ABSTRACT
Not every legal investigator provides the service of evidence photography or is involved in using forensic photography during the course of the investigative process. Likewise, he or she may not review scene photographs during the course of the investigative process. However, from time to time during the course of his or her investigative career, the legal investigator will have cause to take scene photographs, assist with scene photography, or review scene photographs. For these reasons, it is of great benet for the legal investigator to both understand the process and have the knowledge of what the forensic photography protocol is. In this chapter, as throughout this book, evidence photographer and forensic photographer, as well as photograph(s) and image(s) are used interchangeably. First, what is a crime scene photo? Brent Turvey described this best:
‚is chapter will provide information for developing, learning, and utilizing an agency policy, using equipment at scene investigations, the duties of the forensic photographer, basic forensic photography procedures, and legal requirements concerning evidence and testimony. Each of these items is important to both implement when utilizing forensic photography and to understand when reviewing forensic photography. Implementing these procedures will:
• Make the legal investigator a better forensic photographer • Make his or her photographic evidence better and admissible • Provide a clear understanding of the scene as the legal investigator has docu-
mented it • Show how photography techniques will make the images an integral component of
the investigative process and a€ect what is seen
Understanding the process will:
• Provide the legal investigator with better tools for analyzing the photographs and subject matter
• Assist the legal investigator with determining if the photographs to be used as evidence are of su‹cient quality and protocol compliant
• Again, provide a clear understanding of the scene as it was documented • Help the legal investigator determine if the photographs are an accurate depiction
of the scene, and therefore an integral component of the investigative process
Whether the legal investigator integrates forensic photography into his or her own investigative processes, he or she will nd that law enforcement, insurance adjustors, witnesses, and other legal investigators all use photography in the scene investigation process. Knowing the skills, procedures, and protocols will provide both a learning experience to enhance his or her own techniques and, more importantly, the ability to review and assess the photographs with accompanying reports and records, interviews, research, and scene investigations.
