PURPOSE OF COLLECTION AND EXAMINATION Aids in solution of case Aids in solution of case Develop MO’s or show similar MO’s Develop MO’s or show similar MO’s Develop or identify suspects Develop or identify suspects Prove or disprove alibi Prove or disprove alibi Connect or eliminate suspects Connect or eliminate suspects Identify loot and/or contraband Identify loot and/or contraband Provide leads Provide leads

PURPOSE Prove an element of the offence Prove an element of the offence Building material on suspects clothing may prove entry Building material on suspects clothing may prove entry Bullets, residue at fire, semen, blood, tool marks, may all prove elements of certain offenses Bullets, residue at fire, semen, blood, tool marks, may all prove elements of certain offenses Safe insulation on tools may prove possession of burglary tools Safe insulation on tools may prove possession of burglary tools

PURPOSE Prove a theory of a case Prove a theory of a case Footprints in soil may show how many were at scene Footprints in soil may show how many were at scene Auto paint on clothing may show that person was hit by car instead of injured otherwise Auto paint on clothing may show that person was hit by car instead of injured otherwise

COLLECTION RULES ONE ONE PERSON COLLECT PREVENT PREVENT CONTAMINATION PHOTOGRAPH PHOTOGRAPH PRIOR TO REMOVAL MARK MARK CRIME SCENE SKETCH RECORD RECORD IN NOTEBOOK PROCESS PROCESS EACH ITEM BE BE THOROUGH – DO NOT HURRY

FUNDAMENTALS OF EVIDENCE COLLECTION PREVENT PREVENT CONTAMINATION PROVIDE PROVIDE ADEQUATE SAMPLES AND STANDARDS LABEL LABEL EACH ITEM KEEP KEEP ITEMS SEPARATE SEAL SEAL EACH CONTAINER

PROCEDURES FOR COLLECTING EVIDENCE EVIDENCE FOUND EVIDENCE FOUND SEARCH STOPS SEARCH STOPS CRIME SCENE OFFICER MOVES TO AREA CRIME SCENE OFFICER MOVES TO AREA DETERMINE IF EVIDENCE TO BE USED DETERMINE IF EVIDENCE TO BE USED EVIDENCE MAN CALLED EVIDENCE MAN CALLED PHOTOGRAPH PHOTOGRAPH SKETCH SKETCH DUST (IF REQUIRED DUST (IF REQUIRED PACKAGE AND IDENTIFY PACKAGE AND IDENTIFY PLACE IN COLLECTION AREA PLACE IN COLLECTION AREA

COLLECTION Obtain evidence legally WarrantConsent Incident to arrest exigent circumstances

COLLECTION Describe it in notes Describe it in notes Location, circumstances, how obtained Location, circumstances, how obtained Date Date Chain of custody Chain of custody How identified How identified

COLLECTION Identify it properly Identify it properly Case number Case number Item number Item number Initials Initials Date Date Preferably on evidence Preferably on evidence If not on evidence on sealed container If not on evidence on sealed container

COLLECTION Package it properly Package it properly Use suitable containers Use suitable containers Seal against leakage Seal against leakage Package each item separately Package each item separately If wet air dry before packaging (except arson cases) If wet air dry before packaging (except arson cases)

COLLECTION Maintain chain of custody Maintain chain of custody Same person that recovered should initial, seal and send if possible Same person that recovered should initial, seal and send if possible Maintain in locked storage until sent Maintain in locked storage until sent Use personal delivery or some method of shipment that has return receipt Use personal delivery or some method of shipment that has return receipt

COLLECTION METHODS

VISUAL INSPECTION AND COLLECTION EXAMINE CONTACT SITES EXAMINE CONTACT SITES FORMULATE HYPOTHETICAL RECONSTRUCTION FORMULATE HYPOTHETICAL RECONSTRUCTION IF LOCATED IF LOCATED -DOCUMENT -DOCUMENT -PACKAGE -PACKAGE -TRANSPORT -TRANSPORT

TAPE LIFTS USE PRESSURE SENSITIVE OR “STICKY” TAPE FOR TRACE EVIDENCE USE PRESSURE SENSITIVE OR “STICKY” TAPE FOR TRACE EVIDENCE USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER TECHNIQUES USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER TECHNIQUES USEFUL WHEN USEFUL WHEN VISIBLE EVIDENCE REMOVED VISIBLE EVIDENCE REMOVED TO COLLECT MICROSCOPIC EVIDENCE TO COLLECT MICROSCOPIC EVIDENCE

PACKAGING AND SUBMISSION WITHOUT SAMPLING IF IF UNSURE OR INEXPERIENCED NO NO OBVIOUS TRACE SUBMIT SUBMIT WITHOUT REMOVING TRACE TRANSFERS TRANSFERS CAN RESULT FROM HANDLING

VACUUMING POORLY UNDERSTOOD – IMPROPERLY USED POORLY UNDERSTOOD – IMPROPERLY USED CAN BE VALUABLE CAN BE VALUABLE SELECTIVELY AND KNOWLEDGEABLY SELECTIVELY AND KNOWLEDGEABLY PROPER ADAPTION PROPER ADAPTION

EVIDENCE FROM AUTOPSY Victim’s clothing Victim’s clothing Fingernail scraping Fingernail scraping Known hair Known hair Known blood Known blood Swabs (sex related) Swabs (sex related) Projectiles Projectiles Other trace Other trace

