Crime Scene Management

Introduction
• A crime scene is any physical scene, anywhere,
that may provide potential evidence to an
investigator.
• It may include a person’s body, any type of
building, vehicles, places in the open air or
objects found at those locations.
 Definition
• A crime scene is a place that is being
investigated by the police because a crime has
taken place there.
Collins
Dictionary

A crime scene is the immediate and surrounding

area where a crime has been committed.
• Crime scene refers to a location where an
illegal act took place.
• The term refers to an area from which most of
the physical evidence is retrieved by law
enforcement personnel, crime scene
investigators (CSIs) or in rare circumstances,
forensic scientists.
• A crime scene need not be an area where the
offence was committed.
 Crime Scene Investigation
• The use of physical evidence at the scene of the
crime and the use of deductive and inductive
reasoning to gain knowledge of the events
surrounding the crime.
• Crime scene investigation is multidisciplinary and
involves a systematic search of the crime scene;
meticulous observation and documentation of the
scene; photography and sketching of the scene; the
identification, processing and collection of physical
evidence such as fingerprints, footwear impressions,
hair, fibers, biological fluids, and materials for DNA
analysis; and perhaps most important, the
application of careful reasoning to the facts.
• The word ‘investigation’ has been defined in
Section 2(h) of the Criminal Procedure Code
as:
“All the proceedings under the Code for the
collection of evidence by a police officer or by any
other person (other than a Magistrate) who is
authorized by the Magistrate in this behalf”.

Investigation is basically an art of unearthing the

truth for the purpose of successful detection and
prosecution.
• In the words of the Supreme Court in H.N. Rishbud v/s
State of Delhi (1955) investigation consists of the following
steps:
(i) Proceeding to the spot
(ii) Ascertainment of the facts and circumstances of the case
(iii) Discovery and arrest of the suspected offender
(iv) Collection of evidence relating to the commission of the
offence which may consist of:
(a) Examination of various persons (including accused) and the
reduction of their statements into writing, if the officer thinks
fit;
(b) Search of places and seizure of things considered necessary
for the investigation and to be produced at the trial; and
(v) Formation of the opinion as to whether on the materials
collected, there is a case to place the accused before a Magistrate
for trial and, if so, taking the necessary steps for the same for the
filing of a charge sheet u/s 173 Cr.P.C
 Forensic Science and Crime Scene
Investigation
• The investigation begins at the crime scene with the
recognition and recovery of physical evidence.
• It proceeds with its analysis, evaluation of the
results and presentation of the findings to the court
of law.
• From the first responders to the end-users of the
information, all personnel involved should have an
adequate understanding of the forensic process,
the scientific disciplines and the specialized services
provided by forensic laboratories.
• Crime scene investigation is a process that aims at
recording the scene as it is first encountered and
recognizing and collecting all the physical evidences
potentially relevant to the solution of the case.
• The first responder, usually a police officer, plays a
critical role in the entire crime scene investigation
process.
(i) The initial responsibility of the police officer is to
preserve the integrity of the scene and the
evidence.
(ii) The police officer is also responsible for the early
documentation of crime scene and all its
evidences.
• In most of the cases, since the first responders
are non-forensic personnel, adequate training
on handling of evidence at Scene of crime is
crucial to successfully carry out these
activities.
 Types of Crime Scene

• Outdoor Crime Scene

• Indoor Crime Scene
• Conveyance Crime Scene
• Primary Crime Scene
• Secondary Crime Scene
 Outdoor Crime Scene
• The outdoor crime scene is the most vulnerable to
loss, contamination, and deleterious change of
physical evidence in a relatively short period of
time.
• Individuals with access to the scene can potentially
alter, destroy or contaminate evidence.
• Destruction or deterioration of evidence due to
environmental conditions such as heat, cold, rain,
snow and wind are problems associated with
outdoor scenes.
• Evidence that cannot be protected under these
conditions should be collected expeditiously
without compromising its integrity.
• Investigators who encounter a combination of an
indoor and outdoor scene should give priority to
processing the outdoor component.
• Night time outdoor crime scenes are particularly
problematic. Regardless of the quality of the light
source used to illuminate the scenes, the lack of
sunlight can lead to investigators inadvertently
missing or destroying evidence. Whenever
possible, outdoor crime scenes should be held
and secured until daylight for processing.
