PURPOSE OF COLLECTION PURPOSE OF COLLECTION AND EXAMINATION AND EXAMINATION

Aids in solution of caseAids in solution of case Develop MO’s or show similar MO’sDevelop MO’s or show similar MO’s Develop or identify suspectsDevelop or identify suspects Prove or disprove alibiProve or disprove alibi Connect or eliminate suspectsConnect or eliminate suspects Identify loot and/or contrabandIdentify loot and/or contraband Provide leadsProvide leads

PURPOSEPURPOSE

Prove an element of the offenceProve an element of the offence Building material on suspects clothing Building material on suspects clothing

may prove entrymay prove entry Bullets, residue at fire, semen, blood, Bullets, residue at fire, semen, blood,

tool marks, may all prove elements of tool marks, may all prove elements of certain offensescertain offenses

Safe insulation on tools may prove Safe insulation on tools may prove possession of burglary toolspossession of burglary tools

PURPOSEPURPOSE

Prove a theory of a caseProve a theory of a case Footprints in soil may show how many Footprints in soil may show how many

were at scenewere at scene Auto paint on clothing may show that Auto paint on clothing may show that

person was hit by car instead of injured person was hit by car instead of injured otherwiseotherwise

COLLECTION RULESCOLLECTION RULES

ONE PERSON COLLECTONE PERSON COLLECT PREVENT CONTAMINATIONPREVENT CONTAMINATION PHOTOGRAPH PRIOR TO REMOVALPHOTOGRAPH PRIOR TO REMOVAL MARK CRIME SCENE SKETCHMARK CRIME SCENE SKETCH RECORD IN NOTEBOOKRECORD IN NOTEBOOK PROCESS EACH ITEMPROCESS EACH ITEM BE THOROUGH – DO NOT HURRYBE THOROUGH – DO NOT HURRY

FUNDAMENTALS OF FUNDAMENTALS OF EVIDENCE COLLECTIONEVIDENCE COLLECTION

PREVENT CONTAMINATIONPREVENT CONTAMINATION PROVIDE ADEQUATE SAMPLES AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE SAMPLES AND

STANDARDSSTANDARDS LABEL EACH ITEMLABEL EACH ITEM KEEP ITEMS SEPARATEKEEP ITEMS SEPARATE SEAL EACH CONTAINERSEAL EACH CONTAINER

PROCEDURES FOR PROCEDURES FOR COLLECTING EVIDENCECOLLECTING EVIDENCE

EVIDENCE FOUNDEVIDENCE FOUND SEARCH STOPSSEARCH STOPS CRIME SCENE OFFICER MOVES TO AREACRIME SCENE OFFICER MOVES TO AREA DETERMINE IF EVIDENCE TO BE USEDDETERMINE IF EVIDENCE TO BE USED EVIDENCE MAN CALLEDEVIDENCE MAN CALLED PHOTOGRAPHPHOTOGRAPH SKETCHSKETCH DUST (IF REQUIREDDUST (IF REQUIRED PACKAGE AND IDENTIFYPACKAGE AND IDENTIFY PLACE IN COLLECTION AREAPLACE IN COLLECTION AREA

COLLECTIONCOLLECTION

Obtain evidence legallyObtain evidence legally

WarrantWarrant

ConsentConsent

Incident to arrestIncident to arrest

exigent circumstancesexigent circumstances

COLLECTIONCOLLECTION

Describe it in notesDescribe it in notes Location, circumstances, how obtainedLocation, circumstances, how obtained DateDate Chain of custodyChain of custody How identifiedHow identified

COLLECTIONCOLLECTION

Identify it properlyIdentify it properly Case numberCase number Item numberItem number InitialsInitials DateDate Preferably on evidencePreferably on evidence If not on evidence on sealed containerIf not on evidence on sealed container

COLLECTIONCOLLECTION

Package it properlyPackage it properly Use suitable containersUse suitable containers Seal against leakageSeal against leakage Package each item separatelyPackage each item separately If wet air dry before packaging (except If wet air dry before packaging (except

arson cases)arson cases)

