sex, age, height and weight, followed by a description of the individual from the hair to the shoes. 105 Unofficial investigators should note the date and time at which they begin to document the crime scene. Include also a measuring or estimate of the perimeter of the crime scene. If possible, use a photo or video camera to make a record of the buildings, rooms and important objects within the crime scene. Sketches, maps and plans can complement reports and photographs. They are generally “cleaner” than photographs and can exclude any unnecessary components.106 Make the labeled sketch of the crime scene to scale, and include all relevant details, such as the location of the floors in a building, rooms, entrances, windows, furniture and surrounding terrain.107 3.3 Forensic Information This section discusses the documentation of forensic information. Forensic information concerns physical pieces of information which may contribute to establishing what happened in the situation at hand. Forensic information is often a crucial type of information to obtain and can add strong support to victim and witness accounts. While forensic information may not be conclusive, it can demonstrate that the alleged victim’s injuries or the behavioral patterns derived from other types of information are consistent with the described criminal conduct.108 Common examples of scientific methods that are used to translate forensic information into usable evidence include DNA matching, fingerprint identification, and fiber analysis. Because of the delicate and precise nature of these scientific methods, it is important to handle and collect forensic information with the utmost care. This section provides best practices to minimize the chances that forensic information is compromised. 105 Paul Laska, INTERFACE: A GUIDE FOR PROFESSIONALS SUPPORTING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, 113 (2011). 106 Paul Laska, INTERFACE: A GUIDE FOR PROFESSIONALS SUPPORTING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, 17 (2011). 107 UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment ("Istanbul Protocol"), para. 103, HR/P/PT/8/Rev.1 (2004), available at http://www.ohchr.org/documents/publications/training8rev1en.pdf. 108 Camille Giffard, THE TORTURE REPORTING HANDBOOK, 47 (2000), available at http://www.essex.ac.uk/torturehandbook/handbook%28english%29.pdf. 82

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