 Indoor Crime Scene
• Evidence at an indoor scene is generally less susceptible
to loss, contamination and deleterious change.
• Indoor crime scenes are usually easier to secure and
protect, and securing a scene can be as simple as closing
a door.
• The methods used by forensic laboratories have evolved
so that very small amounts of biological material can
produce a usable DNA profile.
• This, however, means that the potential for detecting
DNA traces deposited by contamination at crime scenes
becomes a factor.
• Contamination of any crime scene can easily
occur if proper precautions, such as limiting
the number of people inside the scene, are
not taken.
• For example, first responders, emergency
medical personnel, patrol supervisors, crime
scene investigators, and medical examiners
are all potential sources of contamination
and/or loss of evidence.
 Conveyance Crime Scene
• Conveyance is defined as "something that
serves as a means of transportation."
• Types of crimes committed in conveyances
include, but are not limited to:
• Theft/extortion
• Kidnapping
• Sexual Offences
• Murder / Homicide
• The crime scene investigator must know that
the physical evidence recovered from these
scenes may extend well beyond the
conveyance itself.
• The flight path of the perpetrator may reveal
evidence important to the investigation.
• For example, impression evidence, such as
shoe or footprints in soil, may be found
leading away from the scene, and property
removed from the conveyance may be
deposited or dropped as the perpetrator flees
the scene.
• Cigarette butts are sometimes found in and
around the conveyance.
• The nature of the crime may give the
investigator an idea of the type of evidence
present.
• To protect the scene against inclement
weather and other factors that may contribute
to evidence loss and/or destruction, a
conveyance such as a vehicle may be
transported to the laboratory after proper
documentation has been completed.
Primary and Secondary Crime Scene
• A primary crime scene is the scene where the
actual criminal activity took place.
• For example, in a murder investigation, the primary
crime scene would be the scene where the murder
occurred and the person's life was taken.
• However, there might be additional crime scenes
involved as well. For example, the perpetrator
might have relocated the body following the
murder. Let's say the body was removed and
placed in a wooded outdoor area. This would then
become the secondary crime scene, as it will also
likely yield clues that can assist in solving the crime.
 Physical Evidence
• Physical evidence can range from massive objects
to microscopic items, resulting from a crime and
recovered at the crime scene or related locations.
• Physical evidence, when recognized and properly
handled, offers the best prospect for providing
objective and reliable information regarding the
incident under investigation.
• However, the value of even the most carefully
recovered and preserved evidence can be lost if
the chain-of-custody is not properly maintained.
Physical evidence can be in the following forms:
• Transient evidence
• Transient evidence is a type of evidence that
is, by its very nature, temporary, easily
changed or lost.
• Commonly encountered transient evidence
includes odors, temperatures, color, and some
biological and physical phenomenon such as
rigidity or the drying of blood.
• Due to its temporary nature, this type of
evidence must be documented as soon as the
evidence is observed.
• Conditional evidence
• Conditional evidence is generally produced by a
set of actions or inactions. Similar to transient
evidence, if conditional evidence is not observed
and documented immediately at the crime
scene, the evidence will be lost forever.
• Examples of commonly encountered conditional
evidence include lighting conditions, television
and computer settings, smoke or fire, condition
of the victim’s body, window positions, or exact
locations of specific evidences within the scene.
• Pattern evidence
• There are a variety of patterns that can be found at a
crime scene.
• Most of these patterns are in the form of imprints,
indentations, striations, or other markings such as
fractures or depositions.
• The patterns commonly found at different crime
scenes includes blood spatter or stain patterns, glass
fracture patterns, fire burn patterns, furniture position
patterns, projectile trajectory patterns, track-trail
patterns, clothing or article patterns, tire or skid mark
patterns, modus operandi patterns, and gun powder or
residue patterns.
• Transfer evidence
• Transfer evidence, also referred to as trace
evidence, is generally produced by physical
contact between persons, objects, or persons
and objects.
• Some most commonly found transfer evidence
is blood, fingerprint, hair, fiber, body fluids,
soil, glass, drugs and chemicals.
• This type of evidence is the traditional forensic
evidence examined in the forensic laboratory.
• Medical evidence
• Medical evidence not only consists of victim’s,
suspect’s, or witness’s injuries, the type and
degree of injury the location and condition of
a wound, the number and size of the wounds,
but also includes medical history, the type of
medical equipment on the person, house or
car, the prescription history, including date
and amount prescribed.
