Digital Photography for Crime Scene Investigations

Digital Photography for Crime Scene Investigations

This course is designed to take the audience from the traditional historical methods of Crime Scene Photography to the present day technological advancements in multiple aspects of photography relating to Law Enforcement.

Training Goals and Objectives

The goal of the training program is to educate the crime scene investigator, homicide detective, sworn law enforcement officer, rape detective, arson investigators, domestic violence investigator, and other law enforcement agency personnel in the aspects of digital photography.

The course will be focused on providing information and techniques to guide law enforcement agencies into the updated technological capabilities of digital photography and provide the skills needed to apply this technology in the crime scene investigation field and/or related areas.

Training Audience, Format, and Content

This course is intended for various levels of experienced crime scene investigators, homicide detectives, sworn law enforcement officers, rape detectives, arson investigators, domestic violence investigators and other law enforcement agency personnel with a basic knowledge of photography. The intent of the trainer is to provide information on the tools and equipment used in digital photography. Introduce the student to the techniques used in the field and adapt the skills to successfully incorporate these techniques in their investigations.

This course is most successful when taught and received by audiences of 20 officers or fewer, but has been given in groups of 50 or more with successful reviews. A smaller group provides for a more direct experience with the trainer and individual practical experience with the equipment. This course is designed to be conducted during daylight and nighttime hours.

Daily content and course schedule/agenda:

Day One:
             Digital vs. Traditional 35mm
                    - Tracking & Archiving
                    - Turn around on case work
                    - Desktop printers for output verses 35mm chemical processing
                    - “Department Overhead” – How to Keep my Costs in Check
            Digital Features, Definitions and Needed Hardware
                    - CCD Charge Coupler Device / ISO / White Balance
                    - Enhance, Manipulate, & Alter
                    - Introduction to Digital Software
            Digital Forensic Photography in the Legal System
                    - Legal Acceptability
                    - Landmark Case Reviews and Legal Opinion
                    - Digital Court Preparation
                    - Legal Aspects in “Enhancement” Tracking
            Model Standard Operating Procedures for a Crime Scene Unit
                    - First Responder Responsibilities and Scene Security
                    - “From Homicide to Housebreaking” – Procedures and Images Required
                    - Digital Downloading of Images
                    - Photo Lab Preparations
                    - Daily Lab Duties – “Tracking, Archiving, and Print Requests
Day Two: (hours may adjust to compensate for night time photography conditions)

            Digital Settings & Menus [Practical Application]
                    - Digital Nomenclature
                    - Shutter speeds (Camera Body)
                    - Lens Aperture
                    - Flash
                    - Menu Options – Shooting Opinions for Various Scenes
            Photography of Crime Scene Particulars [Practical Application]
                    - “Let’s Tell the Story” – Techniques in Photographing a Crime Scene
                    - Methods in Scene Overall’s, Mid Range and Close-ups
                    - Use of Reference Points
                    - When to Use Reference Markers

Day Three:
            More Photography of Crime Scene Particulars [Practical Application]
                    - Digital Imagery
                    - Fingers Prints on Smooth & Textured Surfaces
                    - Shoe Impressions
                    - Tire Treads
            Introduction to Advance Digital Photography Tech & Software Application [Practical Application]
                    - Capturing Chemical Processing on scene
                    - 1:1 Imaging for Latent and Comparison Cases
                    - Diagrams and Court Room Presentation
                    - Digital Processing Software [Photoshop, More Hits, Data Works]

A Basic photography understanding is helpful.

Evaluation

The evaluation process will consist of class participation, active involvement in case reviews and participation in visual recognition exam.

Student Materials Required:

Students must bring Digital Camera, minimum of 3.2 mega pixel, with Flash, USB cables, Driver CD; Optional: Laptop computer with photo enhancement programs [Photoshop / Digital Cop / More Hits / Dataworks, etc; download pictures from practical experiments]

Limitations / Special Needs:

Any audio/visual or POSTC/Academy facility or staff needs will be addressed on a case-by-case basis, but might include the use of an electronic projection unit, audio or marker board materials.

This training course is POST/POSTC/TCLEOS approved and met certification requirements from: Pennsylvania State Police, North Carolina, Minnesota, Delaware, Minnesota, Texas, Massachusetts, Virginia, Louisiana, Colorado, and New Hampshire

Student Materials

Student materials will involve copies of the [48-page] manual “Digital Photography for Crime Scene Investigations” PowerPoint presentations and digital enhancement software will be used in this training course; Charlotte Camera of North Carolina will provide additional camera equipment for practical exercises.

Please anticipate an EXTENSIVE amount of Practical Application learning on Classroom DAY Two and Three.

Evaluations of Past Courses

Evaluations of past presentations are available upon request.