Forensic Photography

For ensic nsic Pho Phott ogra gr aphy By: Jasmine, Jess Leah, eah, Luis uis an and Nat alie alie

Hist ory of Forensic Phot ography • A lphonse Bert illon- fat her of forensic photography • Creat ed system called “Bert illonage”  – First part was t o make measurement s of cert ain body sect ions  – Next st ep was t o mark general physical descript ions of t he criminal  – Third, was the mug shot

Hist ory of Forensic Phot ography (Cont .)

Hist ory of Forensic Phot ography (Cont .)

Hist ory of Forensic Phot ography (Cont .)

From the mug shots, he was able to create charts with pictures of different characteristics of the face

Hist ory of Forensic Phot ography (Cont .)

Hist ory of Forensic Phot ography (Cont .) • Bert illon's syst em provided easy access to someone’s previous criminal activity • The use of disguises, false names and alibis became ineffect ive • This syst em was first used in France and UK unt il t he 1950s • Had a st at ist ical accuracy of 1 in 4 million

Types of Crime Scenes Burglaries • First set of phot ographs • Views of outside the building and surrounding area • Second set includes point of ent ry and exit • This includes any impressions that have been made result ing from t he forced ent ry • The object must be photographed next t o impression (To later identify it with the mark)

Burglaries (Cont.) • Int erior phot os • Condit ion of rooms • Anyt hing left at t he scene • Trace evidence, fingerprint s, and impressions • Areas where valuables were removed

Homicides • First set of phot os • Room body was discovered and t he body

• Body • Overhead, close-ups, and various angles

• Second Set • Adjacent rooms, ext erior of t he locat ion

• Third Set • Impressions (Including scales)

• Fourth Set • Signs of st ruggle and signs of act ivity

Homicides (Cont .) and Rape Cases • Last Set • Trace evidence • i.e. foot print s or blood of t he vict im or suspect

Rape Cases • Evidence of assault • Signs of st ruggle • Evidence of resist ance by t he vict im • Scene should be shot close-up and from an aerial view

Hangings • M ain purpose • Prove death was a suicide, murder or accident

• Types of shot s • Torso and feet level of vict im • Overhead • Presence of st ool or ot her object • Close-ups of t he neck and it em used

Physical Evidence • Physical evidence should capture object s t hat show • Crime has been committed • M anner in which the crime was commit t ed • Help ident ify t he offender

• First shot • From a distance (background)

• Second and Third • Close-ups wit h a large image size • one wit h a ruler in frame, one wit hout

Admissibilit y in Court • For phot ographic evidence t o be deemed by admissible in court by t he judge, t he following met hods must be used • Crime scene remained undist urbed • Phot os must be t aken of anyt hing relevant t o t he case • Computer generated photos need expert • If t here is a wit ness, pict ure of t he posit ion and angle where the witness would have seen it • Documentation

Admissibility in Court (Cont .) • Phot os can prove exist ence (If evidence is lost ) • Cannot be submit t ed in court alone • Someone t o at t est validit y of phot os

The End