• Electronic evidence
• Many households and businesses have installed
surveillance cameras, monitors and other recording
equipment. Investigators should collect and preserve all
these types of devices and any digital cameras, phone
answering machines, video cameras, computers and
data storage devices.
• Examples of information that may provide investigative
leads include cell phone call records, e-mail messages
recovered from a suspect’s computer hard drive, and
videotape recorded from a bank security camera.
• Associative evidence
• During the course of an investigation, specific
items located at a crime scene may be used as
evidence to associate a victim or suspect with
a particular scene. It may also be used to
associate a victim to a suspect.
• Examples of associative evidence includes
suspect’s vehicle or wallet found at the crime
scene, victim’s ring, watch or other personal
belongings found on the suspect, receipts,
tickets or business cards
 Chain of Custody
• ‘Chain of custody’ refers to the chronological and
careful documentation of evidence to establish
its connection to an alleged crime.
• Throughout the forensic process, it is crucial to
demonstrate each step undertaken to ensure the
following two characteristics of the evidences
retained from the crime scene to the courtroom:
• (i) Traceability
• (ii) Continuity
• The chain of custody is established whenever an
investigator takes custody of the evidence at a crime
scene.
• The chain is maintained when the evidence is received
from another officer
• The chain-of-custody record for all items collected from
the scene must be documented with the following details:
• (a) Case reference number FIR, dated…., Police Station. (b)
Exhibit number
• (c) Date and time of collection
• (d) Item description.
• (e) Identity of the person who collected the evidence.
• (f) Location where the item was found.
• (g) Name and signature of the person who collected the
evidence.
• In case of digital evidence, the hash value of each
digital evidence must be computed and recorded
individually on every transfer in order to maintain
the authenticity and integrity of digital evidence
records.
• Individuals assuming custody of such digital
evidence must sign a chain-of-custody document
mentioning the respective hash values.
• (a) All information recorded as in aforementioned
clause and any unusual markings on or alterations
to the item.
• (b) Markings and packaging of the evidence.
• (c) Seals of the evidence.
• All the processes during transfer of evidence
should be recorded faithfully in the case diary
to establish the chain of custody.
• When evidence is submitted to the Police
Station ‘Mal khana’ or to a forensic laboratory,
a receipt documenting the transfer is
obtained. The evidence should be sent to the
Forensic Science Laboratory with duly filled
prescribed forwarding form under proper
acknowledgement
7 S’s of Crime Scene Investigation
• 1. Securing the scene
• 2. Separating the witness
• 3. Scanning the scene
• 4. Seeing the scene
• 5. Sketching the scene
• 6. Searching for evidence
• 7. Securing and collecting evidence
 Crime Scene Investigation Process
• The planning, organization and coordination of
the work at the crime scene aims at deploying
resources commensurate to the case being
investigated and using these resources
efficiently and effectively.
 Planning
• Good planning is essential to execute work at the crime
scene. Planning may include gathering the most of readily
available information by considering questions such as:
• (i) What is believed to have taken place?
• (ii) What is the magnitude of the problem?
• (iii) Is any specialized expertise/medical assistance
required?
• (iv) Are there any particular dangers at the scene?
• (v) What other assistance might be required?
• (vi) Is it an indoor/outdoor scene?
• (vii) Is it a remote location?
• (viii) What local resources would be available?
• (ix) If anybody else needs to be informed?
• (x) What are the weather (hot/cold climate)
conditions?
• (xi) What equipment is required?
 Organisation and Co-ordination
• Organization and coordination are very important
and should continue throughout the investigation
and include decisions on:
• (i) What needs to be done, i.e. the sequence of
actions and priorities
• (ii) Accessibility to the crime scene i.e., the access
is limited to personnel playing an essential role in
the crime scene investigation and in the medical
care (such as doctors and nursing staff) of victims
present at the scene.
• (iii) Assignment of tasks (e.g. designation of a leader,
definition of roles and responsibilities, need for
specialized expertise).
• (iv) How required actions will be undertaken (e.g.
applicable procedures, need for specialized equipment
and tools, and required communication channels).
• Each crime scene is unique. Hence, planning and
organization require adaptation and flexibility from one
case to another. In addition, during the course of an
investigation, the requirements may change as new
elements are recognized and the personnel working at
the scene may have to adapt to the organization of the
work accordingly.
