Crime scene and physical evidence awareness for non-forensic personnel

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

The primary target audience of the manual is non-forensic personnel, i.e. first responders and any person involved in the crime scene investigation process without full-fledged training, to help them understand the importance of their actions and the consequences of not applying basic principles of good practice. The manual also targets policy makers, the judiciary and others having to assess, and/or base decisions on evidence presented to them.

Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction and purpose

PART I

The value of physical evidence and the concept of chain-of-custody
Forensic science services and the crime scene investigation process
Legal, ethical and human dignity considerations
Health and safety considerations

PART II

Planning, organization and coordination of the work at the scene
Preservation of the scene and its evidence
Documentation of the scene and its evidence
Recognition, recovery and preservation of physical evidence
Transportation, storage and submission of evidence to the laboratory

ANNEX

Types of physical evidence potentially present at crime scenes, and their evidential value

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