Collecting Evidence from Human Bodies
Physical Evidence Bulletin
California Department of Justice, Bureau of Forensic Services
See also the instructional videos on "Evidence Collection"
Purpose
The physical evidence bulletin is a guideline intended for law enforcement agencies to follow in order to submit evidence to Bureau of Forensic Services Laboratories. Physical Evidence bulletins are not intended to be used in lieu of training in the collection of evidence.
The collection of evidence from the body of a deceased person requires the cooperation of the Coroner's Office and all law enforcement agencies. Typically, the Coroner's office has jurisdiction over the body and property of the deceased. It is important that any evidence collected from the deceased be collected with the knowledge and permission of the Coroner's Office. Advise the Coroner's office of what was taken and ensure that any evidence collected be made available to the pathologist.
This bulletin will describe the types of evidence that might be recovered from human bodies. It is important to note that some evidence will be much better preserved if it is collected at the crime scene rather than at the morgue. Evidence that can be lost or altered during transport includes: bloodstain patterns, saliva residues from bite marks, gunshot powder residues, and loosely adhering trace evidence. When necessary, remove clothing at the scene. In addition, biological evidence (e.g. semen evidence taken by swabs from body cavities) may be better preserved if collected as soon as possible, then dried and stored frozen. Although it may be desirable to collect such evidence at the crime scene, it may not always be possible due to conditions at the scene or the policies of a particular Coroner's Office. In these cases, photographs must be used to capture important pattern, position, and location information before the body is moved. Ensure that intermediate (from different angles) and close-up photographs are obtained to adequately document evidence.