Baseline measurements in crime scene sketches involve

• A. Measuring only the height of objects.
• B. Using a baseline line and locating objects by distance from a starting point along the line.
• C. Using a ruler to measure floor tiles individually.
• D. Recording only verbal descriptions.

Answer: (B)

Baseline measurements establish a fixed reference line in the scene and locate objects by their distance from that line. This creates a consistent coordinate system you can reproduce later, which is essential for accurately capturing spatial relationships.

By setting a baseline along a sturdy feature and marking a starting point, you measure how far each item sits from that line and how far along the line the projection of the item lies. This method ties every location to a common reference, making it possible to recreate the scene precisely in sketches or later analysis.

This approach is better than focusing only on heights, which misses where things sit horizontally, or measuring every floor tile one by one, which is time-consuming and error-prone. It’s also more precise than relying on verbal descriptions alone, which can be ambiguous.