ASTM_E_2057_-_10_2015.pdf

Designation:E205710(Reapproved 2015)Standard Specifications forPreparation of Laboratory Analysis Requests in SexualAssault Investigations1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2057;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONThe meaningful analysis of physical evidence recovered in sexual assault investigations requires notonly careful attention to the preservation of easily damaged or degraded biological materials but alsothe transmittal of a clear description and explanation of that evidence for the examining scientists/analysts/criminalists.This description should include the source of,and relationships between,different evidence items and is sometimes referred to as a“case synopsis.”The more information theanalysts have at their disposal concerning the circumstances of the assault and the relationship(s)ofthe victim(s)and suspect(s),the more successful their efforts will be in resolving questions in theinvestigation.Failure to adequately document and report this information in the request for scientificanalysis could lead to the application of useless tests of the evidence that may destroy materials betterused in other more meaningful examinations.1.Scope1.1 These specifications describe the basic elements of arequest for the scientific examination of physical evidencecollected in the investigation of a sexual assault.Thesespecifications are designed to be used in conjunction with otherspecifications,guides,and practices associated with sexualassault examinations that are listed in Section 2.1.2 These specifications outline considerations that willfacilitate the analysis of sexual assault evidence by a poten-tially large group of forensic experts.These experts caninclude,but are not limited to,serologists,toxicologists,pathologists,odontologists,latent print examiners,firearm andtoolmark examiners,and trace materials analysts.The successof their combined work generally requires a clear understand-ing of the issues and relationships involved in the case.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E1843 Guide for Sexual Assault Investigation,Examination,and Evidence Collection3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsFor definitions of terms used in thesespecifications,see the Compilation of ASTM Standard Defini-tions(1990).4.Summary of Practice4.1 Requests for laboratory analysis should be supported bysufficient documentation to allow the laboratory scientist(s)tounderstand the conditions surrounding the assault and therelationship(s)between different items of evidence.4.2 These specifications are to be used in conjunction withGuide E1843.5.Significance and Use5.1 These specifications are designed to ensure that evi-dence associated with a sexual assault investigation is handledand analyzed in the most useful manner and without wastingevidentiary materials and analytical time or resources,or both.6.Procedure6.1 The request for scientific examination of sexual assaultevidence should include a completed medical examiner orSANE evaluation form,in accordance with Guide E1843.Itshould also include a complete investigative review as de-scribed as follows.All of the information described may not beavailable in a specific case or at the time of an initial request foranalysis,but it should be forwarded to the examining forensiclaboratory in writing as soon as the information is developed.1These specifications are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 onForensic Sciences and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 onCriminalistics.Current edition approved Jan.1,2015.Published January 2015.Originallyapproved in 2000.Last previous edition approved in 2010 as E2057 10.DOI:10.1520/E2057-10R15.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 6.2 The analytical request and investigative review shouldinclude the following information to the extent that it isavailable in a specific case:(1)Age/sex/race of the assailant(s),if known.(2)Description of the clothing worn by the assailant(s),ifknown.(3)Age/sex/race of the victim.(4)Date of victims last consensual coitus/activity.(5)Date of victims last menstrual period,if applicable.(6)Notation as to whether the assailant(s)used a condomor lubricant,if known.(7)Release/disclosure of evidence and information by thevictim to law enforcement.6.2.1 Time line,beginning with the victims initial contactwith the assailant(s)and concluding with the victims clinicalor post mortem examination and collection of physical evi-