- 01: Introduction
- 02: History of Firearms Identification
- 03: Powder, Ammunition, and Firearm Development
- 04: Manufacture of Firearms
- 05: Small Arms Ammunition
- 06: Handling Procedures
- 07: Equipment and Instrumentation
- 08: Examination of Firearms
- 09: Cartridge and Shotshell Examination
- 10: Characterization and Evaluation of Fired Projectiles
- 11: Bullet Comparison and Identification
- 12: Gunshot Residue and Distance Determination
- 13: Toolmark Identification
- 14: Communicating Results
Overview
Home > Evidence Handling Procedures > Overview
For firearm/toolmark examiners, the evidence handling process begins at the scene of a shooting incident or property crime.
The investigator or crime scene technician performs a number of critical initial steps, including:
- Recognition and collection of physical evidence If evidence items are not recognized as such, they will never be collected, arrive at the laboratory for examination, or be presented in court.
- Appropriate preservation and packaging of evidence Physical evidence must be protected from contamination or loss to preserve its physical integrity and evidentiary value.
- Documentation of evidence Evidence documentation, such as crime scene sketches, photographs, evidence logs, and administrative logs, provide a context for the evidence and support for a continuous chain of custody.
After physical evidence is collected, it must be delivered by that client investigative agency to a forensic laboratory for appropriate examination. Within the laboratory, the evidence must be handled and tracked to derive the maximum value from the evidence. This may be accomplished either in parallel or in sequence, as mandated by the laboratory's standard operating procedures (SOPs).
At this point, examiners can influence the process and can make decisions that will affect the ultimate probative value of the evidence. This includes initiating additional analyses based on trace evidence detected during their examinations.
