Standard Practice for Collection and Preservation of Information and Physical Items by a Technical Investigator

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This practice is intended for use by any technical investigator when investigating an incident that can be reasonably expected to be the subject of litigation. The intent is to obtain sufficient information and physical items to discover evidence associated with the incident and to preserve it for analysis.
The quality of evidence may change with time, therefore, special effort should be taken to capture and preserve evidence in an expeditious manner. This practice sets forth guidelines for the collection and preservation of evidence for further analysis.
Evidence that has been collected and preserved shall be identified with, and be traceable to, the incident. This practice sets forth guidelines for such procedures.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers guidelines for the collection and preservation of information and physical items by any technical investigator pertaining to an incident that can be reasonably expected to be the subject of litigation.
1.2 This practice recommends generally accepted professional principles and operations, although the facts and issues of each situation require consideration, and frequently involve matters not expressly dealt with herein. Deviations from this practice should be based on specific articulable circumstances.
1.3 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This standard cannot replace knowledge, skill or ability acquired through appropriate education, training, and experience and should be used in conjunction with sound professional judgment.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

Status
Historical
Publication Date
31-Aug-2011
Current Stage
Ref Project

Relations

Buy Standard

Standard
ASTM E1188-11 - Standard Practice for Collection and Preservation of Information and Physical Items by a Technical Investigator
English language
2 pages
sale 15% off
Preview
sale 15% off
Preview
Standard
REDLINE ASTM E1188-11 - Standard Practice for Collection and Preservation of Information and Physical Items by a Technical Investigator
English language
2 pages
sale 15% off
Preview
sale 15% off
Preview

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E1188 − 11
Standard Practice for
Collection and Preservation of Information and Physical
1
Items by a Technical Investigator
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1188; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2.3 Evidence that has been collected and preserved shall be
identified with, and be traceable to, the incident. This practice
1.1 This practice covers guidelines for the collection and
sets forth guidelines for such procedures.
preservation of information and physical items by any techni-
cal investigator pertaining to an incident that can be reasonably
3. Procedure
expected to be the subject of litigation.
3.1 Documentary Information—Collect information related
1.2 This practice recommends generally accepted profes-
to events and conditions occurring before, during, or after the
sional principles and operations, although the facts and issues
incident. Documentary information may be held by any entity
of each situation require consideration, and frequently involve
associated with the incident. Make a broad search to identify
matters not expressly dealt with herein. Deviations from this
documents and, where possible, collect them. Obtain state-
practice should be based on specific articulable circumstances.
ments as early as feasible from all individuals associated with
1.3 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing
the incident and the recovery activity.
one or more specific operations. This standard cannot replace
3.2 Physical Evidence:
knowledge, skill or ability acquired through appropriate
3.2.1 Plan the investigation to protect physical evidence
education, training, and experience and should be used in
significant to the incident. The plan should consider the
conjunction with sound professional judgment.
possibility of identity loss, physical loss, or the deterioration or
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
destruction of information due to environmental effects or the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
recovery and collection activities. For each item considered to
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
be significant to the incident, document, collect and preserve
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
physical items and their information content as soon as
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
possible.
3.2.2 Document conditions that prevent or interfere with the
2. Significance and Use
preservation of any potential evidence in the state in which it
2.1 This practice is intended for use by any technical was found. This might include hazardous or accessibility
investigator when investigating an incident that can be reason- conditions, weather conditions, or other existing complica-
ably expected to be the subject of litigation. The intent is to tions.
obtain sufficient information and physical items to discover
3.2.3 Assign a unique identifier to each item collected and
evidence associated with the incident and to preserve it for
include this information in a label securely attached to the item
analysis.
or as documentation on the item’s container and enter the
identifying information on a log sheet together with a brief
2.2 The quality of evidence may change with time,
description of the item. The evidence documentation should
therefore, special effort should be taken to capture and preserve
also clearly include any specific details necessary for preser-
evidence in an expeditious manner. This practice sets forth
vation of the item, such as temperature control or special
guidelines for the collection and preservation of evidence for
handling instructions.
further analysis.
3.3 Photographic Documentation:
3.3.1 Commence photographic documentation as soon as
1 possible after the incident. Document the scene of the incident
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.11 on Interdisciplin- and the condition of items involved.
ary Forensic Science Standards.
3.3.2 Potential evidence should be photographed in the
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2011. Published October 2011. Originally
position where it is first observed by the investigator. If items
approved in 1987. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as E1188 – 05. DOI:
10.1520/E1188-11. involved in the incident are disassembled or subjected to
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:E1188–05 Designation: E1188 – 11
Standard Practice for
Collection and Preservation of Information and Physical
1
Items by a Technical Investigator
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1188; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers guidelines for the collection and preservation of information and physical items by any technical
investigator pertaining to an incident that can be reasonably expected to be the subject of litigation.
1.2For additional standards promulgated by ASTM Committee E-30, see Practices E620, E678, E860, and E1020.
1.3
1.2 This practice recommends generally accepted professional principles and operations, although the facts and issues of each
situation require consideration, and frequently involve matters not expressly dealt with herein. Deviations from this practice should
be based on specific articulable circumstances.
1.3 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This standard cannot replace
knowledge, skill or ability acquired through appropriate education, training, and experience and should be used in conjunction with
sound professional judgment.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1ASTM Standards:
E620Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or Technical Experts
E678Practice for Evaluation of Scientific or Technical Data
E860Practice for Examining And Preparing Items That Are Or May Become Involved In Criminal or Civil Litigation
E1020Practice for Reporting Incidents that May Involve Criminal or Civil Litigation
3.Significance and Use
3.1This2.1 This practice is intended for use by any technical investigator when investigating an incident that can be reasonably
expected to be the subject of litigation. The intent is to obtain sufficient information and physical items to discover evidence
associated with the incident and to preserve it for later analysis.
3.2The2.2 The quality of evidence may change with time, therefore, special effort should be taken to capture and preserve
evidence in an expeditious manner. This practice sets forth guidelines for the collection and preservation of evidence for further
analysis.
32.3 Evidence that has been collected and preserved shall be identified with, and be traceable to, the incident. This practice sets
forth guidelines for such procedures.
4.3. Procedure
4.1
3.1 Documentary Information—Collect information related to events and conditions occurring before, during, or after the
incident. Documentary information may be held by any entity associated with the incident. Make a broad search to identify
documents and, where possible, collect them. Obtain statements as early as feasible from all individuals associated with the
incident and recovery activity.
4.2Physical Evidence—Obtain and preserve physical items as early as possible. Plan the investigation to protect physical
evidence significant to the incident. The plan should consider the possibility of identity loss, physical loss, deterioration or
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.11 on Interdisciplinary
Forensic Science Standards.
Current edition approved AprilSept. 1, 2005.2011. Published May 2005.October 2011. Originally approved in 1987. Last previous edition approved in 19952005 as
E1188 – 905. DOI: 10.1520/E1188-05.10.1520/E1188-11.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1188 – 11
destruction of informaion due to environmental effect, or recovery and collection activities. When physical items cannot be
preserved in their found state, document it.
4.3Photographic Documentation—Commence photographic documentation as soon as possible after the incident. Document the
scene of the incident and the condition of items involved. If items involved in the incident are disassembled or subjected
...

Questions, Comments and Discussion

Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.