What is a sketch?

• A. Aerial photograph
• B. Map
• C. An actual drawing of the scene
• D. Blueprint

Answer: (C)

A sketch is an actual drawing of the scene that translates what the investigator sees into a visual plan, showing where items are located and how the space is arranged. In crime scene documentation, sketches complement photos and notes by illustrating the layout, distances, and relationships between evidence. They can be drawn to scale and often include a scale, compass direction, and a legend to explain symbols. There are rough sketches made at the scene and final sketches produced later with precise measurements.

An aerial photograph is a photo taken from above, not a drawn representation. A map is a general representation of an area, not a scene-specific drawing. A blueprint is a technical drawing of a building’s design. None of these capture the on-site drawing of the scene and the exact relationships between evidence the way a proper sketch does.