Crime Scene Photography

[C.S.I.]

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone here is a crime scene photographer, or knows someone who is. What Im looking for is what, if any SOP (standard operation proceedure) is used regarding your digital cameras. Ive sifted through this forum, as well as endless Google searches regarding reference to crime scene digital, and its practically non-existant.
Recently Ive been advised that after a shooting a scene, it is best to directly burn a CD directly from the CF, without opening the images first on a computer. Ive been advised that there is also a cheap CD burner with CF slots in it, so that you may burn the CDs in your car, independent of a computer. The person(s) that referred me to this burner could not think of its brand name, and I am also having a heck of a time finding that as well.....Ive come across things such as the Epson P2000, but I dont think that was what they were referring to. The reason for all of this is so that a defense attorney has little or no grounds to dispute the images taken, that they were not processed in a program prior to being saved, manipulated, etc. I am aware of the data verification system that Canon manufactures- however, even though there is no price to protect the credibility of evidence IMHO, Id be hard pressed to get my boss to sign off on the $800+ for same.

If anyone has any info or links, it would be greatly appreciated.

Bill

[RockOne]

Theres 2 I know Of.
Nixvue Vizor (Which I use)
Apacer Disk Steno

[Turbowolf]

You're on the right track.

As soon as you return to the station from the field, burn the files directly to a CD/DVD, and document when you did this in the report/evidence form (if used).

Months before I hung up my Chiefs badge five years ago, I wrote a SOP that directed the officer to burn the images to a disc ASAP, then log the initial CD as evidence. A second CD was burned for processing (if needed), again all documented on paper.

For what it's worth ... contact the FBI and see what standards they are now using. May take a while to get an answer, but they still teach photography to the little guys, so their standard may be the way to go ... but it's hard to believe that NYPD doesn't have some SOP to cover this. Have you tried contacting them for a copy of their SOP?

[S230]

Somehow, I had heard about this before somewhere before. But as for verification goes, I think there are currently 3 Canon models that allows authenication. The 20D, 1Ds, 1Ds MkII. This info was printed in last month's EOS catalogue. Canon also sells two version of the data verification kit. One uses a smart card, and another uses SD. This checks the integrity of the data.

"Canon DVK-E2 Data Verification Kit for Canon EOS-1D Mark II & EOS 20D Digital Camera
Mfr# 9314A001 • B&H# CADVKE2" Selling $699 at B&H.

As for transferring data, would it not be better to also leave the data on the CF card intact? Submit the CD WITH the CF Card to court. IE. CF Card A for Crime Scene A for CF card B for Crime Scene B.

Hope this info helps.

[firemanbill]

I am a fire investigator by trade. I shoot digital exclusively. We used to shoot film but moved on to digital a few years ago. All you have to be able to do in Illinois (including the Federal court) is testify that the images are a true and accurate representation of the scene. Everyone is worried about manipulation of photos digitally, but it has been possible to manipulate (fix or fudge) film in the darkroom for years.

One common image manipulation is to increase exposure or brightness in the image. In the digital file it is done usually by the scene photographer. This is to provide a true and accurate representation of what the "eye" actually saw. This has been accepted in our courts and used by attorneys on both sides of the aisle to bring forward evidence that needs to be seen in an image. Anyone that gets film and prints developed by a lab has this done automatically whether they know it or not.

Your own credibility and honesty on the stand when you testify is what matters. Maintain that and you have done your job.

[R1 Kid]

Lots of departments don't use digital. That may contribute to your lack of findings while researching. My brother-n-law is a crime scene invest. and they are not allow to use digital, but are talking about making the switch.

I really don't have much advise to give. Good luck in your search.

[reidr]

I just finished with Superior Court in which I testified to the validity of photographs that were taken by me at a crime scene. I was not asked once if the photographs were digital or film based. That is not to say that it won't happen. The validity of the photographs must be testified to in court to have them introduced as evidence. We had no standing S.O.P./G. in reference to handling digital photos. As a group we determined that it was best to take them from the card, and burn them onto a CD/DVD. There were two copies made, one copy went in the actual case file, and one went into the secured evidence room. Once the files were verified as transferred to the discs, the cards were erased and put back into service. The transfer of the photos from the camera to the CD/DVD must also be testified to as well (if asked). The CD/DVD is marked with the case number, and the number on the CD/DVD was documented in the case file. I hope this helps....

[PhotosGuy]

I think it's been well documented that RAW files can't be changed once written to the camera's card. Something to check out.

[C.S.I.]

I just finished with Superior Court in which I testified to the validity of photographs that were taken by me at a crime scene. I was not asked once if the photographs were digital or film based. That is not to say that it won't happen. The validity of the photographs must be testified to in court to have them introduced as evidence. We had no standing S.O.P./G. in reference to handling digital photos. As a group we determined that it was best to take them from the card, and burn them onto a CD/DVD. There were two copies made, one copy went in the actual case file, and one went into the secured evidence room. Once the files were verified as transferred to the discs, the cards were erased and put back into service. The transfer of the photos from the camera to the CD/DVD must also be testified to as well (if asked). The CD/DVD is marked with the case number, and the number on the CD/DVD was documented in the case file. I hope this helps....

