Evidence Preservation

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Evidence Preservation
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Evidence Preservation

• The most important part of evidence collection is
  protecting the crime scene

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Evidence

• Anything that can be used to connect
• A victim to a suspect
• A suspect to a victim
• A suspect to a crime scene

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The Fundamental Principle

• It is impossible to be on a crime scene without
• Leaving evidence of yourself on the scene!
• Taking evidence of the scene with you!

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Evidence

• Fingerprints
• Bite Marks
• Broken Fingernails
• Documents
• Blood/Body fluids
• Blood Splatters
• Firearms

• Tool Marks
• Fracture matches
• Hair
• Fibers
• Paint
• Glass

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Crime Scene

• Location where any part of criminal act was
  committed
• All entry/exit routes from area where crime was
  committed

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Evidence Preservation

• Patient care is FIRST priority of ALL responding
  agencies

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Initial Approach

• Minimum number of people necessary (one)
• Minimum amount of equipment necessary
• Minimum amount of contact required

One person approaches and determines course of
action. Rest of team stays back.
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Evidence Preservation

• A crime scene is no place for a crowd!

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Evidence Preservation

• Dont disturb scene any more than necessary
  during assessment
• Watch where you step
• Pay attention to floor
• Avoid kicking anything lying on floor

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Evidence Preservation

• Note transient details of scene as you approach
  patient
• Lighting (on/off)
• Drapes (open/closed)
• TVs, radios (on/off)
• Furniture position
• Evidence of forced entry

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Evidence Preservation

• Wear gloves
• If you must move something to get to patient or
  do your assessment
• Tell police
• Note it in your report
• If you move a DOA, note it in your report and
  tell police

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Evidence Preservation

• If you are there before the police
• Safeguard scene
• Seal off entire area
• Record names of all people who came into contact
  with scene

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Evidence Preservation

• If you are there before the police
• Try to hold all witnesses at scene
• Limit conversation between them

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Evidence Preservation

• If you are there before the police
• Record first statements by victim
• Note who victim made statement to
• Note statements by witnesses
• Report to police, record in report in quotes

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Evidence Preservation

• Do NOT
• Smoke
• Eat
• Drink
• Leave wrappers
• Use the bathroom

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Evidence Preservation

• Never cut through bullet hole, stab wound
• Do NOT shake or turn clothing inside out
• Bag or otherwise secure clothing so the police
  can recover it at the hospital
• If you try an IV and miss, mark the site and note
  it in your report
• Be conscious of debris you leave on the
  scene--needles, bandage packages, etc.

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Evidence Preservation

• Avoid handling bullets, bullet fragments
• Place in plastic container
• Turn over to police

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Evidence Preservation

• Leave firearms in exact position found
• Assume ALL weapons loaded
• If firearm must be moved, only one person should
  handle it
• Outline weapon before moving it if possible

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Evidence Preservation

• Do NOT handle weapon any way except by grips
• Do NOT attempt to clear or unload weapon
• NEVER place anything in guns barrel or inside
  trigger guard

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Evidence Preservation

• If victim reports scratching assailant, cover
  victims hands with paper bags, tape loosely at
  wrists

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Evidence Preservation

• Wet clothing should be placed in paper (not
  plastic) bag and turned over to police.
• Wet clothing should not be allowed to stay in ANY
  kind of bag for gttwo hours.

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Evidence Preservation

• Avoid tracking blood on shoes
• Keep bloody clothing from various patients
  separated
• Do NOT clean or smudge blood splatters on scene
• Advise police of blood spilled during venipuncure

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Evidence Preservation

• Victims of alleged sexual assault should not wash
  or use the restroom until examined at hospital

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Evidence Preservation

• Do NOT let evidence leave your custody until it
  passes directly to a peace officer
• Note in your report that you handled evidence and
  to whom you passed it
• Provide your name and unit number to the officer
  to include in his/her report

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Evidence Preservation

• If chain of custody on piece of evidence is
  broken, it becomes inadmissible in court!