Forensic nursing &
Indian laws
EVIDENCE
PRESERVATION-
ROLE OF NURSE
INTRODUCTION
The collection of evidence as a forensic proof with great accuracy is
of vital importance. If it is not retrieved, recognized & preserved at
the crime scene properly, an important information can be lost.
Evidence may be anything starting from massive objects to
microscopic items, generated at crime scene which may assist in
determining the truth & provide proof of a fact.
Evidence that is not collected & collected improperly, Documented
improperly will compromise findings of any investigation.
Crime scene investigator should be prepared to recognize, collect &
package the evidence as it should not be changed in form & value.
Types of
Evidences
Physical Evidence:
• Physical evidence refers to any tangible object or material
that is relevant to a crime or investigation. It can include a
wide range of items, such as weapons, clothing,
fingerprints, footprints, DNA samples, hair, fibers, tool
marks, tire tracks, shell casings, and more.
It is crucial in forensic investigations because it provides
direct links
between individuals, objects, and locations involved in a
crime. It can help
establish facts, corroborate witness statements, identify
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Documentary Evidence
Documentary evidence, also known as documentary
or documentary materials, refers to written or
recorded materials that are relevant to a legal case
or investigation. This type of evidence includes a
variety of documents, records, reports, or other
written or recorded materials that provide
information about events, actions, or circumstances
related to the case.
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Testimonial evidence
It is also known as eyewitness testimony or oral
evidence, refers to statements or testimony provided by
individuals who have witnessed or experienced events
relevant to a legal case or investigation. This type of
evidence is based on personal observations, perceptions,
or experiences of the witness and is often presented
verbally in court.
(eyewitness, victim witness, expert witness)
Testimonial evidence is considered an important form of
evidence in legal proceedings, as it provides firsthand
accounts of events or circumstances from individuals who
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Digital evidence
It refers to any electronic information or data that is
relevant to a legal investigation or case. In today's digital
age, a wide range of digital devices and platforms
generate and store vast amounts of data, making digital
evidence increasingly important in various types of legal
proceedings.
(email, text messages, social media post, digital photos &
videos, internet browsing history )
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Trace Evidence:
• Trace evidence refers to very small pieces of physical
material that are often overlooked but can be crucial in
solving crimes. These tiny bits of evidence can include
things like hair, fibers, paint chips, glass fragments, soil, or
even pollen. They're called "trace" because they're often left
behind in very small amounts or are hard to see without
close inspection.
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Associative evidence
Associative evidences is like a connecting link that helps
tie things together in a crime investigation. It's evidence
that doesn't directly prove who did something, but it
connects people, objects, or places to each other or to a
particular event. For example, finding a suspect's wallet
at a crime scene would be associative evidence
because it connects the suspect to that location. It
helps investigators build a story of what might have
happened based on the connections between different
pieces of evidence.
Observation & Recognition of
Evidences
Observation & Recognition of evidences are critical skills for professionals in various field,
including law enforcement, healthcare, forensics & investigations. Recognition is the
process to identify probative (something that tends to demonstrate or prove something)
evidence hiding among numerous redundant, irrelevant or unrelated items evidence at the
crime scene or in the forensic lab.
Accurate observation, appropriate & early recognition is very significant to carry on
investigation & can provide valuable insight into a situation or crime. Here are some key
points to observe & recognize evidence.
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Training
Collection of
evidence
It should be started immediately after securing the
crime scene & recognizing the evidence. Experts should
collect the evidence in a systematic, logical & careful
manner to avoid contamination & cross-contamination of
the evidence. Documented the scene by Photography &
videography . It should be done before the collection of
evidences so as to preserve the record in its original
appearance & location.
Principles of Evidence
• Collection
Collection tech nique depend on the type of
evidence.
• It should be collected in its original state.
• If evidence is fragile or can be easily lost, the entire
object should be collected & packed.
• If any evidence need to be moved, special care
should be taken.
• Items of evidence should be collected in paper
containers such as packets, envelopes & bags.
• Liquid items should be transported in non-breakable,
leak proof container.
• Arson evidence should be collected in Air-tight, clean
metal cans.
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• Moist or wet evidence should never be packed
in plastic or paper container for more than two
hours as moisture allows the growth of micro
organism.
• Evidence that can cross-contaminate each
other, should be packaged separately.
• Ensure the Container should be closed &
secured to avoid the mixture of evidence
during transportation
• Each container should be properly labelled.
Articles for evidence
collection
latex Gloves forcep
Tweeze Sterile Test Tube &
rs swabs Rack
Paper Plastic bags Cardboard Boxes
bags
Plastic 5- gallon Photographic ruler
Hand Bucket
Tool 12-15 inches tall,
with a
10-12 inch diameter
Forensic Light Flashlight Lift
source Cards
Lift Dental stone
tape powder
Electrostatic dust Gel lifter Tool marks casting
lifter material
Methods of Evidence
Collection
Cutting Scraping
Evidence is scraped
Removing a section of
with the help of a
the item containing
sterile blade or
the stain using a
scalpel into a clean
sterile or clean
piece of paper
cutting device
which is further
folded & packaged
in a paper envelope.
