SYSTEMATICSEARCH FOR EVIDENCE

What’s next?

How to Conduct the Search

Thorough and conductedwith EXTREME care

Use systematic searcheswith specific patterns

CRIME SCENE

AUTOPSY ROOM

The search for PHYSICAL EVIDENCE extends from the

Medical Examiner will report: results of toxicology & pathology examinations of various body parts, organs, tissues, etc.

Remember that PHYSICAL EVIDENCE can be LARGE or microscopic

Spiral Search

Grid and Zone

AKA “Quadrant Method”

Parallel

Parallel searches

Vacuum sweeper attachments

Special filters are used to capture potential pieces of trace evidence

Physical Evidence to be sent to the

FORENSIC LABORATORY

•Victim’s clothing•Fingernail scrapings•Head & pubic hairs•Blood (DNA typing)•Vaginal, anal, oral swabs (sex crimes)•Bullets recovered from body•Hand swabs from shooting victims

Collect and package physical evidence

Must package all pieces separately

MUST NOT CHANGE from the time it was collected to the time it is processed by the

crime lab.

Use containers to store hair, fibers, glass and “trace”

evidence.

Must be handled with forceps

(held by gloved hands)

TRY TO AVOID:•Evaporation•Contamination•Breakage

EXAMPLES•Glass bottles•Manila envelopes•Plastic pill bottlesHow to handle

physical evidence

Storing Evidence: Airtight vs Air-Dried?

Airtight

• EVIDENCE from a FIRE (CHARRED)

WHY?

To prevent evaporation of

volatile petroleum residues

Air-Dried

• Blood-stained MaterialsMust be individually dried &

stored in paper bags or manila envelopes

WHY?

To prevent growth of mold & mildew

due to trapped moisture which will

destroy blood

Maintain CHAIN OF CUSTODY

A list must be maintained of all persons

who came into possession

of a particular item of

physical evidence.

Each time an evidence container is opened and closed, it must be sealed w/ a label w/ examiner’s name, date & location of item.

Every time evidence is moved to a different location/lab, the date of transfer must appear on the label.

Failure to do this will lead to serious questions regarding the authenticity and integrity of the evidence and it may not be admissible in court.

Obtain STANDARD/ REFERENCE Samples

• All evidence must be compared to a known sample.

• This known sample is called a standard or reference.

• Most often the known samples come from the victim(s) and the suspect(s).

•Blood•Semen•Saliva•Hair•Fibers•Soil…etc.

Submit EVIDENCE to LABEvidence is delivered to lab personally or by mail delivery

Receiving lab must get:-case history or any such report along with the evidence and

-clear request of the type of examination for each piece of evidence

Analysts may perform other tests on the pieces of evidence

if necessary(in addition to requested tests)

Examples of items that CANNOT be mailed to the lab:

•Explosives•live ammunition•certain chemicals•certain live cultures… etc.

Crime Scene Safety

Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) must protect themselves from exposure to

diseases carried in bodily fluids.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis C Other diseases

All law enforcement personnel can receive this

vaccination (Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Regulation)

HIV / AIDS

CSI Safety Guidelines• Double layer of latex gloves• Protective Tyvek® shoe covers• Tyvek ® or Kleengard ® coveralls or suits (liquid repellant)• Particle mask/respirator, goggles/face shield to prevent exposure to dust, mist,

body fluids, etc.• Be aware of sharp objects like broken glass, knives, needles, etc.• Use biohazard labels when collecting materials hazardous to health.• All gloves, masks, suits must be disposed of in red biohazard bags, taped shut and

sent to a proper facility for incineration.• Note-taking should be done with fresh, uncontaminated gloves to prevent

contamination of pens, pencils and notepads.• Torn or soiled protective gear must be removed immediately and replaced with a

fresh one, AFTER the individual disinfects the contaminated body area with 10% bleach solution, antimicrobial wipes, etc.

• Absolutely no eating, drinking, smoking in the crime scene or laboratory.• All non-disposable items such as cloth lab coats, etc. must be placed in yellow

bags labeled “Infectious linen” and sent to a proper facility for laundering and disinfection.

CSI Clean-up Crew

Legal Considerations at a Crime Scene

The removal of any person or evidence from a crime scene must be done in conformity with

Fourth (4th) Amendment privileges:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the

persons or things to be seized.

WARRANT orNO WARRANT?

A warrantless search can only be conducted under the following circumstances:

Existence of an EMERGENCY

Prevent immediate loss or destruction of EVIDENCE

Search of a person and his/her property during arrest

Search and seizure with the consent of the persons involved