Designation:E1492−11StandardPracticeforReceiving,Documenting,Storing,andRetrievingEvidenceinaForensicScienceLaboratory1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE1492;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.1.Scope1.1Thispracticedescribesproceduresandtechniquesforaforensicsciencelaboratorytoprotectanddocumenttheinteg-rityofitemsofphysicalevidencewithrespecttosuitabilityforscientifictesting,andadmissibilityasevidenceinlitigation.1.2Thispracticerecommendsgenerallyacceptedprofes-sionalprinciplesandoperations,althoughthefactsandissuesofeachsituationrequireconsideration,andfrequentlyinvolvemattersnotexpresslydealtwithherein.Deviationsfromthispracticeshouldbebasedonspecificarticulablecircumstances.1.3Thispracticeoffersasetofinstructionsforperformingoneormorespecificoperations.Thisstandardcannotreplaceknowledge,skillorabilityacquiredthroughappropriateedu-cation,training,andexperienceandshouldbeusedinconjunc-tionwithsoundprofessionaljudgment.1.4Thisstandarddoesnotpurporttoaddressallofthesafetyconcerns,ifany,associatedwithitsuse.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuserofthisstandardtoestablishappro-priatesafetyandhealthpracticesanddeterminetheapplica-bilityofregulatorylimitationspriortouse.2.ReferencedDocuments2.1ASTMStandards:2E860PracticeforExaminingAndPreparingItemsThatAreOrMayBecomeInvolvedInCriminalorCivilLitigationE1188PracticeforCollectionandPreservationofInforma-tionandPhysicalItemsbyaTechnicalInvestigatorE1459GuideforPhysicalEvidenceLabelingandRelatedDocumentation3.SignificanceandUse3.1Priortobeingpresentedincourt,afoundationmustbeestablishedshowinghowevidencewascollected,whocol-lectedtheevidence,whereitwascollected,whohashadcustodyoftheevidence,howtheevidencehasbeenprocessed,andwhenchangesofcustodyhaveoccurred.3.2Followingtheproceduresoutlinedinthispractic...
