NCJ Number
82492
Date Published
1981
Length
138 pages
Annotation
This handbook outlines practical procedures for collecting, preserving, and handling physical evidence for FBI identification and analysis. It also explains how these procedures are used in criminal investigations and describes services offered by various FBI laboratories.
Abstract
The handbook defines various kinds of evidence and explains the purpose and nature of physical evidence. It lists the services of the FBI Identification Division, the FBI Laboratory, and the Technical Services Division and summarizes the agencies and types of cases eligible for these services. An outline of steps for conducting a crime scene search gives instructions for protecting the crime scene; conducting the preliminary survey of the scene; writing a narrative description; sketching and photographing the scene; gathering evidence of fingerprints, shoe, or tire tread marks; and collecting, identifying, and preserving the evidence. The handbook identifies special considerations for bomb scene searches. Standard forms, searches of fingerprint cards, name checks to locate identification records, the fugitive program, and latent fingerprint examination are described. The handbook explains evidence collection for laboratory examinations, type of information that can be determined from each type of examination, and the examination's limitations. Serology, microscopic, chemical, metallurgy, and mineralogy examinations are covered, as well as firearms and toolmark identification. Other laboratory tests described involve the use of instrumentation (i.e., infrared spectroscopy) for analyzing explosives, documents, photographs, shoe prints and tire treads, and radiation hazards. Tests of gambling equipment and codes/cryptograms are also discussed. The guidelines for collecting and preserving physical evidence cover procedures to request FBI laboratory assistance, shipment of evidence, handling of hazardous materials, and proper sealing of evidence. A chart displays specific information on collecting, identifying, packaging, and shipping over 50 specific types of evidence, including abrasives, blood, clothing, and glass particles. A sample request for information, FBI latent fingerprint report, and FBI laboratory report are also provided.