Evidence Collection Guidelines

• Evidence Collection Guidelines: Blood Stains, Seminal Stains, Hair, Fibers and Threads, Glass, Paint, Flammable Liquids, Firearms Evidence, Tool Marks, Controlled Substances and Medicinal Preparations, Questioned Documents, Latent Fingerprints

Evidence Collection Manuals

• Guidelines for Evidence Submission, Connecticut Dept of Public Safety, Division of Scientific Services
• Evidence Packaging Procedures, Illinois State Police Division of Forensic Services
• Forensic Evidence Handbook, Missouri State Highway Patrol Forensic Laboratory
• Evidence Handling Manual, Montana State Crime Lab
• Evidence Field Manual, New Jersey State Police Forensic Sciences
• Evidence Field Manual Quick Reference Handbook, New Jersey State Police Forensic Sciences
• Evidence Guide, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
• Physical Evidence Manual, Oregon State Police Forensic Services Division
• Laboratory Services and Requirements for Submitting Evidence, Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory
• Physical Evidence Handbook, Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Laboratory Service
• Evidence Handling and Laboratory Capabilities Guide, Virginia Department of Forensic Science
• Physical Evidence Handbook, Wisconsin Department of Justice State Crime Laboratories

Evidence Collection Bulletins

• Automobile Lights, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
• Blood and Other Body Fluid Stains, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
• Controlled Substances, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
• Fiber and Hair, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
• Firearms, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
• Glass Fragments, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
• Gunshot residue, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
• Human Bodies, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
• Latent Print Evidence, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
• NIBIN Program - Automated Firearms Evidence Imaging, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
• Paint Evidence, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
• Questioned Documents, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
• Sexual Assault Evidence, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
• Shoe and Tire Impressions, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
• Soil, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
• Volatile Flammables, California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services
• CODIS Section Quality Assurance Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
• Digital Evidence Section Quality Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
• Evidence Receiving Quality Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
• Firearms & Tool Marks Section Quality Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
• Forensic Chemistry Section Quality Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
• Forensic DNA Section Quality Assurance Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
• Forensic Toxicology Section Quality Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
• Laboratory Quality Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
• Latent Print Section Quality Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
• Serology Quality Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
• Trace Evidence Unit Quality Manual, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory

Video Presentations on Evidence Collection

Latent Fingerprints

• Developing Latent Fingerprints with Black Powder
• Developing Latent Fingerprints with Super Glue
• Developing Latent Fingerprints with Magnetic Powder
• Using Mikrosil to Lift Fingerprints from Irregular Surfaces

Impression and Tool Mark Evidence

• Photographing Footwear Impressions
• Casting Footwear Impressions
• Casting Tool Mark Impressions with Mikrosil

Photography

• Photographing Footwear Impressions

Collection and Preservation of Evidence

• A Primer on the Tools of Crime Scene Analysis, by Robert J. Garrett
• Stringing a Crime Scene to Determine Trajectories, by Gregory A. Parkinson
• Developing and Lifting Latent Footwear Impressions by Mike Byrd
• Detecting OC Spray with an Alternative Light Source by H.W. "Rus" Ruslander
• Searching and Examining a Major Case Crime Scene by H.W. "Rus" Ruslander
• Dead Body Evidence Checklist
• Practical Methods for Processing a Vehicle by Agnes Sarisky
• Ridge Detail at the Crime Scene by Mike Byrd
• DNA -- The next generation technology by Mike Byrd
• Written Documentation at a Crime Scene by Mike Byrd
• Proper Tagging and Labeling of Evidence for Later Identification by Mike Byrd
• Innovative Evidence Identification Markers by Mike Byrd
• Simple Tire Standards Collection by Mike Byrd
• Footwear Evidence by Dwayne S. Hilderbrand
• Protecting the Crime Scene by George Schiro
• Examination and Documentation of the Crime Scene by George Schiro
• Collection and Preservation of Evidence by George Schiro
• Special Considerations for Sexual Assault Evidence by George Schiro
• Collection and Preservation of Blood Evidence from Crime Scenes by George Schiro

  See also other articles in the following categories on our Articles Page:

  • Bloodstain
  • Computer Forensics
  • Crime Scene Investigation
  • DNA
  • Documentation
  • Fingerprints
  • Firearms
  • Footwear, Impressions
  • Human Remains
  • Miscellaneous
  • Packaging Evidence
  • Photography

Guides Published by the National Institute of Justice

• Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for Law Enforcement
• A Guide for Explosion and Bombing Scene Investigation
• Fire and Arson Scene Investigation: A Guide for Public Safety Personnel
• Death Investigation: A Guide for the Scene Investigator 1999
• Death Investigation: A Guide for the Scene Investigator Update, 2011
• What Every Law Enforcement Officer Should Know About DNA Evidence

Property Management

• Property & Evidence Management Guide California Commission on Peace Officer Standards & Training
• International Association for Property and Evidence (IAPE)

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