california department of justice bureau of forensic services
DESCRIPTION
Goals of Evidence Packaging Protects personnel from possible hazards associated with evidence: __________ firearm discharge Biohazards _________ objects _________ hazards associated with exposure to ______ Wet _____ materialTRANSCRIPT
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 ____