ASTM_E_2123_-_10.pdf

Designation:E212310Standard Practice forTransmittal of Evidence in Sexual Assault Investigation1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2123;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.1.Scope1.1 This practice describes the basic considerations that willhelp preserve different items or types of sexual assault relatedevidence for subsequent analysis.This practice is designed tobe used in conjunction with other specifications,guides,andpractices associated with sexual assault examinations that arelisted in Section 2.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and RelatedDocumentationE1492 Practice for Receiving,Documenting,Storing,andRetrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science LaboratoryE1732 Terminology Relating to Forensic ScienceE1843 Guide for Sexual Assault Investigation,Examination,and Evidence CollectionE2057 Specifications for Preparation of Laboratory AnalysisRequests in Sexual Assault Investigations3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsFor definitions of terms used in thesespecifications see Terminology E1732 and the Compilation ofASTM Standard Definitions(1990).4.Summary of Practice4.1 Evidence collected from the victim or suspect,otherphysical evidence from the crime scene,and investigative factsand medical conclusions associated with a sexual assaultexamination should be treated in a manner that will ensure theirsuitable preservation for presentation in legal proceedings.4.2 All individuals associated with the investigation shouldbe prepared to protect the evidence chain of custody andpreserve what are often trace amounts of perishable biologicalmaterials,and other trace evidence such as hairs,fibers,andparticulate evidence that may not be visible to the unaided eye.4.3 These standard specifications are to be used in conjunc-tion with Guide E1843 and Specification E2057.4.3.1 Additional information can be found in PracticeE1492.5.Significance and Use5.1 The procedures put forth in this standard are designed topreserve sexual assault evidence items during collection,stor-age,and transmittal for analysis at an appropriate laboratory.6.Procedure6.1 Evidence Chain of Custody:6.1.1 The chain of custody in a sexual assault examinationof a victim is unique in that it may be difficult to control in themidst of administering to the needs of an often mobile andtraumatized individual.6.1.2 An“investigator”in this usage may be,but is notlimited to,an emergency medical practitioner,social worker,nurse,physician,or law enforcement officer.6.1.3 It is the responsibility of each“investigator”of theassault to ensure that the chain of custody is continued by thesubsequent investigator,evidence transporter,or evidence stor-age person.6.1.4 The basic requirements for the labeling and initiatinga chain of custody of evidence items are described in GuideE1459.6.2 Preservation of Evidence:6.2.1 All items of physical evidence collected in the inves-tigation should be treated as though they are,or may contain,perishable biological materials until they can be examined byan appropriate forensic laboratory.6.2.2 Liquid blood samples should be collected and trans-ported as required by the examining forensic laboratory.Driedstains may be transported at room temperature.6.2.2.1 In some cases,more than one blood sample may berequired from an individual for a combination of serological(including DNA)and toxicological testing.The preservative oranticoagulant required in each sample may be different and theanalyzing laboratorys requirements for each sample should befollowed.1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on ForensicSciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 on Criminalistics.Current edition approved June 1,2010.Published June 2010.Originallyapproved in 2001.Last previous edition approved in 2009 as E2123 09.DOI:10.1520/E2123-10.2For 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 6.2.3 Blood and urine obtained for toxicological examina-tion,and other items which must remain in liquid form shouldbe sealed in appropriate containers.If frozen,they shouldremain in a frozen condition during all transportation andstorage.Other items of biological evidence should be air driedat room temperature,packaged and sealed in paper envelopes,paper bags,or paper board containers,or containers that allowevaporation.An outer,sealed plastic bag may be used,ifrequired,for air dried evidence and contained liquid specimensonly.Se