• The equipment required for crime scene work
should be available to the personnel working
at the crime scene, readily put together in a
box/kit and replenished regularly, to enable
rapid response. Some cases may also require
specialized equipment.
Preservation of the Scene and Evidence
• Crime scene preservation starts soon after the
incident is discovered and reported to the police
station. Concerns for scene protection end only
when scene investigation process is completed and
the scene is released.
• (i) Demarcation of the area to be protected is a
complex activity and the boundaries of the scene
may change as the investigation unfolds. What
appears to be obvious at the outset may change
and need to be re-evaluated.
• (ii) Once demarcated, the area is clearly cordoned
off using any kind of physical barrier. Any non-
essential people who entered the scene before the
cordon was established, are removed (and this
information is recorded) and any non-essential
people are prevented from entering the scene
during the entire scene investigation.
• (iii) From the beginning to the end of the crime
scene investigation, strict anti-contamination
measures are important. They include:
• (a) Wearing protective clothing, gloves and
shoe covers
• (b) Using a single path when entering the
scene (this is also valid for medical personnel
providing care to victims).
• (c) Keeping away from using any facilities
available at the scene (e.g. toilet, water, towel,
and telephone), eating, drinking or smoking.
• (d) Avoiding moving anything/anybody, unless it is of
absolute necessity (if something or somebody is
moved, the initial location should be carefully
documented).
• (e) When selecting protective and anti-contamination
measures, respect for the victim’s privacy and human
rights is important. If required, the use of screens,
curtains, tents should be considered.
• (f) If, during the course of the investigation, a second
or a third, related crime scene is discovered, each
scene is treated separately (i.e. separate teams
working on different scenes).
 Documentation of Crime Scene
• Documentation aims at producing a permanent,
objective record of the scene, the physical evidence
and any changes that take place. Documentation at
the scene is also the starting point for the chain-of-
custody.
• (i) Documentation starts with the arrival of the first
person at the scene. Using appropriate means (e.g.
notes, photography, video, sketches and
measurements), the scene as it is first encountered
is recorded along with other things:
• (a) Arrival time
• (b) Condition of doors, windows and shades
• (c) Odours
• (d) Signs of activities
• (e) Weather/light conditions
• (f) Air conditioning systems (central or
localized)
• Any person present while entering or leaving
the scene and any changes that take place as a
result of activity undertaken or observed are
recorded as well.
• (ii) Once physical evidence is recognized,
detailed documentation is made before it is
moved or recovered.
• (iii) Each recovered item is labelled individually
• The requirement for documentation continues
throughout the crime scene investigation
process and beyond until the result of the
laboratory examination is available. It
constitutes the chain of custody. When a
person working at the scene leaves the
investigation, all information (e.g.
photographs, records, notes, etc.) is turned
over to the personnel coming in.
Documentation of Crime Scene
 Documentation of Crime Scene
• Upon arrival at the scene, record names and
arrival times (when known) of all personnel
involved, including investigators, medics, first
responders.
• When applicable, include the names of those
assigned to specific tasks in either the photo
log or, when using a photo list, a notebook
• Crime Scene Sketch
• In a crime scene sketch, each piece of evidence is mapped
by its distance from 2 fixed points (i.e. a wall, sidewalk,
lamp-post, etc) to provide its exact graphic coordinates.
• A sketch of a crime scene is required when spatial
relationships or proportional measurements are needed.
• The rough sketch is the first sketch drawn at the scene;
multiple rough sketches may be required depending on
the crime.
• The sketch includes a scene outline with the location of
objects and evidence clearly marked. A finished sketch is
derived from the rough sketch.
• Draw the rough sketch before anything is moved or
destroyed, and after photographs are taken. Do not
alter the scene.
• Take measurements from fixed location reference
point, such as walls or curbs, or from stationary
appliances.
• Include as much information as possible in the sketch:
streets, plants, entry and exit points, location of
bullets and cartridges, etc.
• Do not alter a rough sketch after leaving the crime
scene. If changes are required of the rough sketch,
photocopy the original rough sketch to preserve its
integrity
• Perspective − A perspective sketch contains a
vanishing point and depicts objects of
evidence as they would appear to the eye with
reference to relative distance and depth.
• Projection − A projection sketch usually
contains only one viewpoint and depicts
objects on one plane. The overview sketch (of
the horizontal plane) is the most common
type of sketch and is usually done from a bird’s
eye view; it shows the floor plan.
