SKETCHES AND INVESTIGATIVE NOTES

Properly prepared sketches and notes are useful to you as reference when questioning witnesses, suspects, and victims; in preparing a report of investigation; and to refresh your memory when appearing in court.

They are also valuable sources of information for both trial and defense counsel. Sketches are frequently introduced in court as evidence and used to acquaint the court with crime scenes and help witnesses orient themselves as they testify. Sketches and notes made during an investigation become the property of the Department of the Navy and are not retained or used as personal property.

Notes or sketches used to refresh your memory during a court appearance maybe reviewed by the court. Appropriate attention is given to ensure that all notes and sketches are legible and project clear, meaningful facts. Lack of organization in notes or sketches could adversely influence the weight given to your testimony by a court.

Sketches

A sketch graphically portrays the scene of a crime and items within the crime scene that are of interest to the investigation. The sketch, crime scene photographs, and investigative notes are complementary and are all necessary to effectively process the crime scene.

The sketch provides the best means of portraying distances between objects at the scene. There are two basic kinds of sketches, the rough sketch (see fig. 16-16) and the finished sketch (scaled drawing) (see fig. 16- 17). Both types of sketches contain the same general information, but differ according to the technique of presenting the information.

Outline sketches, which generally indicate the dimensions and shape of crime scenes and which are used as interview aids, will not be discussed.

To cover items of interest to the investigation, crime scene sketches should, as a minimum, depict the following:

1. Locations of approaches, such as roadways, paths, entrances, exits, windows, and skylights

2. Size of the area or building

3. Exact locations and relative ^{positions of all} pertinent evidence found at the scene

4. Camera locations

In depicting the foregoing, the sketch should do the following:

1. Reflect accurate measurements verified by another person.

2. Indicate compass direction of north.

3. Designate the scale (for scaled drawings only). If no scale is used, state this fact.

4. Use a conventional system of measurement (English or metric system). Paces or steps are not used.

5. Contain a legend that explains all symbols or letters used to identify objects on the sketch. Military symbols are used where practical.

List the report or incident number (if available), offense alleged, name of victim, designation of scene (such as hangar, building, or barracks), location of the scene, date and hour the sketch was started and the name of the persons who made and verified the sketch.

ROUGH SKETCH.- The rough sketch is drawn at the scene of the crime and is not changed after leaving the scene. It is not usually drawn to scale but depicts accurate distances, dimensions, and proportions through use of one of the methods discussed below. The rough sketch is filed with the copy of the report retained by the originating office.

More than one sketch can be made of a particular scene. One may reflect measurements; another may show camera positions; and a third maybe required to show locations of items of physical evidence at the scene. In some instances, separate sketches maybe the best way to record multiple scenes contained within a larger area of investigative interest, or to provide detailed depictions of isolated locations within a relatively small crime scene. It may be necessary, for example, to sketch separate, limited areas within the scene.

The following are items necessary to prepare a rough sketch: ^. . -..

Figure 16-16.-Rough sketch showing evidence ^{measurement and triangulation.}

. Soft lead pencil

. Unlined or graph paper

l Clipboard large enough to form a back for the paper

l Steel tape (at least 100 feet long)

. Ruler

l Compass

FINISHED SKETCH.- When possible, the finished sketch is drawn to scale from information on the rough sketch. When drawn to scale, the sketch need not include figures to show distances. If it is not drawn to scale, this fact should be indicated on the sketch and distances should be shown as on a rough sketch. A copy of the finished sketch is appended to each copy of the report of investigation.

The investigator need not prepare the finished sketch, but must verify its accuracy. It is recommended that the finished sketch be prepared by personnel skilled in such work. The public works officer of the command may be able to provide a qualified person for this task

Figure16-17.-Finished sketch.

The name of the person who prepared the sketch is indicated in the report and on the sketch.

If the finished sketch is prepared by personnel of the investigative unit, the following materials are considered necessary: l Drawing board or table l Draftsman's T-square . Pencil and ink drawing compass l Ink ruling pen . Lettering and drawing pens

16-51 . Black india ink l Drawing and tracing paper . Architect scale l Art gum and ink erasers . Engineer or architect triangles l Drawing pencil . French curve

A projection drawing may be used as the scaled drawing. The projection drawing adds another dimension and in some cases is necessary to effectively portray the scene. Figure 16-18 is a sample of a projection drawing.

All measurements to a point on a movable object are made from at least two immovable reference points:

Indoor areas. The triangulation method is used for all indoor sketches. In this method, objects are located and depicted by creating a triangle of measurements from two or more fixed points to a single identifiable part of the object to be fixed Ideally, each object is fixed by two separate triangles related to two different points on the same object. If movable items are to be used as fixed reference points, they must first be fixed themselves.

Outdoor areas. Outdoor areas are considered in two categories-inhabited and uninhabited or remote.

The reason for this separate consideration is that inhabited areas normally have easily defined fixed reference points (such as barracks, telephone poles), and the triangulation method can be used for establishing the location of other objects. Uninhabited or remote areas may not have easily defined fixed points within reasonable proximity and objects will have to be located through use of the intersection/resection method taught in map reading.