Authors: Alberto Albacete Cañamero Cristina Alvarado Carreño and
During the investigation police technical , photography is more than just a reference document, it becomes an efficient method of preservation of evidence and visual archive, where you can find vestiges to which-in first-site inspection were not given enough importance. One way to keep in an objective details that the visual memory of man, over time, distorted by the influence or build psicoambiental. Introduction
The first definition of the English Royal Academy, in his dictionary [1] tells us that photography is the art of setting and play through chemical reactions on surfaces properly prepared, the images collected at the bottom of a dark and defines us as a figure image, representation, likeness and appearance of a thing. The image obtained, photography, film preservation allows for the indefinite object or person that has captured the interest of the photographer, either with a specific purpose or accidental. documentary "From our position applied to police-technical research capacities and historical testimony is extremely important, is what gives the image sets its unequivocal reference function memory, the preservation of a scene to a standard objectively as possible. As Roman says Gubern "prestige documentary photography, and magical dimension, resulting from the extreme fidelity to the object photographed, lies in its essential realism" [2] .
Documentary photography is defined as photography created with the intention to document all types of entities, actions or proceedings. Since the submission of the photograph or still image first practice of abiding in 1839, with this new invention sought recovery of past moments [3] and fits therefore well with the use of still image within police investigations.
Photography provides, from its origin, reliable documents [4] . The desire to reproduce reality, you can display or retrieve the last moment, with a document illustrating facts, especially historical.
The use of photography as a document was normal since its invention [5]. The first applications beyond the travel or social life, will be to get to determine the scientific nature of the photograph, entering the laboratory, studies, astronomy, hospitals, media ... all kinds of institutions that seek to demonstrate, justify or illustrate any fact.
The photographic image plays an important role in the transmission, preservation and display of political, social, scientific or cultural aspects of humanity within the context that we study, application of research techniques, which is intended to show original representation selection of reality that communicates an image or information of a specific event, leaving the picture without its other: that of the receiver's interpretation, in this particular application, has no place.
photography applied to research .- Background
The initial application of photographic techniques to police technical research emerges a few years after its birth in the nineteenth century, as almost all major discoveries in History of Humanity, a chance.
produced in 1871 an uprising in the city of Paris, called socialist by some authors Anarchist by others. One of the most significant symbols of the previous regime Vendôme Column, is overthrown by the revolutionaries who, as we see in the image [6], posing proudly with the emperor on the floor.
An uprising that lasted just two months and ended with a major crackdown and the execution of precursors or suspected of involvement. The authorities used the many photographs taken during this short period to identify the participants, leading to a massive shot thousands of villagers. Doing with them what they had done in their uprising, portraying his victory.
Taking as a starting point of the first use of the image inside the technical investigation police, we can deepen their use later in other disciplines such as criminology.
police Technical Inspection .- The importance of image
We can not begin to talk about the technical inspection without reference to police as part of the discipline known as forensic science, aimed at determining the existence of a criminal act, the collection of evidence and evidence and the identification of perpetrators through the application of methods laboratory scientists, as well as preparing expert reports concerned (which, we must include photo).
having different definitions contained the so-called visual inspection (technical-police), we can say [7] is "a set of specialized police officers actions performed in the scene, applying scientific and technical methods (where the picture clearly plays a role), collecting all the evidence and evidence to the clarification and / or reconstruction of what happened, identify the author or authors and demonstration of his guilt, or in case of his innocence. "
In every human activity there is a scenario where all kind of events, both social, political, family and, of course, criminal. Each of these acts is signed by the persons involved and do not talk about graphics but every detail that frames its creator.
The development of this visual inspection, to be precise, thorough, prompt and objective must follow a methodology.
visual inspection methodology
Previous actions:
- Review the content and operation of equipment.
- Get it before possible to the scene.
- previously informed of what happened.
Protection:
- From the place.
- from the evidence and clues.
Note:
- general and detailed observation.
- search and inspection of the person or thing.
- searching for evidence and clues.
Fixation:
- Written description, Proceedings of the inspection.
- Photo: general. detailed partial-to-video if possible.
- planimetry.
collection, packing and forwarding:
- remains, weapons, papers and all those effects could constitute evidence or proof.
Other issues:
- theoretical reconstruction of the event and possible scenarios.
Of all the steps, which focus our attention on fixing the scene, consists of a written description and, in turn, will be held simultaneously making photographs, general assemblies, partial (relating different elements to each other) and detail (victim, wounds, weapons, documents, collection and discovery of evidence, evidence or traces). Be made from different positions, with and without the presence of witnesses metric.
details that may go unnoticed to the human eye will be recorded by photography. These must be objective, no retouching of any kind or lighting or compositional effects, should be a reflection of reality. All the images will be before you start sampling.
police photo features
The witness of a fact, to make the first statements on what he witnessed, even if you have a strong desire to be truthful in his testimony, is not as precise as desirable. The reasons are varied: some powers of observation, nervousness, lack of personality, unconscious rebellion against the event occurring, etc.., in short, the individual in his statement expresses subjective burden.
suffice to illustrate this statement refer to several individuals at a test in which they are asked to describe a photo after having observed carefully. See that each of them speak of the objects or things that have caught your attention and usually will not match these aspects between the statements of different people even agree on the basics.
