REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY
CARIG CAMPUS
Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
FUNDAMENTALS OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION with
INTELLIGENCE
GATHERING OF EVIDENCE
EVIDENCE- is factual information used to support a claim or
belief
Facts
Signs
Objects
Testimony of witnesses
Records
THREE MAJOR CLASSIFICATIONS OF EVIDENCE
1. Object evidence: Addresses the senses of the court.
2. Documentary evidence: Offers proof of documents' contents.
3. Testimonial evidence: Witness' reconstruction of past events conveyed to the
court
WAYS TO GATHER EVIDENCE
1. Creating an Evidence Collection Plan
2. Gathering evidence by reading the text and taking notes
3. Pre-planning and pre-writing (outlining and brainstorming)
4. Researching definitions, other scholars' concepts, and statistics
5. Drafting early attempts at thesis paragraphs and body paragraphs that will be
revised as the process continues
CARE, PRESERVATION AND TRANSPORTATION OF
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Collection of Physical Evidence
The competence to recognize and properly collect physical evidence is critical to both
solving and prosecuting crimes.
The team leader is always informed of significant evidence located. The evidence
collectors shall put his initial, location and date of collection on the item and turn it over
to the evidence custodian for documentation and safekeeping.
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE – these are the articles and materials which are found in
connection with the investigation and which aid in establishing the identity of the
perpetrator or the circumstances under which the crime was committed or which, in
general assist in the prosecution of criminal. It embraces any object, living or inanimate,
solid, liquid, or gas state.
What are the procedures needed for the care of physical evidence?
In order to introduce physical evidence in court, three important factors must be
considered:
a. The article must be properly identified
b. Chain of custody must be proved
c. The evidence must be material and relevant
Chain of Custody is the number of persons who handled and possessed the
pieces of evidence the moment they were collected, marked and tagged, up to the time
of the final disposition of the case.
It is pivotal in preserving the original condition of evidence, preventing tampering,
loss, or contamination.
It begins the moment evidence is discovered and continues through its
collection, packaging, and transfer to a secure storage location, until it is presented in
court. Each step is meticulously recorded, including dates, times, locations, and the
identities of individuals who have had custody of the evidence. This documentation is
crucial for legal practitioners to authenticate the evidence and argue its relevance and
integrity before a judge or jury.
EXAMPLE OF CHAIN OF CUSTODY FORM
