|
|
| Evidence Storage |
| The basis of forensic
science is analysis, which emphasises the need for uncontaminated
evidence and consequently proper evidence preservation. The storage
of important artefacts and objects ensures the possibilities of contamination
are reduced to a minimal and therefore, give accurate clues to fuel
the investigation. |
|
Choose a topic from below to read further:
--> During
an autopsy
--> The
custody chain
--> Temporary
storage
--> Long
term storage
|
| |
| During
An Autopsy |
|
| Properly preserving and storing the
evidence is a vital part of the autopsy. At the start of the autopsy,
the coroners have to make sure that everything is hygienic,
so to avoid contamination of the evidence on the body and also for
health reasons. Once the autopsy has begun, samples from major organs,
tissues, bodily fluids, blood, hair, fingernails, mouth, sexual organs
and rectum are taken and placed in contamination proofed sample containers.
The major individual organs are weighed and the containers of samples
are then stored in refrigerated storage areas until they can be sent
away for further testing and analysis. It is important that the evidence
collection and storage is done properly, as this evidence will be
included in a coroner's report that will be presented in a court of
law. |
| |
| The
Custody Chain |
|
 |
In terms of evidence storage in
general however, the main requirement is, that one or more people
will be able to testify for the item's security from the moment
it was collected to the object's appearance in court, a process
often referred to as the 'custody chain'. Temporary evidence
storage forms the most susceptible link in the custody chain,
as this is the period when evidence leaves one officer's hands
(usually at the police station) to when the evidence is safely
collected by another officer to be stored in the property room.
During this period, the evidence should be safely stored in
some form of secure storage, for example, in secure lockers
with automatic locking systems to prevent the need for keys
or locks. |
| *
Evidence must be stored in secure areas, commonly within enclosed
cases like the one above. Photo courtesy of Greenville
County Forensics Division. |
|
| |
| Temporary
Storage |
|
| If
temporary storage for biological evidence such as bodily fluids or
DNA sample is needed, refrigerated or frozen storage compartments
may be used where appropriate to keep such evidence from evaporating.
Hazardous biological materials, mainly reactive/flammable chemicals,
are placed safely away from air vents and air conditioning systems
and often in an airtight situation to prevent oxidisation or
some form of reaction. |
|
| *
Coldrooms are used to preserve biological and chemical evidence. Photo
courtesy of Westchester
County NY Forensic Laboratory. |
| |
| Long
Term Storage |
|
| Long term evidence storage is slightly
different to that of temporary evidence storage. Firearms are stored
separately in a secure and confined area with the protection of a
security screen and are placed in vertical racks. Vaults or safes
are the storage devices for any currency evidence, as would be expected,
while audio/video recordings are kept away from humid conditions,
magnetic fields and direct sunlight. In general, the storage
of the evidence must ensure its security and protection from any form
of damage, so as to achieve the most accurate results during analysis.
|
|
|
