EV ID EN C E P A C K A G IN G

CHAIN OF C U S T O D Y
PRESENTER

JEROME HOBBS
OBJECTIVE

• DISCUSS EVIDENCE PACKAGING

• TYPE AND USE OF PACKAGES
• PROCESS OF EVIDENCE PACKAGING
• DISCUSS CHAIN OF CUSTODY AND ITS IMPORTANCE
EVIDENCE PACKAGING
 DEFINITION

• SIGN WHICH SHOWS THAT SOMETHING ELSE EXISTS OR IS TRUE

•FORENSIC EVIDENCE OFTEN HELPS TO ESTABLISH THE

GUILT OR INNOCENCE OF POSSIBLE SUSPECTS
TYPES OF EVIDENCE

•TESTIMONIAL

•PHYSICAL
TYPES OF EVIDENCE

• TESTIMONIAL

EVIDENCE GIVEN IN THE FORM OF A STATEMENT. IT IS

GIVEN UNDER OATH AND IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONING
EITHER DURING DEPOSITION OR AT TRIAL.
 PHYSICAL EVIDENCES

• ANY EVIDENCE THAT HAS AN OBJECTIVE EXISTENCE.

(SHAPE, SIZE, DIMENSION)

• SOMETHING WHICH SHOWS THAT SOMETHING ELSE EXISTS OR IS TRUE

 CATEGORIES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE  IMPRESSION EVIDENCE

THE BODY TIRE TRACKS
FIREARMS FINGERPRINTS
 KNIVES FOOTPRINTS
SHELL CASINGS BITE MARKS
CATEGORIES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
BALLISTIC CHEMICAL
BIOLOGICAL  BLOOD DRUG
 BLOOD  SEMEN GSR
 SEMEN  BONES TOXICOLOGY
 BONES
 CATEGORIES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE CONTD
FINGERPRINT:
LATENT
• BOTANICAL EVIDENCE • TRACE EVIDENCE
PATENT
 FLORA HAIRS
PLASTIC
 FAUNA FIBRES
PAINT CHIP
• ENTOMOLOGICAL EVIDENCE SOIL
 FLY LARVA WOOD
 BEETLE LARVA GLASS
 FLIES
 ANTS
 Why is evidence
Packaging so Important?
Once an item of physical evidence has been
removed from the location at which it was
found, it must be packaged in such a way that it
cannot become contaminated or damaged. It is
equally important that the item is unable to
escape from its packaging for two reasons.
First, to preserve the item from contamination
in an unprotected environment. Secondly, to
prevent the item contaminating other packaged
evidence
•IT IS COURT BOUND
•PREVENTS CONTAMINATION
•PROVE A CRIME WAS COMMITTED.
•ESTABLISH ELEMENTS OF A CRIME.
•ESTABLISH IDENTITY OF PERSONS ASSOCIATED WITH CRIME.
•INDUCE SUSPECT TO CONFESS.
•VALIDATES TESTIMONY OF VICTIMS AND WITNESSES.
•PLACE SUSPECT IN CONTACT WITH VICTIM/CRIME SCENE.
•PROVIDING THEY WERE OBTAINED LEGALLY AND COLLECTED
PROPERLY.
 EVIDENCE PACKAGING

PRESERVING AND MAINTAINING EVIDENCE COLLECTED AT A SCENE

EVIDENCE RECOVERED MUST BE RELEVANT TO CASE.
IT PROVES OR DISPROVE A MATERIAL FACT.( CRIME SCENE MANUAL)
 EVIDENCE PACKAGING
•IMPROPER PACKAGING CAN RESULT IN EITHER CONTAMINATION,
DEGRADATION OR DESTRUCTION

•MORE THAN ONE PIECE OF EVIDENCE MUST NOT BE PLACED INTO

ONE EVIDENCE BAG/BOX.
 HOW TO PACKAGE EVIDENCE

PACKAGE ITEM BY SIZE AND TYPE

PACKAGE EACH PIECE OF EVIDENCE SEPARATELY
LABEL, SEAL AND DOCUMENT IT.
EVIDENCE TAPE IS DESIGNED TO FRACTURE EASILY TO INDICATE TAMPERING AND NOT TO HOLD BAGS IN
PLACE.
HOW TO PACKAGE EVIDENCE

•SIGN ACROSS THE TAPE, WITH HALF THE SIGNATURE ON THE TAPE
AND HALF ON THE PACKAGE.

•PAPER SHOULD BE USED FOR ITEMS THAT NEED TO BREATHE.

