PHYSICAL EVIDENCE COLLECTING/PACKAGING SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTED BY OFFICER A. HALL KCSO-SAMMAMISH PD

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE HANDBOOK Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory provides a Physical Evidence Handbook. Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory provides a Physical Evidence Handbook. Agencies follow these guidelines in the collecting, packaging and storing of Evidence. Agencies follow these guidelines in the collecting, packaging and storing of Evidence. Agencies will also have their own policies and procedures for the handling of evidence. Agencies will also have their own policies and procedures for the handling of evidence.

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE COLLECTION, PRESERVATION AND PACKAGING OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE 1. Meet legal requirements before entering the crime scene or collecting evidence. a. Determine if a search warrant or court order is necessary before proceeding. a. Determine if a search warrant or court order is necessary before proceeding. 2. Maintain a chain of custody. Documentation is required to show all who have had the evidence in their possession from the time it is collected/packaged, until the time it is evidence at court.

Guideline continued 3. Collect a sufficient number and amount of samples. 3. Collect a sufficient number and amount of samples. 4. Label evidence correctly. 4. Label evidence correctly. 5. Preserve Evidence –submit evidence the same condition as when it was collected. 5. Preserve Evidence –submit evidence the same condition as when it was collected. 6. DO NOT contaminate the evidence. 6. DO NOT contaminate the evidence.

The Chain of Custody THE CRIME SCENE Officer Collects/Packages Evidence –Officer logs evidence into Evidence room Evidence Specialist Collects evidence Evidence Specialist Transports evidence to KCSO Warehouse

LABELING EVIDENCE  Item number (ALH1)  Agency CASE NUMBER.  List the offense example (Burglary).  Brief Description of item (Black Leather Glove).  Source of item/name of subject or victim.  Location where found.  Date/time of collection.  Name or initial of person collecting item.

Preserving Evidence Very important –evidence must not be allowed to spoil, evaporate or deteriorate (how you collect and package evidence could be a factor. Very important –evidence must not be allowed to spoil, evaporate or deteriorate (how you collect and package evidence could be a factor. Some evidence must be dried first before storing. Some evidence must be dried first before storing. Some items will sweat if stored in plastic. Some items will sweat if stored in plastic. Very important to look up how to collect and store evidence if you are unsure (WSP Physical Evidence Handbook). Very important to look up how to collect and store evidence if you are unsure (WSP Physical Evidence Handbook).

Collecting Evidence Precautions Protect yourself and the Evidence. Do not contaminate the evidence. Place Evidence directly into container Handle as little as possible. Package evidence separately so transference does not occur. Caution must be used to avoid leakage and breakage.

Types of Packaging

SEALING EVIDENCE Use clear tape or evidence tape to seal evidence. Use clear tape or evidence tape to seal evidence. (Glued flaps/staples are not proper seals). (Glued flaps/staples are not proper seals). Every seam, including manufacturer’s should be sealed with tape. Every seam, including manufacturer’s should be sealed with tape. Each strip of tape must be initialed. Each strip of tape must be initialed. The initials must be written across the tape and onto the container surface. The initials must be written across the tape and onto the container surface.

Packaging Jars Bottles and jars must be tightly capped (to prevent leakage). Seal the bottle having the tape extend across the top of the lid and down both sides of the body of the container. Bottles and jars must be tightly capped (to prevent leakage). Seal the bottle having the tape extend across the top of the lid and down both sides of the body of the container.

BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS/STAINS Universal Precautions – treat all blood stained objects as sources of blood borne pathogens. Be sure and mark your evidence with biohazard sticker-(keep other person's) safe when handling during the chain of custody).

BLOOD STAINS When removing dried bloodstains from a surface: Two methods When removing dried bloodstains from a surface: Two methods Preferred method- transfer the stain to clean cotton threads dampened with clean water using a swabbing action. Preferred method- transfer the stain to clean cotton threads dampened with clean water using a swabbing action. Transfer the stain onto clean paper using clean knife, scalpel or tweezers. Transfer the stain onto clean paper using clean knife, scalpel or tweezers.

Blood Continued Bloodstains and biological stains must be air-dried at no higher than room temperature. Bloodstains and biological stains must be air-dried at no higher than room temperature. It is best to air-dry and then freeze the stains. It is best to air-dry and then freeze the stains. DO NOT use plastic bags or containers to package dried stains. DO NOT use plastic bags or containers to package dried stains. Liquid blood is best to preserve in the refrigerator. Liquid blood is best to preserve in the refrigerator. Liquid blood should be sent to crime laboratory within 5days of collection to prevent deterioration. Liquid blood should be sent to crime laboratory within 5days of collection to prevent deterioration.

Bloodstained Articles DO NOT USE PLASTIC-Plastic forms a vapor barrier and condensation may form inside the container. DO NOT USE PLASTIC-Plastic forms a vapor barrier and condensation may form inside the container. Hard or metal objects such as rocks, guns and knives should not be frozen. Condensation will form on these objects when thawed. The condensation will dilute the stain. Hard or metal objects such as rocks, guns and knives should not be frozen. Condensation will form on these objects when thawed. The condensation will dilute the stain. If you have a control sample, make sure it is packaged separately from stained sample. Make sure both are labeled properly. If you have a control sample, make sure it is packaged separately from stained sample. Make sure both are labeled properly.

