Forensic art practices in documenting the crime scene:(The case of Dostoyevsky's Novel Crime and Punishment)

The most significant point in the criminal investigation is the material evidence to be obtained from the place where the incident occurred and to represent the criminal act. Therefore, crime scene investigation is the most important stage in the investigations, and it is an important step that will guide the whole investigation. Crime scene investigators must be specialized in their field and perform their duties within the framework of developed standards. Forensic art, which is seen as a sub-discipline within the multidisciplinary forensic sciences, is the whole of the work of producing guiding two- or three-dimensional media that aims to depict the similarity by using various techniques and materials to benefit from the memories of people who have a direct or indirect connection with a committed crime. Those who make forensic art works are referred to as forensic artists. Forensic artists do works that contribute to the resolution of forensic cases, such as illustrating unidentified persons and criminal suspects, creating estimated images of suspects and missing persons at different ages, facial reconstruction of skulls, preparing graphics and diagrams for the courts, photographing the crime scene, drawing sketches and plans. Illustrations and drawings can be made by hand or on a computer in two-dimensional and three-dimensional form. Since the descriptions in the novel are quite clear, detailed, and visually satisfying, Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment" novel was selected as a sample for examples of forensic art practices. By giving place to two-dimensional application examples of forensic art, the contributions of fine arts experts to the field of forensic art are expressed with examples. By examining the curricula of universities abroad in the field of forensic arts, I put forward suggestions for research and studies that can be done in Turkey. Key Terms: "Crime Scene Investigation Methods", "Forensic Art", "Reconstruction", "Forensic Science", "Art Education" Science Code: 20101