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| 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. |
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Choose a topic from below to read
further:
--> During
an autopsy
--> The
custody chain
--> Temporary
storage
--> Long
term storage
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| Copyright
2004-2005 Thinkquest Team 00206 |
| During
An Autopsy |
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| 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. |
| Copyright
2004-2005 Thinkquest Team 00206 |
| The
Custody Chain |
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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. |
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Evidence must be stored in secure areas, commonly
within enclosed cases like the one above. Photo
courtesy of Greenville
County Forensics Division. |
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| Copyright
2004-2005 Thinkquest Team 00206 |
| Temporary
Storage |
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| 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. |
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Coldrooms are used to preserve biological and chemical
evidence. Photo courtesy of Westchester
County NY Forensic Laboratory. |
| Copyright
2004-2005 Thinkquest Team 00206 |
| Long
Term Storage |
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| 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. |
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