PACKAGING EVIDENCE

PACKAGING Evidence must be handled in way that will prevent detrimental change Evidence must be handled in way that will prevent detrimental change Improper packaging can cause Improper packaging can cause Contamination Contamination Breakage Breakage Evaporation Evaporation Loss Loss

PACKAGING Guidelines for handling different types of evidence are provided by many agencies. Guidelines for handling different types of evidence are provided by many agencies. We will talk about how to package individual evidence as we discuss that type of evidence We will talk about how to package individual evidence as we discuss that type of evidence Evidence guide in Appendix I of textbook Evidence guide in Appendix I of textbook

PACKAGING PROBLEMS CONATINER SELECTION CONATINER SELECTION IMPROPER PROTECTION IMPROPER PROTECTION

CONTAINER SELECTION Arson evidence in open container Arson evidence in open container Paint samples loose in standard envelope Paint samples loose in standard envelope Biological materials in contaminated container Biological materials in contaminated container Bullets placed in envelope and placed under heavy item Bullets placed in envelope and placed under heavy item

Improper protection Piece of glass with bullet hole placed in trunk of car unprotected Piece of glass with bullet hole placed in trunk of car unprotected Soil samples in unsealed manila envelope Soil samples in unsealed manila envelope Fluid samples in stoppered bottle placed in hot area Fluid samples in stoppered bottle placed in hot area

GENERAL PACKAGING LIQUIDS LIQUIDS Placed in all glass sterile bottles or containers and sealed with suitable tape Placed in all glass sterile bottles or containers and sealed with suitable tape Oils, gas, and explosives should be placed in unbreakable metal or plastic containers of sufficient strength to prevent rupture Oils, gas, and explosives should be placed in unbreakable metal or plastic containers of sufficient strength to prevent rupture

GENERAL PACKAGING FRAGILE ITEMS FRAGILE ITEMS Items susceptible to breaking, marring, or other destructive change should be packed in tissue first Items susceptible to breaking, marring, or other destructive change should be packed in tissue first Containers for fragile items should be selected to provide maximum protection Containers for fragile items should be selected to provide maximum protection

PACKAGING RULES Prevent contamination Prevent contamination Package items separately Package items separately Prevent Breakage Prevent Breakage Wrap fragile items in tissue Wrap fragile items in tissue Prevent loss Prevent loss Seal containers properly Seal containers properly Prevent misplacement Prevent misplacement Wrap smaller items before placing in envelopes Wrap smaller items before placing in envelopes

GENERAL PACKAGING SMALL TRACE ITEMS SMALL TRACE ITEMS Should be placed in white paper using the evidence fold before placing in container and sealed Should be placed in white paper using the evidence fold before placing in container and sealed Items used to retrieve samples should be placed in separate piece of paper and sealed in same envelope Items used to retrieve samples should be placed in separate piece of paper and sealed in same envelope

STANDARD/REFERENCE SAMPLES Physical evidence whose origin is known Physical evidence whose origin is known Often required for comparison with samples from scene Often required for comparison with samples from scene Examples Examples Hit and run – Known paint samples Hit and run – Known paint samples DNA evidence Buccal swabs DNA evidence Buccal swabs Swabs from inside mouth Swabs from inside mouth

STANDARD/REFERENCE Substrate controls Substrate controls Uncontaminated surface material close to an area where physical evidence has been deposited Uncontaminated surface material close to an area where physical evidence has been deposited Example Example Arson – material believed exposed to accelerant and material believed not exposed Arson – material believed exposed to accelerant and material believed not exposed

SUBMITTING EVIDENCE Methods of delivery Methods of delivery Personal delivery Personal delivery Mail Mail UPS UPS

SUBMITTING EVIDENCE Personal delivery Personal delivery Someone familiar with case Someone familiar with case May be asked questions May be asked questions Evidence submission form Evidence submission form Description Description History History Administrative Administrative requests requests Chain of custody form Chain of custody form

SUBMITTING/EVIDENCE Mail – UPS Postal regulations Care in packing Certified – Return receipt Each item packaged separately each item assigned number

SAFETY Spread of AIDS and Hepatitis Spread of AIDS and Hepatitis Normally transmitted through body fluids Normally transmitted through body fluids Body fluids present at many scenes Body fluids present at many scenes Caution and protection used at all times Caution and protection used at all times Inoculation available for hepatitis B Inoculation available for hepatitis B

SAFETY IAI GUIDELINES IAI GUIDELINES Wear minimum of latex gloves and tyvek shoe covers – large contamination – wear tyvek suits Wear minimum of latex gloves and tyvek shoe covers – large contamination – wear tyvek suits Use mask when dust or mist may be present Use mask when dust or mist may be present Sharp items in proper container and labeled Sharp items in proper container and labeled Red biohazard bag for disposal of contaminated items Red biohazard bag for disposal of contaminated items

SAFETY IAI GUIDELINES IAI GUIDELINES Note taking with uncontaminated gloves Note taking with uncontaminated gloves Protective clothing soiled or torn removed immediately and person decontaminated using 10% bleach Protective clothing soiled or torn removed immediately and person decontaminated using 10% bleach Eating, drinking, smoking, or applying makeup not allowed at scene Eating, drinking, smoking, or applying makeup not allowed at scene Non-disposable items placed in labeled bag and laundered by qualified service Non-disposable items placed in labeled bag and laundered by qualified service