Crime Scene Investigator Network

Crime Scene Investigator Network Newsletter

NOVEMBER 2019
This month's newsletter is brought to you by the
University of California CSI Certificate Program


Earn a Certificate in Crime Scene Investigation


Photography of Gunshot Wounds

Patrick E. Besant-Matthews, M.D.

Just like crime scene photos there is a need for "walk-up" or introductory photographs.

Just as a photograph of a car will have less value if there isn't a view to show where it came to rest after a crash, a close-up of a gunshot wound will have less value if we don't know where on the body surface it was located.

So we must take one or more photographs to show where each wound was located, and what each of them looked like. In short, make sure that the close-ups of the various wound can be easily identified and distinguished from one another unless there is an obvious landmark in the field of view, such as an ear or an eye.

If there's only one entry wound, or just an entry and an exit, then it's relatively Simple, but if there are multiple entrance and exit wounds you will probably need to take a series of photographs, such as: (a) the front of the body (b) the back of the body (c) one or two sides if there are any wounds in these locations (d) enough closer views to show the overall characteristics of individual wounds (e) close-ups of each wound, including one with a scale of size.

If there are numerous wounds, for instance 20-30 small caliber wounds that look much alike, it may be necessary to assign each a number and identify each wound with a fine marking pen or small adhesive label.

Scales of size are important.

The reason we often have to take one with and one without a scale is that if you put one in an attorney may claim that it covered something important, and if you don't put one in he may object because it wasn't there.

You don't necessarily have to take each wound in close-up with and without a scale so long as you have at least one fairly close-up photograph to show that nothing was covered by the scale when you did use it. The possible presence of soot and gunpowder are the main reason for this, but there are others.

It's up to you to decide if you want to use a scale marked in inches or centimeters. Either will work however the problem is that the average juror does not think in centimeters, only in inches. If you don't believe me, simply testify the a wound was located 80 cm below the top of the head, and you will see blank looks. If you say it was 31 ~ inches below the top of the head they will understand.

I know of one case in which a wound of the chest was described by a pathologist as being 5.0 x 5.5 cm in dimension, and nobody noticed until trial that the shotgun slug which caused it only had a diameter of 3/4 inch.

The metric system is great, and the sooner we adopt it the better, however the fact remains that most jurors in the US do not think in terms of centimeters, kilometers, joules, milliliters and ergs.

A dab of Vaseline or thick ointment will often hold a scale in position on the body surface while a photograph is taken.

In most cases it's highly desirable to document the body surface as completely as you can.

I'm not advocating a detailed view of each ear canal and the anus to show the absence of wounds in obscure locations, but it is most desirable to fully document the surface of the body including the back and sides to show the absence of wounds, particularly in high profile cases. Suppose for instance that a teenager of one racial group is shot by a police officer of another racial group, and that the usual racial allegations and slurs arise. If the bullet came to rest under the skin of the back and was recovered by making a 3/4 inch cut in the skin, than if the body is examined for a second time and the clothing is lost, there will be claims of a wound in the back and a cover-up. In such cases having several photographs to show that there was no wound of any kind in the back is simply invaluable.

When the average bullet travels into the body it generally follows a path that is close to being a straight line or Slightly curving.

The point is that, in most cases, the direction of the bullet within the body is easily recorded by inserting a stainless steel probe (or failing this a disposable dowel rod) in the wound track and photographing the angle in all three axes, front/back, right/left and up/down. In the event a bullet enters, strikes something such as bone and then deviates, the probe should be adjusted to best show the angle at which the bullet entered. Then a note should be added that it deviated before it exited. It would be worth recording the angles at which it exited if it did anything noteworthy after leaving the body.

< read the complete article >

Article submitted by the Author

Related Content
  • Firearms and Toolmarks Overview
  • Scales, Numbering and Directional Devices
  • Crime Scene and Evidence Photography — Camera and Lighting


  • How can NGS Solve More Cases?



    Learn How to Become a Crime Scene Investigator
    Learn How to Become a
    Crime Scene Investigator
    or Forensic Scientist



    Featured Products







    Shirts by
    ForensicWear.com
    Free Shipping!
    Orders are shipped
    to USA addresses only


    This Month's Featured Resource on the Crime Scene Investigator Network Website

    This publication, provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, provides useful guidelines for the investigation of sudden, unexplained infant deaths. Contents include investigative tools and equipment, arriving at the scene, documenting and evaluating the scene, documenting and evaluating the body, establishing infant profile information, and completing the scene investigation.