COLLECTIONCOLLECTION

Maintain chain of custodyMaintain chain of custody Same person that recovered should Same person that recovered should

initial, seal and send if possibleinitial, seal and send if possible Maintain in locked storage until sentMaintain in locked storage until sent Use personal delivery or some method Use personal delivery or some method

of shipment that has return receiptof shipment that has return receipt

COLLECTION METHODSCOLLECTION METHODS

VISUAL INSPECTION AND VISUAL INSPECTION AND COLLECTIONCOLLECTION

EXAMINE CONTACT SITESEXAMINE CONTACT SITES FORMULATE HYPOTHETICAL FORMULATE HYPOTHETICAL

RECONSTRUCTIONRECONSTRUCTION IF LOCATEDIF LOCATED

-DOCUMENT-DOCUMENT -PACKAGE-PACKAGE -TRANSPORT-TRANSPORT

TAPE LIFTSTAPE LIFTS

USE PRESSURE SENSITIVE OR USE PRESSURE SENSITIVE OR “STICKY” TAPE FOR TRACE EVIDENCE“STICKY” TAPE FOR TRACE EVIDENCE

USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER TECHNIQUESTECHNIQUES

USEFUL WHENUSEFUL WHEN VISIBLE EVIDENCE REMOVEDVISIBLE EVIDENCE REMOVED TO COLLECT MICROSCOPIC EVIDENCETO COLLECT MICROSCOPIC EVIDENCE

PACKAGING AND PACKAGING AND SUBMISSION WITHOUT SUBMISSION WITHOUT

SAMPLINGSAMPLING IF UNSURE OR INEXPERIENCEDIF UNSURE OR INEXPERIENCED NO OBVIOUS TRACENO OBVIOUS TRACE SUBMIT WITHOUT REMOVING TRACESUBMIT WITHOUT REMOVING TRACE TRANSFERS CAN RESULT FROM TRANSFERS CAN RESULT FROM

HANDLINGHANDLING

VACUUMINGVACUUMING

POORLY UNDERSTOOD – POORLY UNDERSTOOD – IMPROPERLY USEDIMPROPERLY USED

CAN BE VALUABLECAN BE VALUABLE SELECTIVELY AND KNOWLEDGEABLYSELECTIVELY AND KNOWLEDGEABLY PROPER ADAPTIONPROPER ADAPTION

EVIDENCE FROM AUTOPSYEVIDENCE FROM AUTOPSY

Victim’s clothingVictim’s clothing Fingernail scrapingFingernail scraping Known hairKnown hair Known bloodKnown blood Swabs (sex related)Swabs (sex related) ProjectilesProjectiles Other traceOther trace

PACKAGING EVIDENCEPACKAGING EVIDENCE

PACKAGINGPACKAGING

Evidence must be handled in way Evidence must be handled in way that will prevent detrimental changethat will prevent detrimental change

Improper packaging can causeImproper packaging can cause ContaminationContamination BreakageBreakage EvaporationEvaporation Loss Loss

PACKAGINGPACKAGING

Guidelines for handling different Guidelines for handling different types of evidence are provided by types of evidence are provided by many agencies.many agencies.

We will talk about how to package We will talk about how to package individual evidence as we discuss individual evidence as we discuss that type of evidencethat type of evidence

Evidence guide in Appendix I of Evidence guide in Appendix I of textbooktextbook

PACKAGING PROBLEMSPACKAGING PROBLEMS

CONATINER SELECTIONCONATINER SELECTION IMPROPER PROTECTIONIMPROPER PROTECTION

CONTAINER SELECTIONCONTAINER SELECTION

Arson evidence in open containerArson evidence in open container Paint samples loose in standard Paint samples loose in standard

envelopeenvelope Biological materials in contaminated Biological materials in contaminated

containercontainer Bullets placed in envelope and Bullets placed in envelope and

placed under heavy itemplaced under heavy item

Improper protectionImproper protection

Piece of glass with bullet hole placed Piece of glass with bullet hole placed in trunk of car unprotectedin trunk of car unprotected

Soil samples in unsealed manila Soil samples in unsealed manila envelopeenvelope

Fluid samples in stoppered bottle Fluid samples in stoppered bottle placed in hot areaplaced in hot area

GENERAL PACKAGING GENERAL PACKAGING

LIQUIDSLIQUIDS Placed in all glass sterile bottles or Placed in all glass sterile bottles or

containers and sealed with suitable tapecontainers and sealed with suitable tape Oils, gas, and explosives should be Oils, gas, and explosives should be

placed in unbreakable metal or plastic placed in unbreakable metal or plastic containers of sufficient strength to containers of sufficient strength to prevent ruptureprevent rupture

