Guidelines for Collecting Evidence

Blood Stains (Dried) On clothing, wrap the item in clean paper, place the article in a brown paper bag or box, seal and label container with type of specimen, date secured and technician’s initials. Do not attempt to remove stains from the cloth. On small solid objects, place the whole stained object in paper bag, seal and label with type of specimen, date secured and technician’s initials.

Cartridge Cases Cartridge cases should be packed tightly in cotton and placed in pill box or other small container. The outside of the container must be sealed and labeled with date secured, time, location and technician’s name.

Drug Evidence Each sample of material recovered should be placed in a paper container (solid) or pill box (powder) which can be sealed and labeled with date found and technician’s initials. Medicinal preparations found in prescription boxes or bottles should be left in these containers which can be sealed and labeled.

Fiber Evidence If threads or large fibers are found, they can often be picked up with the fingers or tweezers, placed in a paper bindle, then in a second envelope, which can be sealed and labeled with type of specimen, date secured and technician’s initials. Never place loose fibers directly into a mailing envelope since they can be lost from this type of envelope.

Firearms Never pick up a weapon by placing a pencil or other object in the end of the barrel. Place weapons in strong cardboard or wooden boxes, well packed, to prevent shifting of guns in transit. If blood or any other material, which may pertain to an investigation is present on the gun, place a clean paper around the gun and seal it with tape to prevent movement of the gun and loss of the sample during shipment. The box should be labeled with caliber, make, model and serial number of the gun. Also, the date and time secured, the owner’s name and technician’s name should be on the label.

General Non-hazardous solids should be placed in paper bag or pillbox. Seal the container and label with date secured and technician’s initials. Non-hazardous liquids should remain in original container. Seal container to prevent leakage. Label container with date secured and technician’s initials. Place container in a plastic bag that is marked, “FRAGILE”.

Glass Evidence Shoes and clothing of suspects or other objects contaminated with glass should be wrapped in paper and submitted to the Laboratory for examination. Place small glass fragments in paper bindles then pill boxes, or film cans which can be completely sealed and labeled with date secured and technician’s initials. Place large glass fragments in boxes. Separate individual pieces with cotton or tissue to prevent breakage and damaged edges during shipment. Seal and label the box containing them with date secured and technician’s initials.

Hair Evidence Recover all hair present. If possible, use the fingers or tweezers to pick up hair, place in paper bindles and seal in larger envelopes. Label the outer sealed envelope with type of material, date secured and technician’s initials. If hair is attached, such as in dry blood, or caught in metal or a crack of glass, do not attempt to remove it but rather leave hair intact on the object. If the object is small wrap it and seal it in an envelope. If the object is large, wrap the area containing the hair in paper to prevent loss of hairs during shipment.

Organs of the Body Place in a plastic resealable bag, mark BIOHAZARD, labeled with date secured and technician’s initials. REFRIGERATE IMMEDIATELY!

Questioned Documents Under no circumstances should the questioned document be marked, defaced, or altered. No new folds should be made, nor should marks or notes be placed on such material. Personal marks for identification purposes should be made as small as possible on the back or other area of the document where no handwriting or typewriting is present. Whenever possible, all documents should be protected by placing them in cellophane or plastic envelopes. Labels should include if document is fragile, date secured and technician’s initials.

Rope, Twine or Cordage Handle carefully to prevent loss of trace material or contamination. Place in resealable plastic bag. Label with type of material, date secured and technician’s initials.

Soil Samples Carefully place soil sample in pill box or plastic vial. Keep lumps intact. Seal outside of container and label with type of material, date secured and technician’s initials.

Tools Protect any marks with cotton and then wrap tool in strong paper. Place in strong box and pack to prevent shifting. Label outside of box with date recovered and technician’s initials.