NCJ Number
43584
Editor(s)
E I GOLDING
Date Published
1975
Length
115 pages
Annotation
PROCEDURES FOR COLLECTING AND PRESERVING EVIDENCE AND FOR FOR TRANSMITTING EVIDENCE TO FORENSIC LABORATORIES FOR EXAMINATION AND ANALYSIS ARE PRESENTED IN A QUICK-REFERENCE FORMAT.
Abstract
THE HANDBOOK OUTLINES THE BASIC STEPS REQUIRED TO AVOID OMITTING OR CONTAMINATING EVIDENCE ENCOUNTERED IN 10 GENERAL CRIME SCENES. WRITTEN PRIMARILY FOR PERSONNEL ENTERING LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREERS WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, THE HANDBOOK IS POTENTIALLY USEFUL TO ALL NEW LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL. SECTION I DEPICTS 10 CRIME SCENES LIKELY TO BE ENCOUNTERED BY INVESTIGATING OFFICERS. INCLUDED ARE ARMED ASSAULT, ARSON, BOMBING, BREAKING AND ENTERING, CLANDESTINE OPERATION, COUNTERFEITING, HIT-AND-RUN NARCOTICS VIOLATION, QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS, AND RAPE/HOMICIDE. EVIDENCE TYPICALLY FOUND AT EACH TYPE OF SCENE IS ILLUSTRATED. SECTION II DESCRIBES PROCEDURES FOR COLLECTING AND PRESERVING 15 CATEGORIES AND 49 SUBCATEGORIES OF EVIDENCE FOUND IN AT LEAST ONE OF 10 CRIME SCENES. SECTION III DESCRIBES PROCEDURES FOR FORWARDING EVIDENCE TO FORENSIC LABORATORIES AND INCLUDES AN EXAMPLE OF A TRANSMITTAL LETTER. TECHNIQUES AVAILABLE AT FORENSIC LABORATORIES FOR EVALUATING AND ANALYZING EVIDENCE ARE DESCRIBED IN SECTION IV, AND ESTIMATES OF EXAMINATION TIMES REQUIRED FOR SPECIFIC ANALYSES ARE PRESENTED. TECHNICAL TERMS ARE DEFINED IN A GLOSSARY.