    <View the Publication>

    New CSI and Forensic Job Announcements

    The most comprehensive listing of Crime Scene Investigation and Forensic
    employment opportunities on the internet! We typically have over 150 current listings!

    To be notified of job openings as they are posted, follow us on Twitter: Job Posting Alerts
    or sign up for daily email alerts: Daily Job Posting Alert Emails

    Forensic Analyst
    Washington County Sheriff's Office, Hillsboro, Oregon, USA

    Final Filing Date: November 24, 2019
    Incumbents in this position will function as both certified latent print examiners and certified crime scene analysts. Successful candidates will be expected to perform advanced journey-level work and use a significant level of independence, judgment, and expertise in the forensic analysis of physical and trace evidence that has been collected from crime scenes. Forensic Analysts also perform higher-level analysis of crime scene evidence, including cases involving violent crimes.
    <View complete job listing>
    Crime Scene/Lead Evidence Technician
    Bremerton Police Department, Bremerton, Washington, USA

    Final Filing Date: November 27, 2019
    The position requires working at crime scenes, conducting forensic examinations and processing evidence utilizing forensic techniques in the lab, preparing field and lab reports, and testifying to findings. In addition, this is the lead position in the Bremerton Police Department property room.
    <View complete job listing>
    Forensic Technician
    Portsmouth Police Department, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA

    Final Filing Date: November 29, 2019
    Identifies, collects, preserves, documents, and processes physical evidence independently from complex crime scenes, and victims and suspects; collects latent fingerprints; photographs and sketches crime scenes; maintains chain of evidence; processes and maintains digital images; transports evidence to and from state crime lab; and coordinates with detectives and all appropriate laboratories. Documents crime scenes using sketching and measurements, photography and videotaping;
    <View complete job listing>


    Firearms Examiner
    Colorado Springs Police Department, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

    Final Filing Date: November 19, 2019
    As a Firearms Examiner for CSPD's (Colorado Springs Police Department) Metro Crime Lab, you will perform firearm and toolmark examinations, prepare technical reports that support analytical findings, and present them in a court of law through expert witness testimony.
    <View complete job listing>
    Criminalist I, II, or III (DNA Casework)
    Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory, Jefferson City, Missouri, USA

    Final Filing Date: November 21, 2019
    This is an entry-level position where the employee performs technical work in the scientific analysis of body fluids. An employee in this position participates in a formal and on-the-job training program. Work is performed under immediate supervision.
    <View complete job listing>


    Laboratory Technician I, Forensic Science
    Maryland State Police, Pikesville, Maryland, USA

    Final Filing Date: December 9, 2019
    The main purpose of this position is to process crime evidence and test fires for entry into the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NBIN) database.
    <View complete job listing>
    Latent Fingerprint Examiner
    Miami-Dade Police Department, Doral, Florida, USA

    Final Filing Date: December 16, 2019
    Develops, evaluates, compares and identifies latent prints; prepares court exhibits and renders testimony in courts of law. Evaluates, enters, compares and identifies prints in the AFIS. Performs latent processes on items of physical evidence utilizing various chemical formulas. Evaluates latent evidence utilizing alternate light sources. Provides latent identification services for other municipalities, counties, state, and federal agencies. Reviews and verifies latent print identification.
    <View complete job listing>
    Medicolegal Death Investigator
    Utah Office of the Medical Examiner, Taylorsville, Utah, USA

    Final Filing Date: December 1, 2019
    Perform scene investigations which include researching and gathering information, interviewing witnesses, and writing investigative findings as documentation for the Utah Medical Examiner Database; and the determination of jurisdiction of deaths reported to the OME. Assist medical examiners/forensic pathologists with complete documentation of evidence collected and recorded chain of custody, reports, and records gathering and review, and other requests as needed.
    <View complete job listing>

    Search for more job listings in Crime Scene Investigations and Forensics
    <Crime Scene Investigator Network Employment Listings>

    To be notified of job openings as they are posted, follow us on Twitter: Job Posting Alerts
    or sign up for daily email alerts: Daily Job Posting Alert Emails

    Other Resources on the Crime Scene Investigator Network Website
    Not Subscribed to this Newsletter?

    If you are not subscribed to this newsletter, you may subscribe with this link: SUBSCRIBE via email
    or on our website by clicking here: SUBSCRIBE on our website.

    To Unsubscribe

    To unsubscribe from future e-mail alerts, please click here: UNSUBSCRIBE
    or email job-posting-alerts@crime-scene-investigator.net with your request to unsubscribe.



    Copyright ©2019 Crime Scene Resources, Inc.

    Crime Scene Investigator Network
    PO Box 1043
    Wildomar, CA 92595-1043