Crime Scene Documentation – Sketching & Diagramming

This intensive 16-hour course provides comprehensive training in crime scene documentation with a primary emphasis on sketching and diagramming. Designed for forensic students, new Crime Scene Investigators, and newly assigned Detectives, this course builds the essential skills needed to accurately capture and represent crime scenes for investigative and courtroom purposes. Through a combination of lecture-based instruction, hands-on practice, and real-world application exercises, participants will learn how to properly document scenes using sketches, measurements, and factual diagramming techniques. Students will gain proficiency in creating clear, accurate, and to-scale representations of both indoor and outdoor scenes. In addition to foundational sketching skills, the course provides instruction in advanced measurement methods used for large or complex scenes, including Triangulation, Baseline Measurements, Polar Coordinates, and the use of Perspective Grids. By the conclusion of the course, attendees will be able to confidently produce crime scene sketches and diagrams that meet professional forensic standards and support investigative, analytical, and legal processes. Ideal for those entering the field of crime scene processing or seeking to strengthen their documentation skills.