California Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Services
Evidence Packaging: A How-To Guide Terry Spear, John Rush, Jerry Massetti, Jim Weigand and Mark Traughber California Department of JusticeBureau of Forensic Services Goals of Evidence Packaging
Protects personnel from possiblehazards associated with evidence: __________ firearm discharge Biohazards _________ objects _________ hazards associatedwithexposure to ______ Wet _____ material Goals of Evidence Packaging
Protects evidence against: _______ _________________ Cross-transfer __________ to victim Victim to _____________ _________ to scene Item to ____________ Deterioration Goals of Evidence Packaging
Correctly identifies evidence with respect to: Evidence ________: Evidence _________ What is it? ______ where was evidence when it was collected Custodial Agency _____________________ Provides a unique identifier so it cannot be confused with any other evidence item Laboratory case and item number Elements of packaging evidence
What type of packaging is optimal? Plastic: What type of plastic? _____________ _________ Paper ___________ ________ ______________ Sometimes Paper Containers are Optimal: Biological Samples
Allows a sample that is not completely ____ to finish drying and May prevent the deterioration of a________ sample ifit is not completely dry when packaged What Happens When Biological Evidence is Wet?
Evidence _____through to theexterior of thecontainer, resultingin: Sample __________ Sample ______ Contamination issues Elements of Packaging Evidence
Does evidence require internalpackaging? ______ _____ ________ _____ ______ _______ Syringe tube/_____ container Glass Fragments Deposited into Large Envelope
Small glass fragments can be lost from poorly sealed envelopes Ideally, these fragments would be packaged into a _______ first Sealing Evidence Sealing evidence properly is arequirement of most crime labs Issues: ___________ of seal Need for __________ mark Where _______is to be placed Sealing Evidence Ways evidence can be sealed
All seals must be ______ to document the person sealing the evidence and ____ to indicate when the evidence was sealed How Not to Seal Evidence
Seal should________ sealenvelope flap How to Correctly Seal Evidence
Tape seal across_____ flap ofenvelope Seal is_____ and _____ Biological Evidence Packaging Biological Evidence
Insure the sample is _____ Do not dry in a _______ air stream Use ______ containers ________ evidence when necessary _______: knifes, broken glass when stain could be dislodged Recommendations for Collection of Biological Evidence
______ and _______ stains separately--donot allow separate stains to come intocontact with one another Sheets of ______ can be used to minimize contact of stains on a bloodstained garment Consider packaging all biological samples _________ A bloodstain swab and its control can be separately packed into two coin envelopes and then both envelopes can be placed into the same larger envelope Packaging a Wet Bloodstain on a Swab
After samples are _____, package the bloodstain sample and the control into separate coin ________ Packaging Bloody Clothing
Place ________ betweenstained areas so as toprevent stain _________ How to Properly Package a Bloody Knife
Use a ________ box (not airtight) _________ knifetoprotect both personnel & the blood sample on blade Packaging Trace Evidence
Items must be ____________ examined andtrace evidence identified Trace evidence can be removed with ______ and placed into appropriate packaging Trace evidence can also be removed with____ _____ Packaging must be appropriately sized & designed so that this small evidence cannot _____ _____of the container Glass Fragments Glass fragmentsare small and canbe lost from _____sealed envelopes First Step: Placing Glass Evidence into a Bindle
The glass is _______ and placed into a paper bindle. The _____ is then sealed before it is inserted into an _______. Firearms Evidence Packaging Firearms Evidence
Record all necessary information about_________ of firearm: Position of ______, _____, & other controls Number and location of _____ and_____cartridges Presence of powder residue _____ on revolver cylinder face _____ or _____ evidence visible on gunexterior Handling Firearms Evidence
This weapon isloaded and readyto fire _______________ ______________ Remove the ______ & make sure chamber is _______ Handling Firearms Evidence
Once the firearm hasbeen _______ safe,it can be placed intoa cardboard box and ___________ withaplastic tie Make sure the tie goes _______thetrigger Handling Firearms Evidence
Fired bullets need to be carefully handled to protect _____ _______onthe bullet surface and any adhering ____ evidence Do NOT mark bullet Drug Evidence Packaging Drug Evidence
Drug Evidence Packaging needs toaccommodate: ______ characteristics of drug evidence: Different drugs have different possible health hazards to personnel handling exhibits Some d r ugs arevery _______ in small amounts _________samples _______ Multiple forms Powders,sticky tar, residues, plant material Appropriate Packaging Materials for Some Drug Evidence
______ pouches Safely contain most drug evidence & protect personnel against unnecessary _______ Need to be _____sealed Airtight Not good for fresh ______ material Choose an Appropriate Sized Container
Do not place a_____ amount ofpowder in containerthat is too _____ Powder is difficult to recover because _________ charge causes it to disperse and cling to plastic surfaces Inappropriate Packaging Materials
Do not use sealed ___________containers topackage_____ or _____ plant material -Evidence can getmoldy Use ______ envelopes or bags They allow fresh plant material to ____