•PACKAGE SMALL ITEMS CAREFULLY OR THEY COULD BE LOST.
THE BODY BAG

•BEST SECURITY FOR EVIDENCE

ON/WITHIN A BODY.
•MAINTAINS INTEGRITY,
THROUGH ITS LOCKING
SYSTEM AND PROPER
LABELLING.
•MINIMISE EXPOSURE.
 THE BODY BAG

BAGS ARE USUALLY 36”*90”

THICKNESS : 8MM
CHLORINE FREE.
SINGLE USE
 THE BODY

•BODIES ARE PLACED IN BAG, A DOCTOR CALLED TO PRONOUNCE

LIFE EXTINCT.

•WHEN NOT POSSIBLE THE FCSI MUST ESCORT THE BODY TO

HOSPITAL WHERE A DOCTOR WILL PRONOUNCE LIFE EXTINCT.
FCSI WILL SEAL THE BAG.(NAME, RANK,# OF FCSI)
•BODIES AT HOSPITAL/MORGUE WRAPPED IN SHEET SHOULD BE
PLACED INTO BAG (AFTER PHOTOGRAPHY & EXAMINATION BY
FCSI).

•THE BAG WILL BE PROPERLY LABELLED WITH DAY, DATE, TIME,

NAME OF DECEASED, NAME OF I.O
FIREARMS, KNIVES, SHELL CASINGS

FIREARMS- SECURED TO BOTTOM OF BOX,

PREVENTS MOVEMENT AND DESTRUCTION OF
PRINTS.( PISTOL BOX)

KNIVES-PREVENTS MOVEMENT AND DESTRUCTION

OF PRINTS.(KNIFE BOX)

SHELL CASINGS: SHOULD BE PLACED IN PAPER

FOLDS THEN ENVELOPED, SEALED, LABELLED.
BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE PACKAGING
• BLOOD: PACKAGED IN CLEAN PAPER THEN ENVELOPE(DRIED SAMPLE)
REFRIGERATE

• WET ITEMS OF EVIDENCE: AIR DRY SWAB THEN PACKAGE IN CLEAN PAPER
AND MANILA ENVELOPE.

• SEMEN: AIR DRY THEN PLACED INTO CLEAN PAPER AND MANILA ENVELOPE.
REFRIGERATE
BONES: PACKAGED IN PAPER BAGS OR CARD BOARD BOX.
PACKAGE, LABEL, SEAL

(DATE, TIME, NAME, DESCRIPTION.

BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE PACKAGING
BIO HAZARD LABELS

PAPER BAGS/ ENVELOPES

ENTOMOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

•ABSENCE OF INSECT CAN BE

AS IMPORTANT AS THEIR
PRESENCE.

•FLYING SPECIMENS OVER THE

BODY MUST BE COLLECTED.
• SPECIMEN PLACED IN GLASS JARS CONTAINING ETHANOL OR 70% ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL.

• CONTACT FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGIST IN YOUR AREA FOR ADDITIONAL PACKAGING INFORMATION AND
TRANSPORTATION/TRANSFER OF SPECIMEN FOR ANALYSIS.
TRACE EVIDENCE

GUNSHOT RESIDUE
•PACKAGE IN A ENVELOPE LABELLED AND SEAL.
•SEAL SIGNED BY SUBJECT.
DATE, TIME, PLACE, NAME OF I.O.
•FIBRES: PACKAGED IN CLEAN PAPER THEN MANILA ENVELOPE,
LABELLED AND SEALED.

•HAIR: PACKAGED IN PAPER FOLDS, THEN MANILA ENVELOPES.

(REFRIGERATE)

•GLASS: CLEAN PAPER THEN ENVELOPES OR METAL TINS.

•SOIL(TOP): AIR DRY AND PLACED IN PLASTIC CONTAINER ONLY.
 FINGER PRINT PACKAGING

• LATENT
• PATENT
• PLASTIC
• PACKAGED LIFT CARDS IN ENVELOPES PROPERLY LABELLED AND SEAL.
DVD,CDS CASING ARE LABELLED AND SEALED.
IMPRESSION EVIDENCE PACKAGING
•DENSTONE CASTING: DENSTONE TAKES DAYS TO CURE, DO NOT
PLACE NEXT TO OTHER EVIDENCE, AS CAST EMITS MOISTURE
WHICH CAN DESTROY THEM.

•PACKAGED IN PAPER BAG, PLACED INSIDE

CARDBOARD BOX SURROUNDED BY POPCORN PADDING.
IMPRESSION EVIDENCE PACKAGING

TOOL MARKS: AFTER PHOTOGRAPH AND CASTING, IT IS PACKAGED IN CLEAN

PAPER AND MANILA ENVELOPE.

FOOT PRINTS: PLACED BETWEEN TWO SHEETS OF CLEAN CARDBOARD OR IN A

SHALLOW BOX, LABELLED AND SEALED.
 ARSON

ARSON MATERIAL LIQUID OR SOLID PACKAGED

IN METAL TIN.
FOR EVIDENCE SUSPECTED OF CONTAINING
FIRE ACCELERANTS.
• NYLON BAGS HAVE A LOW PERMEABILITY TO
HYDROCARBONS AND OTHER VOLATILE
MATERIALS. IT IS BURST AND TEAR
RESISTANT. LABEL AND SEAL.
 DRUGS/PHONES

PACKAGED IN PAPER BAGS(MARIJUANA)

PILLS (DRY) PACKAGED IN PILL VIAL
LABELLED AND SEALED.

