Law Enforcement Photography, Research Paper Example

Introduction

This paper explores the use of law enforcement photography within the context of Criminal Justice.  There are essentially three types of photographers (i) Forensic Photographers (ii) Police Crime Scene specialist (iii) Police Laboratory technician.  The Forensic photographer in an expert in the photo sciences field. This person may be used as a consultant or for provision of subject matter advice in the medical / legal photographic field.  The Poilice Crime scene specialist has the mission of covering the crime scene by means of photographic evidence.  The Lab technician is responsible for the development of film, provision of enlargements and any copy work required. (Miller, L.S. 2011)

Use of Law Enforcement Photographers

There are four main users of law enforcement photographers, these being as follows:-

| Sheriff’s Departments – This is normally a local professional photographer who supports the Sheriff’s Department for photographing crime scenes.  They are normally on call and are paid a small fee for their services on a time and materials basis.  Law enforcement officers equally carry a camera to deal with recording minor incidents.  Digital cameras are now widely used but equally local labs are used for film development

| Medium Size Police Departments – The Detectives are trained in the use of photography for crime scenes and these departments have their own processing labs. There is no need to hire a professional because of budget constraints; however provision is often made to call in an expert photographer in cases of homicide scenes.

| Large City Police Departments – These departments often have a full infrastructure that includes their own laboratories, technicians, professional photographers and forensics experts. They have a larger budget which allows them to be better equipped. Equally they are dealing with higher incidents of crimes including homicides and other fatalities.

| State and Federal Governments – Similar to the Large City Police Departments but equally may have more subject matter experts in areas like forensics photography and crime scene specialists. (Robinson, E.M. 2007)

Three Types of Photography

| Lab Technician

These are essentially the dark room experts that deal with the development of film and the provision of film enlargements.  They also have additional responsibilities that include all copy work and the filing and recording of negatives.

| Crime Scene Specialist (CSS)

This is a trained expert who has received an array of training that covers the photography and packaging of evidence from a crime scene.  This also includes the lifting of finger prints and taking other forensic samples for the lab.  They also take the measurements on the crime scene and may photograph the bodies at the scene of the autopsies.  These are not sworn officers and they do not carry firearms.

| Forensic Photographer

This is an expert photographer that has been specifically trained.  This person deals with specialist photographic requirements like Ultraviolet and Luminol photographic techniques. He is rarely called to the crime scene unless there is a specific need for these types of services.

Learning Crime Scene Photography

In order to gain the necessary training and credentials to become a crime scene photographer it is advisable to attend a specific course.  Examples of this being that of Law Enforcement photography at the University of California and Forensic Sciences Education and Training at the University of Arkansas. There are other degree courses in Criminal Justice that include this as an integral part of their curriculum

A full service Crime Laboratory or Forensic Laboratory contains the following type of typical services; these being divided into two components i.e. Field Analysis and Laboratory Analysis. Field Analysis relates to the work of investigators that examine the crime scenes and collect forensic evidence. This usually contains a team of three people (i) Forensic Evidence Technician (ii) A crime scene investigator and (ii) A crime officer that examines the scene of the crime.  Laboratory Analysts are scientific personnel that examine the exhibits brought in from the field in order to conduct scientific tests such as blood splatter analysis, DNA tests or bullet striations etc.  (Redsicker, D.R. 2001)

Small states like that of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire are prime examples of where only one crime forensics laboratory exists.  One of the most important tests conducted in the Forensic Laboratory is that of DNA testing.  The reason this is so important is that because not only does it help in tracking the guilty party it can also set innocent parties free.  Eye Witness testimonies in the courts have been refuted by DNA analysis and released innocent people.  DNA retrieved from a crime scene is one of the most compelling forms of evidence in proving the person was at the scene of the crime.  Hair, skin and blood deposits all create a unique fingerprint in forms of identifying individuals.

Within the confines of Forensic Science, within criminal investigation scenes, the use of fingerprints provides a useful means of tracing a suspect to a crime scene and in some cases a potential murder weapon.  Although largely replaced by DNA analysis it still remains an important part of secondary analysis as each fingerprint is unique to an individual.  The science of dactylography is particularly powerful when comparisons can be made to a database containing prints of thousands of known criminals. (Morgan, E. 2012)

Improper Use

Crime Photography is covered by a police code of ethics and the law.  The photographs must represent a true depiction of the crime scene as illustrated by the law enforcement officers at the scene of the crime. No evidence can be fabricated or manipulated in order to show a false or misleading outcome.  These photographs are not normally issued to the media as they may be used as evidence in a trial proceedings within a court of law.  The photographs are normally endorsed with date and time of execution and the name of the photographer.  Special notes may also be taken where specific forensic evidence is being collected like DNA samples, blood spatter or fingerprints.

Fingerprinting is an important scientific method in the forensic scientist’s toolbox.  The improvement of computer technology has enabled a wide ranging database to be maintained of those with previous convictions.  This assists in both narrowing the search for suspects and equally can eliminate suspects from suspicion.  The Forensic Scientists however have many other analysis techniques at their disposal including blood splatter, fibre analysis, hair samples, DNA testing, chemical testing, glass and soil samples, etc.  It is often a combination of forensic evidence together with the sworn testimonies from witnesses that provides conclusive evidence on a particular crime scene.  Contamination of evidence has proved an issue and police officers need to take great care in the prevention of this before the forensic team have thoroughly inspected the crime scene and removed all types of forensic evidence.

An extension of finger printing evidence has been that of palm prints and these have proven to be even more reliant. They contain much more detail than fingerprints and as such provide a more conclusive mapping.  One of the most famous cases involving the kidnapping of a 12 year old Polly Klass in 1993.  A man with a knife abducted her in Petaluma California. Torn clothing was found weeks later. The detectives managed to take a palm print from Polly’s bunk bed and this was later matched to Richard Allan Davis, who had two previous convictions of kidnapping, and he confessed to the murder and shown where the body was. He was subsequently sentenced to death for kidnap and murder.

Conclusions

Police Photography and Fingerprinting as Forensic evidence was found to be an important part in the overall presentation of evidence but does not always stand alone because of human frailties and unreliability in the system.  The subsequent incorporation of DNA testing has considerably strengthened the packaging of forensic evidence.  One of the most important tests conducted in the Forensic Laboratory is that of DNA testing.  The reason this is so important is that because not only does it help in tracking the guilty party it can also set innocent parties free.  Eye Witness testimonies in the courts have been refuted by DNA analysis and released innocent people.  DNA retrieved from a crime scene is one of the most compelling forms of evidence in proving the person was at the scene of the crime.  Hair, skin and blood deposits all create a unique fingerprint in forms of identifying individuals.

References

Larry S. Miller, R. T. (2011). Police Photography. Burlington MA: Elsevier.

Morgan, E. (2012, 8 8). Fingerprinting in Forensic Science. Retrieved from Ezine: http://ezinearticles.com/?Fingerprinting-in-Forensic-Science&id=410615

Redsicker, D. R. (2001). The Practical Methodology of Forensic Photography, Second Edition. Washington DC: CRC Press.

Robinson, E. M. (2007). Crime Scene Photography. Burlington MA: Elsevier.