• Schematic − The schematic sketch is used
when it is desirable to represent a sequence of
events such as following the trajectory of a
bullet through a crime scene location.
• Detailed − The detailed sketch is used when
describing a small area that is not easily
incorporated into the overall drawing due to
the scale chosen for the rough or finished
scale drawing. This is especially useful for large
crime scenes.
• Photography
• Photographs are typically taken based upon the
perspective of the camera to the target.
• a. Overall
• b. Midrange
• c. Close-up
• Always use the designated safe route when moving
through the scene. Avoid disturbing the scene.
• When it is necessary to alter the scene, such as by
placing placards or disassembling equipment,
always take photographs of the scene before and
after alteration, and with scale when appropriate.
• When using a digital camera, never delete a
photograph from camera or digital media
memory.
• When using film, never discard used film or
negatives.
• Take interior photographs using a vertical
orientation to get the full length of a wall in a
photograph.
• Take a complete set of pictures, including
overall (long-range), midrange and close-ups.
• Plan the photography route. Photograph transient objects,
such as bloodstains or latent prints, as soon as possible.
• Move from the exterior to the interior of the crime scene,
and from general to specific focus.
• The photography session should occur in an uninterrupted,
• systematic, focused manner. When planning the route, ask:
• − How did the victim or suspect arrive at or leave from
the scene?
• − How was the crime committed?
• − Which items were handled?
• − Which items were moved?
• - Which items are broken or stained?
• - Have potentially flammable vapors been detected at
• the scene?
• Use black-and-white photos for close-up
photographs of fingerprint/ footprint/
shoeprint/tire track evidence.
• Use color film for close-up photographs of
bloodstains and other bodily fluids.
• Take overall photographs of the area
surrounding the scene from its perimeter,
from multiple locations and angles. Include
exteriors of buildings, cars, both sides of
entries and exits, and bystanders.
• Videography
• Take video of the scene in its original state
from multiple angles and distances. Take video
of fragile evidence first.
• Avoid disturbing the scene. Always take video
of the scene before and after alteration, such
as when placards and scales are placed near
evidence.
• Exclude officers, bystanders, and others at a
scene from the video. Turn audio off.
• Take overall (long-range) video to show where
the crime occurred, midrange video to show
relationships of evidence and other points of
interest, and close-up video to show individual
items and their characteristics.
• Use a sturdy tripod whenever possible to
reduce movement while taking video. Take
video from angles that result in the best
representation of that scene. Avoid panning
side to side or up and down. Avoid zooming
while out of focus.
• Always use the designated safe route when
moving through the scene.
• Take video of transient objects, such as
bloodstains or latent prints, as soon as possible.
Move from the exterior to the interior of the
crime scene, and from general to specific focus.
• Overall video should include a 360-degree view of
the entire scene including landmarks, entrances
and exits, and identifying marks, such as a house
number or license plate.
• Always use slow camera movements such as
when panning and zooming.
• Always avoid walking while taping these shots.
• When recording overall video in tight spaces, such
as closet or bathroom, use a high camera angle
from a corner.
• When recording a long, narrow area, such as a
hallway or porch, use a tripod and slow zooming.
• When necessary and possible, use artificial lighting
to get the best possible clarity.
• Consider using a blue filter over artificial light to
achieve similar lighting as daylight
• A well-documented scene ensures the integrity of
the investigation and provides a permanent record
for later evaluation.
• Notes
• A detailed written description of CS with locations
of physical evidence must be recorded.
• Record the time, date, name of the person who
contacted the authorities, and incident information
as soon as notification of a crime is received.
• Initial notes about the incident should answer the
who, what, when, where, why and how questions.
• Incident information includes: who reported the
incident, when the incident was first reported, the
crime scene location, a description of incident and
participant names.
• All information related to the crime scene must be
recorded in addition to photos and sketches.
• It is critical to use a systematic approach to note-taking
while taking photographs to maintain a record of your
activities and the order and location of pictures as they
are taken.
• Specify the changes you made to a scene while taking
photographs, such as when a light was turned on or
objects were moved.
• Note-taking should occur throughout the photography
session.
• Finish note-taking at the scene. Include the time that
photographing began and was completed in the notes.
