View source for Evidence packaging

{{Short description|Specialized packaging for physical evidence}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2019}}
[[File:Two DNA swab collection kits, Essex, England, 2006 Wellcome L0066866.jpg |thumb|DNA swab kit with containers]]
[[File:Medical professionals learn how to use the Sexual Assault Evidence Collection kit at Camp Phoenix near Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 15, 2010 100815-A-GY802-017.jpg|thumb|Sexual assault kit]]
[[File:Mobiles.JPG|thumb|Two mobile phones in a [[security bag]] or "evidence bag"]]
[[File:Nuclear Forensics (02813664) (14602685934).jpg|thumb|A package of radioactive material from a crime scene comes into an [[IAEA]] lab and is unpacked in a [[glove box]]. Participants take detailed notes of each stage of the unpacking.]]
[[File:DoD random drug test specimen bottle.png|thumb|Drug test specimen bottle: Frangible [[security label]] detects tampering or altering of the specimen.]]

'''Evidence packaging''' involves the specialized [[packaging]] methods and materials used for physical [[evidence]]. Items need to be collected at a [[crime scene]] or a fire scene, forwarded to a laboratory for [[forensic analysis]], put in secure storage, and used in a courtroom, all while maintaining the [[chain of custody]]. Items might include [[DNA]], drugs, hair samples, body parts, blood samples, sperm, knives, vomit, firearms, bullets, [[fire accelerant]]s, computers, checkbooks, etc.

Each police or fire jurisdiction has its own policies and procedures for evidence collection and handling.<ref>
{{Citation
 | title = Handbook of Forensic Services
 | publisher =US Federal Bureau of Investigation
 | year =2013
 | url = https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/handbook-of-forensic-services-pdf.pdf/view
| access-date = Apr 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>
{{Citation
 | title = Scenes of Crime Examination Best Practice Manual
 | publisher = ENSFI
 | pages =
 | date =
 | year =
 | url =http://library.college.police.uk/docs/appref/ENFSI-BPM-v1_0.pdf
 | access-date =11 April 2019}}
</ref><ref>
{{Citation
 | title = Evidence Packaging: A How-To Guide
 | publisher = California Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Services | pages =32
 | date =
 | year =
 | url =https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/cci/reference/evidence_collection.pdf
 | access-date =Apr 11, 2019
}}</ref> Legal requirements for admissible evidence to a court also vary from region to region. Many commonalities do exist.

==Physical containment and protection==
Packaging should be the proper size, type, and material for the item.<ref>{{cite journal
 | last = Warrington
 | first =D
| title =Properly Packaging Evidence
| journal =Forensic Magazine
| date =12 February 2013
 | pages =
| volume =
| issue =
 | url =https://www.forensicmag.com/article/2013/02/properly-packaging-evidence
 | access-date =Apr 11, 2019}}</ref> Many items are suited to a clean paper bag sealed with a [[security tape]]. Many jurisdictions desire one item per container, but situations do vary. Clean [[zipper storage bag]]s are also used: special [[security bag]]s or “evidence bags” have built-in security and tamper-indicating features.

Knives are best suited to packing in [[corrugated box]]es so the blade does not cut the package or people. Empty firearms are often attached to a corrugated box by [[cable tie]]s.

[[Salvage drum]]s are available in various sizes to contain potentially hazardous liquids.

When [[detection of fire accelerants]] is needed for evidence from a fire investigation, the package must be a vapor barrier. Sometimes a glass jar such as a [[mason jar]] is used. Heat sealable nylon [[plastic bag]]s have also been shown to be effective.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Williams, M. |author2=& Sigman, M. |title=Performance Testing of Commercial Containers for collection and storage of fire debris evidence |journal=Journal of Forensic Sciences|volume=52|issue=3 | pages=579–585|year= 2007|doi=10.1111/j.1556-4029.2007.00435.x|pmid=17456085 |s2cid=40810937 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
 | last = Grutters
 | first =M
 | title =Performance Testing of the New AMPAC Fire Debris Bag Against Three Other Commercial Fire Debris Bags
 | journal =Journal of Forensic Sciences
| date =2012
 | pages =1290–1298
| volume = 57
| issue =5
 | url =http://shop.narcotictests.com/downloads/products/AMPAC%20fire%20debris%20bag.pdf
 | access-date =Apr 12, 2019
 | doi =10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02132.x
 | pmid =22564080
 | s2cid =12162625
 }}</ref>

==Contamination==
Control is needed to prevent contamination of the evidence: investigators to the evidence, scene to scene, evidence to evidence, etc.<ref>{{cite journal
| last    = Balk
| first   = C
| title   = Reducing Contamination in Forensic Science
| journal = Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
| date    = 2015
| pages   = 221–239
| volume  = 3
| issue   = 12
| doi     = 10.31979/THEMIS.2015.0312
| url     = https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1033&context=themis
| access-date = May 7, 2019| doi-access= free
}}</ref>

==Dangerous evidence==
Particular care is needed when packaging material classified as [[dangerous goods]] (Hazardous materials) and with items possibly qualifying as [[hazardous waste]] or [[biomedical waste]]. This might include: drugs, explosives, loaded firearms, ammunition, [[etiologic agent]]s, flammables, radioactives, etc.

Local specialists often transport items to a local laboratory for analysis or to an approved storage facility. When items are shipped (particularly by common carrier), strict regulations govern the construction, preparation, and labeling of [[shipping container]]s.

==Identification==
Individual packs and collections of items in a larger container need to be labeled: description, source, preliminary comments, special handling needs, etc.

[[Chain of custody]] labels with authenticated signatures are often required. Gaps in documented custody make submission to a court more difficult.

==Security==
The physical security of packaged items is critical. The items cannot be damaged or degraded in transit or storage. The risk of theft, pilferage, tampering, adulteration, etc. must be tightly controlled.

Packaging is not to be considered as "tamper proof"; it is only one component of an [[evidence management]] system. No one security feature can be considered as "tamper proof".<ref>{{Citation
| last = Rosette
| first = J L
| chapter = Tamper-Evident Packaging
| year =2009 
| editor-last = Yam
| editor-first = K L
| title = Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology
| volume = 
| publisher = Wiley
| publication-date = 2010
| isbn = 978-0-470-08704-6}}
</ref> Most security products can be foiled by a knowledgeable person with sufficient time and with access to specialized tools, solvents, extreme temperatures, other [[security bag]]s, other [[security tape]]s, etc.

==See also==
*[[Fire investigation]]
*[[Criminal investigation]]
*[[Forensic firearm examination]]
*[[DNA collection]]
*[[Bindle]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* Rosette, J L, ”Improving Tamper-Evident Packaging: Problems, Tests and Solutions", 1992
* Yam, K.L., "Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology", John Wiley & Sons, 2009, {{ISBN|978-0-470-08704-6}}

==External links==
* {{cite web |title=Collecting DNA Evidence at a Property Crime Scene |year=2017 |work=National Forensic Technology Training Center |url=https://projects.nfstc.org/property_crimes/map.htm }}
* {{cite web |title=Crime Scene Investigation: A Reference for Law Enforcement Training |work=U.S. Department of Justice |year=2004 |url=https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/200160.pdf }}

{{packaging}}

[[Category:Forensic techniques]]
[[Category:Law enforcement techniques]]
[[Category:Packaging]]