Lifting with
tape
Fingerprint lifting tape
Acetate sheet
should be placed over
dried blood stain & lifted
off. The stain is then
transferred to the
adhesive side of the tape,
which is secured on a
clear piece of acetate for
submission to the
laboratory. Water or
methanol soluble tapes
can be applied for the
collection of trace hair &
fiber evidence, then
Combing Visual collection
& clipping
Clean comb can be Hair & fibres can be
used to take out collected with the
the trace evidence help of clip or trace
from the hair of the paper which can be
individual. placed on a clean
paper & enveloped.
Trace evidence can
be collected by nail
clipping.
Swabbing
Techni
It is applied for que . l
biologica
Vacuuming evidence in a dry or liquid
Identified location condition.
of suspected Dried material:- slightly
evidence is moistened the swab with water.
vacuumed up & The stained area should be
caught in a filtered thoroughly swabbed with a single
trap attached to swab for small area & multiple
the vacuum swabs for large area. Swab
should be air dried & packed in
separate package.
Wet material:- It should be
swabbed & allowed to get
Specific techniques for other
Evidence
Glass
Paint Flammable firearm
Fluid
Controlle Charred
d Documents
Substanc
es
Preservation of
Evidence
It is crucial to maintain its integrity, admissibility, &
usefulness in legal proceedings, investigations or analysis.
Proper preservation ensures that its original state is
maintained & it can be examined by experts without
contamination or degradation. Some Important steps of
preservation of evidence are:-
Secure the Minimize Photograph Document
Scene Touching the scene in detail
Preservation of
CollectiEvidence
ng Physical Evidences:-
• Proper collection kits & container.
• Separate container for different types of evidence to
prevent cross contamination
• label each evidence with a unique identifier & chain of
custody information.
• In case of Perishable (die or decay) like a sample of
semen, a blood soaked shirt, etc., it should be
transported to laboratory same day.
• Immediately inform to laboratory for analysis so, that
they made arrangement accordingly.
• Stored it in refrigerator or in air Dried if not possible to
send immediately to laboratory but not more than one
week.
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Packing & Labelling:-
• Carefully package to prevent
damage during transportation.
• Seal Evidence containers with
tamper evident seals or evidence
tape.
• Biohazard material such as blood,
semen & other biological fluids
must be be identified on the
packaging with red/orange bio-
hazard label in proper sequence for
the item to submit to the
la
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Packing & Labelling:-
• Moist evidence should not be packed until it is thoroughly
dry.
• liquid evidence should be packaged in a sterile glass or
plastic bottle & refrigerated if immediate analysis is not
possible.
• Appropriate labelling of all evidence (case no., location,
date, time & collector’s information)
• A documentary log.
Chain of Custody
• Document every person who handles
the evidence & when it is transferred
between individual or location.
• Maintain a continuous & documented
chain of custody to ensure evidence
authenticity & admissibility in court.
Preservation of
• VisceraBiological Evidence
(Stomach, Small intestine, liver, spleen,
kidney) should be collected in wide mouth glass bottle
for each
.
• In cases of poisoning saturated solution of common
salt should be used for preservation of viscera.
• Tissues to be used for Histopathology may be
preserved in 10% formalin.
• Blood for alcohol identification should be preserved
with 10 mg Sodium fluoride & 30 mg potassium
oxalate for 10ml of blood. This mixture helps to
prevent the alcohol in the blood from breaking down
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• Keep Biological evidence in cool, dry
conditions to prevent degradation.
• Freeze them if preserved for extended
periods.
Collection & Preservation of Sample for
DNA Fingerprinting
Sample collection from Sample collection from
living
• Blood 5ml ofsubjects
venous blood Dead bodies
should be collected in EDTA • Un-clotted 10 ml blood from
vial & mixed well. Heparin fresh dead bodies in EDTA tubes
should not be used as it may is used.
interfere with PCR.
• Brain tissues can also be used.
• Buccal Swab - By using Swab
in side the subject’s mouth • Muscle or Spleen if
for 10 seconds & placed
decomposition started bone
directly into packet to dry.
marrow from femur & teeth are
also recommended.
• hair follicle roots are used for
DNA fingerprinting.
Digital
Evidence
• Make forensic copies to preserve the original data
without altering it.
• Maintain the integrity of digital evidence by storing it in
write protected media .
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Forwarding biological samples for
examination
Forwarding biological samples for forensic
examination involves a careful & systematic
process to ensure the integrity, chain of custody
& accuracy of the samples.
• shipping Guidelines
• Proper Packaging
• Documentation
• Secure transportation
• Preservation • Notification
• Packaging material • Tracking & confirmation
• Outer packaging • Receiving Confirmation
• Documentation within • Storage at Forensic
package laboratory
• Analysis process
• Return of Samples
Than
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