Collecting Evidence

Collecting…….FIRST OF ALLL  Photograph before any collecting is done  Wear gloves, mask,& Tyvec suit so as not to contaminate the evidence  Use disposable forceps if needed

Categories of evidence

Trace evidence: tiny samples that can be transferred between people and objects (fibers, paint residue, glass fragments,hair)  To collect trace evidence, a CST might use tweezers, plastic containers with lids, a filtered vacuum device, a knife and a biohazard kit

Hair and fibers  A CST may use combs, tweezers, containers, tape, and a filtered vacuum device to collect any hair or fibers at the scene.

Packaging  Fibers: Dry trace evidence in druggist's folds, envelopes, and canisters  Documents: In plastic covers.  Liquids: Unbreakable, airtight, sealed and accelerants.  Wet Biologicals: Non-air tight containers, to prevent mold, mildew, and decay.  DNA: Collect with swab,allow to dry, place in special DNA evidence box, take control swab.

Evidence Collection Kits  Put these on your list of presents for Mrs. Costello  its/kits.html its/kits.html

Evidence Labeled with…. Name and initials of person who found evidence Case number Name and description Witnesses if any Date, time, and location COC…..Chain Of Costody

Chain of Custody  Every person who comes in contact with the evidence must sign and date and mark the time on evidence bag, then reseal the bag  This eliminates the possibility of tampering with evidence  It is the most important factor in a court of law  It is one of the reasons OJ was a free man

This is how we should look in lab….