GENERAL PACKAGINGGENERAL PACKAGING

FRAGILE ITEMSFRAGILE ITEMS Items susceptible to breaking, marring, Items susceptible to breaking, marring,

or other destructive change should be or other destructive change should be packed in tissue firstpacked in tissue first

Containers for fragile items should be Containers for fragile items should be selected to provide maximum protectionselected to provide maximum protection

PACKAGING RULESPACKAGING RULES

Prevent contaminationPrevent contamination Package items separatelyPackage items separately

Prevent BreakagePrevent Breakage Wrap fragile items in tissueWrap fragile items in tissue

Prevent lossPrevent loss Seal containers properlySeal containers properly

Prevent misplacementPrevent misplacement Wrap smaller items before placing in envelopesWrap smaller items before placing in envelopes

GENERAL PACKAGINGGENERAL PACKAGING

SMALL TRACE ITEMSSMALL TRACE ITEMS Should be placed in white paper using Should be placed in white paper using

the evidence fold before placing in the evidence fold before placing in container and sealedcontainer and sealed

Items used to retrieve samples should Items used to retrieve samples should be placed in separate piece of paper and be placed in separate piece of paper and sealed in same envelopesealed in same envelope

STANDARD/REFERENCE STANDARD/REFERENCE SAMPLESSAMPLES

Physical evidence whose origin is Physical evidence whose origin is knownknown

Often required for comparison with Often required for comparison with samples from scene samples from scene

ExamplesExamples Hit and run – Known paint samples Hit and run – Known paint samples DNA evidence Buccal swabsDNA evidence Buccal swabs

Swabs from inside mouthSwabs from inside mouth

STANDARD/REFERENCESTANDARD/REFERENCE

Substrate controlsSubstrate controls Uncontaminated surface material close Uncontaminated surface material close

to an area where physical evidence has to an area where physical evidence has been depositedbeen deposited

ExampleExample Arson – material believed exposed to Arson – material believed exposed to

accelerant and material believed not accelerant and material believed not exposedexposed

SUBMITTING EVIDENCESUBMITTING EVIDENCE

Methods of deliveryMethods of delivery Personal deliveryPersonal delivery MailMail UPSUPS

SUBMITTING EVIDENCESUBMITTING EVIDENCE

Personal deliveryPersonal delivery Someone familiar with caseSomeone familiar with case May be asked questionsMay be asked questions Evidence submission formEvidence submission form

DescriptionDescription HistoryHistory AdministrativeAdministrative requestsrequests

Chain of custody formChain of custody form

SUBMITTING/EVIDENCESUBMITTING/EVIDENCE

Mail – UPSMail – UPS

Postal regulationsPostal regulations

Care in packingCare in packing

Certified – Return receiptCertified – Return receipt

Each item packaged separatelyEach item packaged separately

each item assigned numbereach item assigned number

SAFETYSAFETY

Spread of AIDS and HepatitisSpread of AIDS and Hepatitis Normally transmitted through body Normally transmitted through body

fluidsfluids Body fluids present at many scenesBody fluids present at many scenes Caution and protection used at all Caution and protection used at all

timestimes Inoculation available for hepatitis B Inoculation available for hepatitis B

SAFETYSAFETY

IAI GUIDELINESIAI GUIDELINES Wear minimum of latex gloves and tyvek Wear minimum of latex gloves and tyvek

shoe covers – large contamination – wear shoe covers – large contamination – wear tyvek suitstyvek suits

Use mask when dust or mist may be Use mask when dust or mist may be presentpresent

Sharp items in proper container and Sharp items in proper container and labeledlabeled

Red biohazard bag for disposal of Red biohazard bag for disposal of contaminated itemscontaminated items

SAFETYSAFETY

IAI GUIDELINESIAI GUIDELINES Note taking with uncontaminated glovesNote taking with uncontaminated gloves Protective clothing soiled or torn removed Protective clothing soiled or torn removed

immediately and person decontaminated immediately and person decontaminated using 10% bleachusing 10% bleach

Eating, drinking, smoking, or applying Eating, drinking, smoking, or applying makeup not allowed at scenemakeup not allowed at scene

Non-disposable items placed in labeled bag Non-disposable items placed in labeled bag and laundered by qualified serviceand laundered by qualified service