Crime Scene Reconstruction – Crime 360

Combining Physical Evidence with Computer Animation

Jan 14, 2009

The latest way of producing crime scene reconstructions combines physical evidence with computer animation, like the TV show, Crime 360.

According to the Association for Crime Scene Reconstruction, a definition for Crime Scene Reconstruction is: "The use of scientific methods, physical evidence, deductive reasoning, and their interrelationships to gain explicit knowledge of the series of events that surround the commission of a crime."

What is Forensic Crime Scene Reconstruction?

Forensic crime scene reconstruction, which only became really popular in the 1990s, is the process of determining the sequence of events about what occurred during and after a crime. There are a few various ways of doing this by looking at scene patterns and the examining of physical evidence. That way one can try to determine “What happened?" and "How did it happen?"

An Article on APSU's website on Crime Scene Reconstruction explains that reconstruction involves the use of scientific method, logical reasoning, sources of information on people, criminology, victimology, and experience or skill to interpret the events that surround the commission of a crime. "Bevel & Gardner (2001) define it as determining the most probable sequence of events. Reconstruction begins when detectives conduct a walk-through of a crime scene, simulating the events that may have happened in their minds."

Elements of Crime Scene Reconstructions

There are many types of reconstructions from simple ones to the new technologically advanced 3D Computer reconstructions. Forensic Reconstructions can be considered both a scientific fact gathering as well as a logical evaluation process.

Three Main Types of Crimes Scene Reconstruction

Requirements for a Good Forensic Reconstruction

It is obvious that a forensic reconstruction can only be as good as the information provided. Crime Scene Reconstructions may include various elements:

Information Needed for Reconstruction

Generally speaking, it is best for forensic investigators to go to the scene as soon as possible to work side by side with the investigators. Information that they need for the reconstruction may come from above mentioned physical evidence, witness statements, and the reports of other experts.

Traffic Accident Reconstruction

Traffic accidents are usually not the most difficult scenes to reconstruct. Because of their size, vehicles usually leave plenty of physical evidence behind, before, during, and after an accident. Therefore, it is often possible for forensic reconstructionists to show the entire sequence of events from the time the vehicles first enter the site of the accident until they come to rest following the accident.

Crime 360 – Taking Forensic Reconstruction to New Heights

Last year A&E aired a hot new Crime Show, Crime 360. One of the main features of this series is the reconstructed crime scenes created using the Leica scanning system.

Crime 360 takes the viewer inside murder investigations in Cleveland and Richmond as the police departments create a three-dimensional scan of the crime-scene through CGI visualizations, 3D laser scanning, and 360-degree photography.

Introduction to Crime Scene Reconstruction. Daryl W. Clemens. DClemens@crimeandclues.com

The copyright of the article Crime Scene Reconstruction – Crime 360 in Crime Scene Processing is owned by Karen Lotter. Permission to republish Crime Scene Reconstruction – Crime 360 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.