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

www.evidentcrimescene.com/cata/kits/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….