 Crime Scene Search Methods
• Search pattern depends on the size and locale of the
crime scene & the number of persons participating in
the collection
• The crime scene search patterns are
– Strip
– Spiral
– Grid
– Quadrant or zone
– Pie or Wheel
• Strip method: The whole area is to be searched, and
divided into a convenient number of strips. Each strip is
examined carefully. Whenever any item or physical
evidence is found, it is properly collected and preserved.
The process is continued till the entire area has been
searched.
• Spiral method: Here the search is started from one end
of the crime scene, carried out in spirals till the focal
point of the crime scene.
• Grid Method: In the grid search method, the IO begins
like a strip search. After completing the search by
horizontal lanes, he searches back at right angles to the
original strip. This search from two different angles helps
in the recovery of evidence which may be missed in
simple strip method
• Zone method: The scene is divided into small
zones and each zone is examined in turn.
• Pie or Wheel method: It is a search pattern in
which the area is divided into pie slices or
sections of a wheel, usually six in number.
Crime scene searchers start from a critical
point, such as body, and travel outwards along
straight lines or rays.
 Crime Scene Management
• The objective of crime scene investigation is to
recognize, preserve, collect, interpret and
reconstruct all the relevant physical evidence
at a crime scene.
• Crimes today are solved by the teamwork of
investigators and crime scene personnel and
by the combined use of techniques and
procedures recognizing the power of crime
scenes, physical evidence, records, and
witnesses.
• The four distinctive but interrelated components
of
• 1. Information management
• 2. Manpower management
• 3. Technology management
• 4. Logistics management
• Deficiencies, negligence, and overemphasis of any
one of these components will imperil the overall
crime scene investigation. These components are
all based on the fundamental need for good and
ongoing communication among the personnel
through the investigation process
 Crime Scene Searches
• The preliminary crime scene search is an initial
quasi-search for physical evidence present at the
crime scene
• After scene documentation a more efficient and
effective search for less obvious or overlooked
items of evidence must be done.
• This intensive search is done before the evidence is
collected and packaged. If any new items of
evidence are found, then they must be subjected to
the same documentation tasks completed earlier.
• Before any intensive crime scene search is done,
care must be taken to instruct the members of the
search party.
• It is tempting for search party members to touch,
handle, or move evidence found during the
search.
• Instruct members to mark or designate found
items without altering them. With proper training,
diligence, and care, no evidence will be
mistreated during the search of a crime scene.
• Found items must be documented before any
evidence can be moved or collected.
Collection and Preservation of evidence
• One individual should be designated as the
evidence collector to ensure that the evidence
is collected, packaged, marked, sealed, and
preserved in a consistent manner.
• No item of evidence will be missed, lost, or
contaminated if only one person has the
obligation for this stage of investigation.
• There is no rigid order for collection of the
evidence, but some types of evidence, by their
nature, should be given some priority of order.
• Transient, fragile, or easily lost evidence should be
collected first. Some items of evidence because of
location within the crime scene may have to be
moved or repositioned.
• If items are moved and new evidence is discovered,
documentation must proceed immediately. It is
difficult to generalize about the collection of
physical evidence. Different types of physical
evidence require specific or as primary containers
for trace evidence collection and packaging.
• Each piece of evidence is labelled and sealed
following requirements as per law. Priorities in
evidence recovery might have to be decided
to avoid unnecessary loss or degradation of
evidence.
• Under difficult conditions, it might be
preferable to recover and collect more
evidence at a later stage of the investigation.
• In many instances, sample in question and
controlsamples are necessary, e.g. when
collecting fire debris.
• In situations where the evidence is in traces
and is difficult to be collected by manual
methods, vacuum pumps with special
attachments are used to collect the trace
evidence and in a situation where the
evidence is in very large quantity, a
representative sub-sample in duplicate is
usually collected, e.g. from bulky drug seizures
• Larger pieces of paper can be used to fold
large items to hold trace evidence in place.
• These folds are then placed in large containers
such as envelops, packets, canisters, paper
bags, and plastic bags.
• The outer container should be sealed with
tamper resistant tape.
• Outer container should be marked with
information about items contained,
identification of the collector, date, time and
location of collection of the item.
• The sealing tape should completely cover the
opening of the outer containers and marked
with the initials of the collector with date and
time of collection.
• Solid evidence can be collected, stored and
preserved in the above manner.
• Liquid or volatile items should be placed in
airtight, unbreakable containers.
• Wet, moist and living biological evidence can
be packaged in non-air tight containers.
