Evidence Collection
Evidence Collection Guidelines
- Evidence Collection Guidelines: Blood Stains, Seminal Stains, Hair, Fibers and Threads, Glass, Paint, Flammable Liquids, Firearms Evidence, Tool Marks, Controlled Substances and Medicinal Preparations, Questioned Documents, Latent Fingerprints
Crime Scene Procedures
- Crime Scene Procedures, Indiana State Police
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Contact at the Scene
Preliminary Survey or Crime Scene Walk-Through
Scene Search for Trace Evidence
Scene Search for Biological Evidence
Crime Scene Photography
Vehicles
Biological Evidence
Case Files/Notes
Diagrams/Sketches
Evidence Collection
Collection Methods
Evidence Marking and Packaging
Establishing the Chain of Custody
Reporting
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Collection and Preservation of Evidence
- Wearing Gloves While Processing a Crime Scene, Steven Staggs
- Best Practices for Seizing Electronic Evidence, United States Secret Service
- Crime scene and physical evidence awareness for non-forensic personnel by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
- Crime Scene Equipment Checklist
- Developing and Lifting Latent Footwear Impressions by Mike Byrd
- Detecting OC Spray with an Alternative Light Source by H.W. "Rus" Ruslander
- Searching and Examining a Major Case Crime Scene by H.W. "Rus" Ruslander
- Dead Body Evidence Checklist
- Practical Methods for Processing a Vehicle by Agnes Sarisky
- Ridge Detail at the Crime Scene by Mike Byrd
- DNA -- The next generation technology by Mike Byrd
- Written Documentation at a Crime Scene by Mike Byrd
- Proper Tagging and Labeling of Evidence for Later Identification by Mike Byrd
- Innovative Evidence Identification Markers by Mike Byrd
- Simple Tire Standards Collection by Mike Byrd
- Footwear Evidence by Dwayne S. Hilderbrand
- Protecting the Crime Scene by George Schiro
- Examination and Documentation of the Crime Scene by George Schiro
- Collection and Preservation of Evidence by George Schiro
- Special Considerations for Sexual Assault Evidence by George Schiro
- Collection and Preservation of Blood Evidence from Crime Scenes by George Schiro See also other articles in the following categories on our Articles Page:
Evidence Collection Manuals
- Handbook of Forensic Services, Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Property and Evidence Packaging Manual, La Mesa Police Department
- Property and Evidence Packaging Procedures, Manatee County Sheriff's Office
- Property and Evidence Packaging Manual, Burbank Police Department
- Property and Evidence Packaging Manual, Maple Grove Police Department
- Officer's Evidence Handbook, Washington State Patrol
- Property and Evidence Packaging Manual, Tucson Police Department
- Physical Evidence Handbook, Texas Department of Public Safety
- Evidence Packaging Manual, South Dakota Forensic Laboratory
- Laboratory User's Guide, Alaska Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory
- Guidelines for Evidence Submission, Connecticut Dept of Public Safety, Division of Scientific Services
- Evidence Packaging Procedures, Illinois State Police Division of Forensic Services
- Forensic Evidence Handbook, Missouri State Highway Patrol Forensic Laboratory
- Evidence Handling Manual, Montana State Crime Laboratory
- Evidence Field Manual, New Jersey State Police Forensic Sciences
- Evidence Field Manual: Quick Reference Handbook, New Jersey State Police Forensic Sciences
- Evidence Guide, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
- Physical Evidence Manual, Oregon State Police Forensic Services Division
- Laboratory Services and Requirements for Submitting Evidence, Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory
- Evidence Handling and Laboratory Capabilities Guide, Virginia Department of Forensic Science
- Physical Evidence Handbook, Wisconsin Department of Justice State Crime Laboratories
Guides Published by the National Institute of Justice
- Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for Law Enforcement
- The Biological Evidence Preservation Handbook: Best Practices for Evidence Handlers
- Death Investigation: A Guide for the Scene Investigator
- Electronic Crime Scene Investigation: On-the-Scene Reference
- Electronic Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for First Responders
- A Guide for Explosion and Bombing Scene Investigation
- Fire and Arson Scene Investigation: A Guide for Public Safety Personnel
- What Every Law Enforcement Officer Should Know About DNA Evidence
- Without a Trace? Advances in Detecting Trace Evidence
- Investigations Involving the Internet and Computer Networks
Video Presentations on Evidence Collection
Evidence Collection
Crime Scene Evidence Packaging- Folding an Evidence Bindle
- Packaging an Item of Evidence
- Evidence Collection: Body Fluids - Part 1, Blood stains
- Evidence Collection: Body Fluids - Part 2, Semen and Saliva
- Collecting and Packaging Dried Bloodstain
- Collecting and Packaging Dried Bloodstain - short version
- Collecting and Packaging Firearms
Locating and Collecting Fingerprints
- Latent Print Development
- Preservation of Friction Ridges
- Fingerprint Development and Preservation - Part 1