We also consider that after a while the first statement, if we require that you re-explain the same description happen that the memory, suggestion, the association of ideas and the environmental pressure and the media will make the memory of the facts is poorer still, even to make statements different from or contradictory to the first, but the dynamic conception of the facts is very interested in the investigation of a crime and therefore the statements of witnesses are very important.
objects and people can not remain indefinitely in the scene, so after the ocular inspection will be removed to clean the place, will the removal of the corpse in his case or at least will change the site in some way, if you later observe research gaps would be difficult to ignore.
sometimes be necessary that the same image is to be observed by many people who are far apart. In this case, unreliable, send a detailed description because it can be interpreted in many ways, however, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.
All these problems are solved with the photograph and, moreover, provide other advantages. Advantages
photography
A) Fidelity of testimony: the photograph shows the scene as it appears before the camera devoid of any subjectivity. This concept must be interpreted with caution because the photographer can lead us astray if you choose certain frames and not others.
B) Testimony instantaneous and permanent in the frame reflects the reality of the moment is made and, moreover, may turn to it at any time without having been changed.
C) Reproducibility: the negative can be used to make positive prints that are necessary at any time.
D) allows and facilitates research: the photographic copy to study the scene in the quiet of the office for further investigation so that we can see details that we initially went unnoticed.
E) Reconstruction of events: starting from the photograph, we can reconstruct the scene by placing each object in the right place. In this case, will help the report, ocular inspection report and made sketches.
F) makes possible the comparison: in the case of large or extremely small objects, or places or objects far apart, the aid of photography is very important.
G) facilitates the identification of people: a portrait of affiliation and photographs of people allow the search and identification of both offenders as missing and dead.
H) Provides: to put into circulation the number of copies you require, you get the rapid dissemination of information.
I) facilitates the test: the picture can show the remains and objects that underpin the researcher to reach conclusions in its report.
Photography is simply a means of recording the facts [8] . As such it is a very useful tool in the investigation [9] because:
- In many cases, describes the facts better than words;
- Test statements and
- Add things may have been inadvertently omitted.
Photos are a complement but not replace written reports on how the scene is, measurements and, especially, close observation. As a general rule, as soon as they arrive on the scene, begin to photograph everything in the state where you are, the longer the delay the researcher, the more things change, and the less likely they are an accurate representation of the facts. Often, you can split the taking of photographs. First you can photograph things may change, as may be fingerprints and plain missiles, and other small objects that may be inadvertently destroyed.
Some photographs are sometimes unnecessary, but this does not always know when to do them, so better to take more pictures than necessary, even when not needed after "them and not need them later . But there is a limit to the amount of time and film that you should invest the time to make a photographic report, therefore, have been taking pictures for a specific purpose, seeking always a reason when making them. At one time it said that photography serves a testimonial, as However, this testimony is that you must get when they intended to convey what it was and how he was, in a particular place of interest to the police.
doing visual inspection always run the risk of leaking any details or do not appreciate at first hard evidence that eventually do come to have it.
is essential to avoid misinterpretation, making the first photographs before moving objects in the scene of the incident and to this end, it mentalizing Forces and State Security in charge of reach first to place the scene of action, which its main function is to check the status of the / s victim / s and proceed immediately cordoned off the area and prevent anyone from modifying the scene, until he qualified personnel. Will appear also in many cases the Judicial Authority and the Medical Examiner or both, in which case the charge of making photographic pictures made by them requested, without this being deprived of initiative to make it deems appropriate. For a complete job more must be done strictly necessary photographs from different angles, doubling the most important at different exposures, etc., It is ultimately to ensure satisfactory results since in most cases the decisions will be difficult to remedy, for the scene at the time of our departure will change. When it comes to violent crimes, must take pictures of the corpse on the Forensic Anatomical Institute or the morgue and in many cases it may be interesting to take photographs during the autopsy.
Each case requires a different way of working, in addition to general rules that can serve as guidelines for the various circumstances that may arise. Not apply the same methodology, plan and sequence in the shooting in a crowded traffic in an intervention other violent.
[1] www.rae.es
[2] Gubern, R., The look opulent, Madrid: Gustavo Gili, 1987.
[3] Sanchez Vigil, JM The Universe of Photography, pp. 19. Madrid: Espasa Calpe, 1999.
[4] Op cit., P. 19.
[5] Op cit., P. 23.
[6] es.wikipedia.org
[7] http://ellaboratoriodegwen.blogspot.com/2008/08/inspeccin-tcnico-ocular-de-campo-en-la.html
[8] Section 327 LECr "When it was convenient for clarification or verification of the facts, will rise sufficiently detailed site plan, or make a portrait of people who had been the subject of crime, or the copy or design effects or instruments of the same that had been found. "
[9] With reference to the means of investigation, the Constitutional Tribunal has ruled that while it is true that valid evidence to rebut the presumption of innocence, are, in principle, used in the trial and pre-constituted of impossible or very difficult to reproduce, it can not be understood in a sense so radical that leads to denying any probative value to the summary proceedings carried out with the formalities that the Constitution and the judicial system, provided that they can be seen in the act of sight conditions for the defense of the accused subjected to a contradiction (Case 137/1988 of 7 July, 25/1988 of 23 February, and 36/1995, of 6 February)
Alberto Carreño
Local police chief. Criminologist
alberto.albacete @ telefonica.net Cañamero
Cristina Alvarado
Professor of Theory of the Image (UCJC). Historian
criscanamero@gmail.com