PACKAGING WEAPONS

WEAPONS CONTINUED Handle the weapon carefully. It must be unloaded before shipping to Evidence or Crime lab. Handle the weapon carefully. It must be unloaded before shipping to Evidence or Crime lab. Do not pick up firearm by placing any object in the barrel. Do not pick up firearm by placing any object in the barrel. If the firearm is to be processed for latent prints – caution is necessary not to smear or destroy the prints. If the firearm is to be processed for latent prints – caution is necessary not to smear or destroy the prints. If metal object recovered from fresh or salt water, it should be placed in a container of fresh water immediately-fresh water will slow the oxidation process. If metal object recovered from fresh or salt water, it should be placed in a container of fresh water immediately-fresh water will slow the oxidation process. Do not clean or fire the firearm before submitting. Do not clean or fire the firearm before submitting.

FIREARM PRECAUTIONS Always mark on the outside of the box which way the barrel is facing. Always mark on the outside of the box which way the barrel is facing. Knives mark which way blade is facing. Knives mark which way blade is facing. Package ammunition separate from the weapon. Why? Package ammunition separate from the weapon. Why? Recommended to package the weapon in the open position and flex tied to the box. Recommended to package the weapon in the open position and flex tied to the box. The serial number of the weapon should be in the up position. The serial number of the weapon should be in the up position. NEVER PACKAGE A LOADED GUN! NEVER PACKAGE A LOADED GUN!

BITE MARKS Wipe area of bite with piece of small clean, moistened cotton gauze. A control sample must be collected from a saliva-free area, adjacent to the bite mark in the same manner. Wipe area of bite with piece of small clean, moistened cotton gauze. A control sample must be collected from a saliva-free area, adjacent to the bite mark in the same manner. Air dry the gauze at room temperature and package in paper. Seal and label both samples individually. Air dry the gauze at room temperature and package in paper. Seal and label both samples individually. Obtain a control sample of saliva from suspect. He/she cannot consume any food or beverage for at least 30 min. Have suspect chew on clean piece of cotton gauze –air dry thoroughly. Obtain a control sample of saliva from suspect. He/she cannot consume any food or beverage for at least 30 min. Have suspect chew on clean piece of cotton gauze –air dry thoroughly.

Sexual Assaults Hospital have kits on location. After evidence is collected, hospital turns over to law enforcement. Chain of custody is documented. Hospital have kits on location. After evidence is collected, hospital turns over to law enforcement. Chain of custody is documented. If the kit is not going to be sent to crime lab within 5days –blood needs to be removed and refrigerated and remainder of the kit is to be frozen. If the kit is not going to be sent to crime lab within 5days –blood needs to be removed and refrigerated and remainder of the kit is to be frozen.

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE Do not submit any needles, razor blades. Do not submit any needles, razor blades. Special drug/narcotic envelope. Seal suspected drug into envelope and label accordingly. Special drug/narcotic envelope. Seal suspected drug into envelope and label accordingly.

Money/Jewelry Jewelry and money should be packaged separately. US Currency should be packaged separately from other country currency. Make sure money is counted and recorded –two people to witness and initial money envelope.

FINGERNAIL SCRAPINGS Place subjects right hand over a clean piece of paper. Using a clean toothpick scrape any material from under the fingernails onto the paper and place the toothpick on the paper. Fold and seal appropriately. Place subjects right hand over a clean piece of paper. Using a clean toothpick scrape any material from under the fingernails onto the paper and place the toothpick on the paper. Fold and seal appropriately. Repeat process on left hand. Repeat process on left hand.

Facial Hair Pluck 2 hairs from each cheek, 2 from chin, 2 from upper lip. Place on clean paper and mark appropriately (plucked facial hairs). Pluck 2 hairs from each cheek, 2 from chin, 2 from upper lip. Place on clean paper and mark appropriately (plucked facial hairs). Clip at least 10 additional hairs from each area as close to the skin as possible. Place in paper, fold, seal and label. (cut facial hairs). Clip at least 10 additional hairs from each area as close to the skin as possible. Place in paper, fold, seal and label. (cut facial hairs). Collecting head hairs in the same fashion (follow manual specified locations). Collecting head hairs in the same fashion (follow manual specified locations).

Head Hair Collection Collect any loose hairs and debris. Collect any loose hairs and debris. Comb head with a 100% cotton-stuffed comb until hair stops coming out. Place collected loose hairs and comb on piece of clean paper. Fold paper with all contents and seal and label appropriately. (Head hair combings). Comb head with a 100% cotton-stuffed comb until hair stops coming out. Place collected loose hairs and comb on piece of clean paper. Fold paper with all contents and seal and label appropriately. (Head hair combings).

Why is collecting/packaging evidence so -IMPORTANT NEED I SAY MORE?