Yeah, this is what Ive been getting from most sources (burn immediately, two discs). Thank You.

[C.S.I.]

All you have to be able to do in Illinois (including the Federal court) is testify that the images are a true and accurate representation of the scene. In the digital file it is done usually by the scene photographer. This is to provide a true and accurate representation of what the "eye" actually saw. This has been accepted in our courts and used by attorneys on both sides of the aisle to bring forward evidence that needs to be seen in an image.

Your own credibility and honesty on the stand when you testify is what matters. Maintain that and you have done your job.

Thanks for the response....Thats how I always testify...unfortunately, everyone seems to be a certified CSI / Photography / DNA expert these days with the abundance of CSI / Court TV couch potatoes....funny....took me 15 years to get the necessary training to investigate crime scenes, however everyone is a certified expert in the field by watching their favorite slueth show for 60 minutes a week :rolleyes: . We are unfortunately an extremely liberal state here in NY, so everything is dissected and examined closely under scrutiny. The officer here seems always to be suspect, that WE did something that we should be hiding or covering up. Unfortunately we need something more than "Yes, the images are as they were observed by me that day. They are an exact replica of the scene as evident to me on that day, they are true and accurate and have not been cahnged, modified or processed in any way". At this time I usually provide a pound of my flesh.

Thanks!:lol:

[PacAce]

I think it's been well documented that RAW files can't be changed once written to the camera's card. Something to check out.
But you may have a hard time convincing the defence lawyer of that when they see that the file date/time stamp doesn't match the date/time stamp in the EXIF info. This "discrepancy" can occur if you use EVU or DPP to change the parameters of the raw file just before converting it. This was something that caught me off-guard since I thought my RAW files were "untouchable".

[Kennymc]

I take personal and industrial claims photographs and for legal reasons digital is not allowed in the UK... There is however a function on the 20D C.Fn-18 and coupled with the Data Verification Kit DVK-E2 this may change in the near future...

[Vega$50]

To Echo FiremanBill....All we have to do for Court Testimony is attest that the scene was as shot and no manipulation occured...standard everyday stuff now...

[Kennymc]

I still have to write on the back of every print that the images have not been tampered with in any way whatsoever...

[Jon]

I have an Addonics (http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827184011) which burns CDs or DVDs directly from the card, and connects to the PC as a normal DVD-burner via USB 2, or to a TV for replay or watching movies.

[johnnybfan]

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone here is a crime scene photographer, or knows someone who is. What Im looking for is what, if any SOP (standard operation proceedure) is used regarding your digital cameras. Ive sifted through this forum, as well as endless Google searches regarding reference to crime scene digital, and its practically non-existant.
Recently Ive been advised that after a shooting a scene, it is best to directly burn a CD directly from the CF, without opening the images first on a computer. Ive been advised that there is also a cheap CD burner with CF slots in it, so that you may burn the CDs in your car, independent of a computer. The person(s) that referred me to this burner could not think of its brand name, and I am also having a heck of a time finding that as well.....Ive come across things such as the Epson P2000, but I dont think that was what they were referring to. The reason for all of this is so that a defense attorney has little or no grounds to dispute the images taken, that they were not processed in a program prior to being saved, manipulated, etc. I am aware of the data verification system that Canon manufactures- however, even though there is no price to protect the credibility of evidence IMHO, Id be hard pressed to get my boss to sign off on the $800+ for same.

If anyone has any info or links, it would be greatly appreciated.

Bill

One product that would allow you to burn CD's on-scene is from Roadstor. they have a CD-R burner/dvd drive. They also have the same product with a dvd burner. Both have battery packs & ac adapter/charger. I have one of the CD burners but haven't had a chance to use it yet. Maybe that would work for you.

[ShadowFlyP]

T...unfortunately, everyone seems to be a certified CSI / Photography / DNA expert these days with the abundance of CSI / Court TV couch potatoes....

I think you're on the wrong forum here. Everyone knows that real CSIs use that "other brand"... At least the ones on TV do. And TVs real, right? ;)

[C.S.I.]

I think you're on the wrong forum here. Everyone knows that real CSIs use that "other brand"... At least the ones on TV do. And TVs real, right? ;)





:lol: !

[shkspr]

this is what you are looking for
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=172687&CatId=478
there are others out there, but i took a quick peek at tiger and found this one, also check out some of the photo rags as they advertise other brands.

hope this helped shkspr

[C.S.I.]

this is what you are looking for
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=172687&CatId=478
there are others out there, but i took a quick peek at tiger and found this one, also check out some of the photo rags as they advertise other brands.

hope this helped shkspr


Thank you Shkspr....this is EXACTLY what I was looking for.....this is what I was advised to get, but forgot the name, etc....Thank you all for your help!