Expository Essay

Warren Chiapparelli

CJ237: Crime Scene Photography

17 July 2012

Unit 2: Assignment

When talking about the history and development of crime scene photography, one has to talk about the beginning of forensic science. Forensic science is the combination of science and technology to enforce civil and criminal laws. Forensic comes the the Latin word forensis and therefore it goes all the way back to the roman age. Forensics started aiding the criminal justice system first by the introduction of the fingerprints and then cameras were made specifically for crime scene photography as well as the photos itself. (Schiro, 2011)

So how did this all start? Back in the seventies crime scene photographers used Polaroid pictures to get instant shots and that where it started and through the years it has changed drastically to the point where it is today. Back then the camera's were so big, just about forty pounds and hence you had to have two people carry the equipment just to reel a video or picture. As time went on camcorders were introduced and that changed crime scene photography in a way that the equipment was smaller and hence did not need two people to carry it, also they recorded in color which was a plus. Now high-tech digital camcorders are used, as they do deliver enhanced imaging and adjusted focus, and also in most cases crime scene photographers can take pictures with their cell phones and send it instantly back to the office so that the investigator can start his or her investigation of the crime. (Schiro, 2011)

Video has drastically changed how crime scene procedures are taken, today the evidence room is all based by computer, which saves people a lot of time when looking for evidence and it poses great access while in court. Nowadays you can transfer the video that you took of a crime scene and transfer it to a computer so that who ever needs to can look over the video, they can also make...