CELL PHONE: PACKAGED IN CELL PHONE

BLOCKING BAG, LABELLED AND SEALED.
 BOTANICAL EVIDENCE PACKAGING

•PLANTS HAVE DNA,

•SEARCH A SUSPECT, HIS VEHICLE OR RESIDENCE PAY ATTENTION
TO THE PRESENCE OF BOTANICAL EVIDENCE.

•IT COULD BE IN THE CUFF OF THEIR PANTS, VEHICLE

TRUNK(STEPPED ON FRUIT FROM A TREE AT THE SCENE OR SEED
PODS FELL.)
STAGES IN EVIDENCE HANDLING
•COLLECTION: DETAILED DOCUMENTATION TO INCLUDE AMOUNT, CHARACTERISTICS, MARKING.
•PACKAGING: USE OF CORRECT PACKAGES, SEAL, LABEL,CASE #, DATE, TIME, SIGNATURE OF I.O,
NAME AND DESCRIPTION OF ITEM.

•TRANSPORTATION
•STORAGE: AVAILABILITY AND CONDITION OF RESPECTIVE STORAGE
•SUBMISSION: FILL OUT PROVIDED SUBMISSION FORMS. PREPARE CHAIN OF CUSTODY FORM
BEFORE DELIVERY TO LABORATORY
•CONSULT A BOTANIST.
•PACKAGE IN PAPER FOLD AND PLACED IN ENVELOPE.
•LABEL AND SEAL.
CHAIN OF C U S TO D Y
PRESENTER

JEROME HOBBS
DEFINITION
THE CHRONOLOGICAL
DOCUMENTATION OR PAPER TRAIL,
SHOWING THE COLLECTION/SEIZURE,
CUSTODY, CONTROL, TRANSFER,
ANALYSIS, AND DISPOSITION OF
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
CHAIN OF CUSTODY
THE CHRONOLOGICAL AND CAREFUL
DOCUMENTATION OF EVIDENCE IN PROTECTING
ITS INTEGRITY TO ITS REPRESSENTATION IN A
COURT
HIGHLY EXAMINABLE
 CHAIN OF CUSTODY

Crime
Scene Court
RESPONSIBILITY

•EACH INDIVIDUAL IN CHAIN OF CUSTODY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR

THE CARE, SAFE KEEPING, AND PRESERVATION WHILST UNDER

THEIR CONTROL.
 CHAIN OF CUSTODY GUIDELINE

NUMBER OF PERSONS HANDLING SHOULD BE LIMITED.

IF EVIDENCE LEAVES POSSESSION OF OFFICER, DATE, TIME,
REASON AND BY WHOM COLLECTED MUST BE RECORDED
CHAIN OF CUSTODY GUIDELINE CONT’D

•NAMES BY WHOM HANDLED MUST BE AFFIXED.

•A SIGNED RECEIPT SHOULD BE OBTAINED FROM THE PERSON
ACCEPTING EVIDENCE.
 WHEN RETURNED I.O MUST CHECK IDENTIFICATION MARK TO ENSURE
IT IS THE SAME ITEM. BE ABLE TO POSITIVELY IDENTIFY IT IN COURT.

I.O MUST BE ABLE TO PROVE CONTINUOUS POSSESSION FROM TIME

OF DISCOVERY TO COURT TRIAL.(CHAIN OF CUSTODY FORM)
 STAGES IN EVIDENCE HANDLING
• CRIME SCENE
• PACKAGED, SEALED, LABELLED
• KEPT IN THE POSSESSION OF FCSI
• TAKEN TO OFFICE PLACED IN STORAGE WITH ACCOMPANYING DUPLICATED
LAB FORM AND LOGGED STATEMENT SHOULD SPEAK TO THAT

• SIGNED OUT BY PERSON REMOVING ( ESCORT STATEMENT)

• TAKEN TO LAB AND HANDED OVER (TIME AND DATE AND TO WHOM)
• LAB RECEIPT
• INVESTIGATOR RETRIEVES EVIDENCE FOR COURT
CONCLUSION

“A CHAIN IS AS STRONG AS ITS WEAKEST LINK”

1. INVESTIGATORS
2. EXHIBIT STOREKEEPER
3. FCSI
BE AWARE OF THE WAYS OF HANDLING EXHIBITS ELSE ALL HOPE IS GONE.

FOR PROSECUTION, THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILY. EVIDENCE PACKAGING AND
PROPER CHAIN OF CUSTODY CAN NOT BE OVER EMPHASIZED.