Low Explosives Evidence
Physical Evidence Bulletin
California Department of Justice, Bureau of Forensic Services
See also the instructional videos on "Evidence Collection"
Purpose
The Bureau of Forensic Services (BFS) provides analytical support to law enforcement agencies and fire departments through the examination of low explosives.
Examination of evidence resulting from the explosion and/or recovery of an explosive device is based on the premise that components and accessories used to construct the device, although disfigured, survive the explosion. Examination can identify components, such as switches, batteries, detonators, tape, wire, clock/timer components, fuzing systems, and explosive charges used to make the device. Analysis of residues can determine whether substances are high explosives, low explosives, or incendiary mixtures, and whether the recovered substances are consistent with a known explosives product.
A laboratory examination can also recover trace evidence such as hairs, fibers/fabric, glass, plastic and paint. Toolmarks on the evidence can be compared to recovered tools. It is essential that evidence be recognized, collected and packaged properly if the laboratory examination is to provide meaningful information to the investigator.