected, and reporting their discoveries in writing and may also be called into a court of law (criminal or civil laws) to present their finding before a judge (Career guide for forensic science technician (n.d).. There are several different areas of expertise in the field of a forensic technicians are often responsible or specialize in particular types of evidence such as biochemistry, ballistics, fingerprinting, and handwriting analysis. It has been said that forensic science technicians are mostly call upon to assist in two places on crime scenes and in crime labs (Dillon .H, 1999). Crime scenes contains that valuable evident that must be careful collected and preserved to help with the reconstruction of crimes by theorizing the events ...

    Read More

  • Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

    1582 Words  | 4 Pages

    Houck, M. M., Crispino, F., & McAdam, T. (2012). The science of crime scenes. (pp. 323-329).

    Read More

  • A Career in Criminal Invesigation

    1164 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators” United States. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Northeast Washington: 1978. Web. 9 Feb 2012 http://www.bls.gov/ooh/

    Read More

  • Forensic Psychology Essay

    569 Words  | 2 Pages

    Forensic psychology is such a complex sub-discipline of psychology, and this complexity makes it difficult to define. The simplest way to define forensic psychology would have to be: sub-di...

    Read More

  • Forensic Evidence Essay

    1251 Words  | 3 Pages

    In order to understand how to compile evidence for criminal cases, we must understand the most effective types of evidence. This topic is interesting because there are ample amounts of cases where defendants have gotten off because of the lack of forensic evidence. If we believe forensic evidence is so important and it affects our decisions, then maybe we need to be educated on the reality of forensic evidence. If we can be educated, then we may have a more successful justice system. If we have a more successful justice system than the public could gain more confidence that justice will be served. In order to do this, we must find what type of evidence is most effective, this can be done by examining different types of evidence.

    Read More

  • Crime Scene Investigator Research Paper

    977 Words  | 2 Pages

    In today’s time, modern Crime Scene Investigation has increased rapidly. From throughout the late 1900’s and in the early 2000’s (Taylor 1). For all of the evidence that they find, a solid foundation has formed over the thousands of years of Crime Scene

    Read More

  • Forensic Science: Stopping the Crime

    1600 Words  | 4 Pages

    Forensic Science, recognized as Forensics, is the solicitation of science to law to understand evidences for crime investigation. Forensic scientists are investigators that collect evidences at the crime scene and analyse it uses technology to reveal scientific evidence in a range of fields. Physical evidence are included things that can be seen, whether with the naked eye or through the use of magnification or other analytical tools. Some of this evidence is categorized as impression evidence2.In this report I’ll determine the areas of forensic science that are relevant to particular investigation and setting out in what method the forensic science procedures I have recognized that would be useful for the particular crime scene.

    Read More

  • Forensic Evidence Essay

    1204 Words  | 3 Pages

    Forensic evidence can provide just outcomes in criminal matters. However, it is not yet an exact science as it can be flawed. It can be misrepresented through the reliability of the evidence, through nonstandard guidelines, and through public perception. Forensic science can be dangerously faulty without focus on the ‘science’ aspect. It can at times be just matching patterns based on an individual’s interpretations. This can lead to a miscarriage of justice and forever alter a person’s life due to a perceived “grey area” (Merritt C, 2010) resulting in a loss of confidence in the reliability of forensic evidence.

    Read More

  • Forensic Science History Essay

    836 Words  | 2 Pages

    Forensic science has now been recognized as an important part of the law enforcement team to help solve crimes and cold cases. The advances in technology are being used each day and we must continue to strive to develop better advances in this field. The recent discovery of using DNA in criminal cases has helped not only positively identify the suspect, but it has helped exonerate hundreds of innocent individuals. “With new advances in police technology and computer science, crime scene investigation and forensic science will only become more precise as we head into the future.” (Roufa, 2017) Forensic science and evidence helps law enforcement officials solve crimes through the collection, preservation and analysis of evidence. By having a mobile crime laboratory, the scene gets processed quicker and more efficiently. Forensic science will only grow in the future to be a benefit for the criminal justice

    Read More

  • Processing a Crime Scene

    1194 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ditional visits to the crime scene could cause a compromise if entered into evidence at trial.

    Read More

  • Scientific Method Essay

    916 Words  | 2 Pages

    methods when examining crimes scenes or looking at evidences in labs then many cases would be lost in

    Read More

  • CSI Class Reflection

    581 Words  | 2 Pages

    Each of these photographs is so important in a court of law. Each photo tells a part of the story. Gathering evidence takes time and education. While a weapon may be an obvious piece of evidence, there are other pieces that are not so obvious. The pollen on a victim, the soil, plants, water, bugs and insects at the scene could all play a part in helping the investigator determine what took place.

    Read More

  • Pickwick Papers

    1270 Words  | 3 Pages

    Dickens’ first novel, originally titled The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, began as a concept first brought forth in the early part of the year 1836. It was at this time when Robert Seymour, an etcher and caricaturist of the day, approached publishers Chapman and Hall with his idea for a series of humorous sketches depicting the mannerisms and way of life of “Cockney amateurs on holiday in the field.” Seymour had already made a success of sketches that depicted similar subject matter, namely that of Cockney sports, and the follies of members of the fictional “Nimrod Club.” The publishers agreed to fund the project, under the condition that the sketches be accompanied by some literary commentary. Upon agreement, the publishers set out to find a writer and were turned down several times before they approached Charles Dickens, then a young journalist who had recently published a collection of his own called Sketches by Boz. His role, they informed him, would be to provide a text that was secondary and arising only from the sketches.

    Read More

More about Crime Scene Photography Essay

Open Document