- Fingerprint Development and Preservation - Part 2, Lifting with Powders
- Fingerprint Development and Preservation - Part 3, Textured Surfaces
- Fingerprint Development and Preservation - Part 4, Detecting Latents with Chemicals
- Documentation of Friction Ridge Impressions
- Developing Fingerprints on Cartridge Cases
- Developing Latent Fingerprints with Black Powder
- Developing Latent Fingerprints with Super Glue
- Developing Latent Fingerprints with Magnetic Powder
- Using Mikrosil to Lift Fingerprints from Irregular Surfaces
Evidence Collection Bulletins
- Best Practices for Collection, Packaging, Storage, Preservation, and Retrieval of Biological Evidence, Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Laboratory Service
- Automobile Lights, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Collection of Biological Materials and Reference Samples for DNA Analysis, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Clandestine Laboratory Samples, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Controlled Substances, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Digital Evidence Collection, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Hair and Fiber Evidence, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Firearms Evidence Collection Procedures, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Glass Evidence, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Gunshot Residue (GSR) Collection, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Collecting Evidence from Human Bodies, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Collection and Submission of Latent Print Evidence, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Low Explosives Evidence, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- NIBIN Program - Automated Firearms Evidence Imaging, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Paint Evidence, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Questioned Documents, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Sexual Assault Evidence, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Documentation of Shoe and Tire Impression Evidence, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Soil Evidence, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Toolmark Evidence Collection, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Toxicology - Blood or Urine Samples for Forensic Toxicological Analysis, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- Fire Debris - Ignitable Liquid Evidence, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
- CODIS Section Quality Assurance Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
- Digital Evidence Section Quality Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
- Evidence Receiving Quality Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
- Firearms & Tool Marks Section Quality Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
- Forensic Chemistry Section Quality Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
- Forensic DNA Section Quality Assurance Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
- Forensic Toxicology Section Quality Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
- Crime Laboratory Quality Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
- Latent Print Section Quality Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
- Serology Quality Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
- Trace Evidence Unit Quality Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
- Forensic Fiber And Hair Evidence Analysis, Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services Agency
- Firearms/Toolmarks Evidence Submission Guidelines, Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories
- Forensic Imaging Evidence Submission Guidelines, Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories
- Latent Print Evidence Submission Guidelines, Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories
- Footwear Evidence Submission Guidelines, Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories
- Electronic Digital Evidence Submission Instructions, Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories
- DNA Evidence Submission Guidelines, Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories
- Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy and Unidentified Human Remains Evidence Submission Guidelines, Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories
- Sexual Assault Kit Evidence Submission Guidelines, Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories
- Controlled Substances Evidence Submission Guidelines, Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories
- Toxicology Evidence Submission Guidelines, Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories
- Trace Evidence Submission Guidelines, Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories
Property Management
- Property & Evidence Management Guide California Commission on Peace Officer Standards & Training
- Property and Evidence Manual Burbank Police Department
- Best Practices Manual - Ohio Property and Evidence Room Ohio Attorney General
- Property and Evidence Management Guide Wisconsin Association for Identification