• It should be allowed to air dry in a controlled
environment and then repackaged with
original containers in new non-airtight
containers
• Each item to be packaged separately to
prevent cross contamination.
• The containers should be sealed and marked
at the time of collection to prevent
intermingling of evidence during transport to
other locations. Control standards, alibi
standards, and other control samples are
important for investigation.
Collection of bodily fluids from crime scene

• a. Do not package bloodstained evidence in plastic

bags.
• b. If possible, collect the entire stained garment.
• c. Avoid altering the stain or transferring blood from
one portion of the garment to another; do not fold
or crumple the garment.
• d. Be careful not to lose or contaminate any
remaining trace evidence on the garment.
• e. Avoid excessive heat when collecting, transporting
or storingblood evidence.
• f. Avoid moisture, water or other liquids.
• g. Avoid exposing the bloody evidence to strong
light, especially UV light.
• h. Avoid touching, taking off gloves, or coughing/
sneezing over or near the evidence.
• i. Describe the stain as a “red stain” or “apparent
bloodstain”. Do not label it as blood if the stain
has not been forensically identified as such.
• Leaving evidence exposed at a crime scene can
lead to contamination. It may not be possible to
dry an item at the scene without risking
contamination.
 Packaging of bodily fluids
• Ensure that the portion of the area or object with
the stain has been documented as it was found.
• Label a container such as a paper bag or envelope
with your initials and identification number, the
date and time, case number, evidence number,
location and evidence description.
• Each piece of evidence must have a unique
number. This number should correspond to the
placard next to the evidence.
• The evidence description should include:
• • Type of item (e.g., victim’s shirt, glass, carpet
fibers)
• • Location of the stain
• • Whether the stain is wet or dry
• • Location of the item at the crime scene
• Drying of Wet Material
• a. If the item is wet, place it on a clean piece
of paper and allow it to dry before packaging,
or transport it for drying at a laboratory facility
or a properly outfitted evidence holding area.
• b. If you have access to a drying rack, dry the
item in it. Place a clean piece of paper on the
floor of the drying rack. Hang the item over
the paper.
• c. If you do not have a drying rack:
1. Lay a clean piece of paper on a clean, flat surface in a
secure location where the item will not be disturbed and
contamination will be minimized.
2. Carefully place the item on the paper.
3. Be sure to keep the stain intact in its original form and
avoid transferring the stain from one area of the item to
another.
4. Allow the item to dry naturally. Never expose it to
heat, such as from a blow dryer. Avoid exposing the
sample to direct sunlight.
• d. Do not place two items in the same container for
drying purposes. Clean the surfaces of the drying rack
with a disinfectant such as 10% bleach solution after
the item has been dried and removed.
 Packaging
• a. Collect and label the paper on which the
object was dried.
• b. Place the paper into a labeled container, as
needed.
• c. Carefully pick up and fold the paper on or over
which the object was dried. Contain any trace
evidence that may have fallen on the paper.
• d. Label the folded paper, indicating the
evidence number of the item that was dried.
 Storing Blood
• Bloodstained items should be stored in a
temperature controlled environment (between
60-75 degrees, with less than 60% humidity).
• If stored at ambient temperature:
• Place the container in a secure, dry storage area.
• Never expose the container to extreme heat, such
as from a heater vent.
• Avoid exposing the container to direct sunlight.
• When folding a garment or large object:
• 1. Do not crumple or wad any portion of the
garment.
• 2. Fold the garment only enough so that it fits
into the
• container.
• 3. Do not crease the stained area.
• 4. Make sure, if using paper, that the paper
protects trace evidence and prevents
transferring the stain to other areas of the
garment.
• e. Only wrap an item if wrapping the object will
not disturb the position of a stain or mark.
• f. An item should be wrapped in clean paper
when the location or pattern of the stain or
mark is significant.
• g. Position the paper to keep the stain or mark
intact in its original form. Avoid transferring any
of the stain or mark to another portion of the
object.
• h. Mark package with appropriate Biohazard
cautions regarding contents.
• i. Place the item into the labeled container,
such as a paper bag. The container should be
large enough to allow air to circulate around
the object inside of it. If an object is too large
to be packaged in a container, protect the
stained area(s) with clean paper during
transport.
• j. Close the container and seal the entire
opening with evidence tape. Write your initials
and identification number, and the date and
time across the evidence tape seal.