NCJ Number
208913
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 32 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2005 Pages: 8,10,12,14-16,18,19
Date Published
February 2005
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Based on interviews with forensic audio-visual specialists, this article explains the value of a crime-scene video in evidence analysis and in presenting visual evidence to a jury, followed by guidelines for videoing crime scenes.
Abstract
Although crime scene videos and still photos should both be made of crime scenes, video has some unique advantages over photos; for example, by "panning" the scene with a video camera, the juxtaposition and/or distance of one piece of evidence in relation to another piece can be shown. Video helps investigators to review the evidence at the crime scene after the initial site visits and becomes part of the record of the crime scene after changes have occurred at the scene. Further, prosecutors, who typically do not go to a crime scene, find a video helpful in assessing and preparing a case. Juries also find crime-scene videos helpful in visualizing the crime scene as first observed by investigators. Some guidelines for making crime-scene videos are to shoot the entirety of the crime scene in order to have a complete and accurate visual record of the conditions of and items present at the crime scene; use lighting when necessary to make a clear video, since it is not necessary to duplicate natural lighting conditions at the scene when the video is made; and resist making video choices designed to manipulate the emotions of the viewer, such as lingering unnecessarily long on the condition of the victim. Other recommendations are to disable the audio when shooting the crime scene so as to eliminate any background noise. The video should in most cases be silent; there should be no narrative in order to avoid inaccurate or manipulative statements by investigators at the time the video is made.