Evidence Collection Handbook - COLLECTION OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
While the specifics of collection of different types of
evidence will be discussed later under the individual
categories of evidence, certain general rules must be kept
in mind.
- All evidence must be collected legally--either
with a warrant, with the consent of the owner or
incidental to an arrest.
- All evidence must be safely collected, packaged,
stored, and transferred. This is of special concern with
respect to bloodborne pathogens. Exposure to HIV (the
AIDS virus) and to the hepatitis B virus is of much
concern in collecting any evidence that has blood or
other body fluids present in either the liquid or dry
state. This includes garments, syringes, and other types
of evidence involved in murders, rapes, assaults,
burglaries, and drug offenses. Please consult your
agency's exposure control plan for bloodborne pathogens.
In general, at least disposable gloves should be used in
handling such evidence, and safety glasses, surgical
masks, and other safety garments should be available if
necessary. A 10% solution of household bleach and water
is a good disinfectant for cleaning items or areas
contaminated by such materials; however, do not use this
solution on the evidence itself unless instructed to do
so by the laboratory since it could destroy some of the
evidence that should be analyzed.
- The evidence must be described in notes. Where it
was located, the circumstances, and how it was obtained
should be recorded along with the date.
- The evidence must be marked for later
identification. Initials and date, with proper notes,
are usually sufficient. The use of a case number is
highly recommended. Markings should be placed on the
evidence itself; however, in cases of liquids, powders,
small fragments, etc., the containers should be marked
and sealed. The recommended places on specific types of
evidence will be discussed under each particular type of
evidence
- All evidence should be stored in a secure place
with restricted access. The chain of custody should be
documented. The laboratory report will include the
information concerning from whom the evidence was
received at the laboratory and how it was returned or if
it was kept at the lab for pickup by the investigating
department.
Select suitable containers such as
round pillboxes, glass or plastic vials, or a folded paper
packet (see Appendix B), paper bags, strong cardboard boxes,
etc., for packaging evidence. Each piece of evidence should
be individually packaged to avoid any possibility of cross
contamination. Special care must be taken not to package
samples with wet stains until they are dry and then NEVER IN
PLASTIC. Please see the "Blood and Other Body Fluids"
section for more specifics for this type of evidence. The
package should be sealed, preferably with evidence tape, and
initialed. Please minimize or eliminate the use of staples
since they can tear disposable gloves and skin tissue and be
a source of infection. Keep the chain of custody as small as
possible. Keep the sealed evidence under lock and deliver it
as soon as possible to the nearest laboratory providing the
services needed.
Any evidence that is a possible source
of infection, especially from bloodborne pathogens (e.g.,
HIV or Hepatitis B virus), must be packaged in a safe manner
and properly marked identifying the contents as a biohazard.
Such evidence includes garments with stains of blood and
other body fluids, syringes, razor blades, knives, and
contraband from body cavity searches. Sharps (e.g., razor
blades, knives, or broken glass) must be packaged in
puncture-resistant containers with biohazard labeling. Any
piece of evidence that is likely to spill due to breakage,
such as a tube of blood, must be double packed to prevent
spillage. For instance, blood alcohol kits and sexual
assault evidence collection kits have Ziploc plastic bags
for containing any blood spilled from broken blood sample
tubes.
The evidence should be sent to the
laboratory as soon as possible. Use Appendix A for
determining the nearest laboratory providing the services
desired or call the closest laboratory and ask for that
information. If the evidence cannot be delivered in person,
the evidence should be sent by registered mail or certified
mail.
Parcel post and regular mail cannot be
traced and are not recommended. When evidence is mailed to
the lab, mark the package to the attention of whatever
section (Chemistry, Serology, Firearms, Documents, etc.,) to
which it would be assigned. Again, please check the section
in the manual covering the particular type of evidence in
question. It should be noted that evidence requiring latent
print work only should be sent to the AFIS Section and not
the Crime Laboratory (see Appendix A). An envelope
containing the KSP laboratory request form should be taped
to the outside of the package used for mailing.
The completed KSP Laboratory Request
Form should accompany all evidence submitted to the
laboratory. The form is available at all laboratories and at
the various State Police posts throughout the state. A copy
of this form is in the back of this manual.
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