ASTM E860-07(2013)e1
(Practice)Standard Practice for Examining And Preparing Items That Are Or May Become Involved In Criminal or Civil Litigation
Standard Practice for Examining And Preparing Items That Are Or May Become Involved In Criminal or Civil Litigation
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice establishes procedures to be followed to document the nature, state, or condition of items of evidence. It also describes specific actions that are required if planned testing, examination, disassembly, or other actions are likely to alter the nature, state, or condition of the evidence so as to preclude or adversely limit additional examination or testing.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice sets forth guidelines for the examination and testing of actual items or systems (hereinafter termed evidence) that may have been involved in a specific incident that are or may be reasonably expected to be the subject of civil or criminal litigation. This practice is intended to become applicable when it is determined that examination or testing of evidence is required, and such examination is likely to change the nature, state or condition of the evidence.
1.2 This practice recommends generally acceptable professional practice, although the facts and issues of each situation may require specific considerations not expressly addressed herein. Deviations from this practice are not necessarily wrong or inferior, but such deviations should be justified and documented.
1.3 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace education, training, or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be applicable in all circumstances.
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.
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Standards Content (Sample)
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´1
Designation: E860 − 07 (Reapproved 2013)
Standard Practice for
Examining And Preparing Items That Are Or May Become
Involved In Criminal or Civil Litigation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E860; 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.
ε NOTE—Editorial corrections were made to 5.4 in March 2014.
1. Scope E1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related
Documentation
1.1 This practice sets forth guidelines for the examination
E1492 Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and
and testing of actual items or systems (hereinafter termed
Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory
evidence) that may have been involved in a specific incident
E1843 Guide for SexualAssault Investigation, Examination,
thatareormaybereasonablyexpectedtobethesubjectofcivil
and Evidence Collection
or criminal litigation. This practice is intended to become
2.2 Other Documents:
applicable when it is determined that examination or testing of
NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
evidence is required, and such examination is likely to change
the nature, state or condition of the evidence.
3. Terminology
1.2 This practice recommends generally acceptable profes-
3.1 Definitions:
sional practice, although the facts and issues of each situation
3.1.1 destructive testing—testing, examination, re-
may require specific considerations not expressly addressed
examination, disassembly, or other actions likely to alter the
herein. Deviations from this practice are not necessarily wrong
original, as-found nature, state or condition of items of
or inferior, but such deviations should be justified and docu-
evidence so as to preclude or adversely affect additional
mented.
examination and testing.
1.3 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing
3.1.2 Spoliation of evidence—the loss, destruction, or mate-
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
rial alteration of an object or document that is evidence or
education, training, or experience and should be used in
potential evidence in a legal proceeding by one who has the
conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this
responsibility for its preservation. Spoliation of evidence may
practice may be applicable in all circumstances.
occur when the movement, change or destruction of evidence,
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
or alteration of the scene significantly impairs the opportunity
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
of other interested parties to obtain the same evidentiary value
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
from the evidence as did any prior investigator.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 4. Significance and Use
4.1 This practice establishes procedures to be followed to
2. Referenced Documents
document the nature, state, or condition of items of evidence.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
It also describes specific actions that are required if planned
E1188 Practice for Collection and Preservation of Informa-
testing, examination, disassembly, or other actions are likely to
tion and Physical Items by a Technical Investigator
alter the nature, state, or condition of the evidence so as to
preclude or adversely limit additional examination or testing.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of Committee E30 on Forensic Sciences
5. Procedure
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.11 on Interdisciplinary
Forensic Science Standards.
5.1 The person, firm, or agency conducting examinations or
CurrenteditionapprovedJune1,2013.PublishedJuly2013.Originallyapproved
tests of the evidence should document the nature, state, and
in 1982. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as E860 – 07. DOI: 10.1520/
conditionoftheevidencebydescriptive,photographic,orother
E0860-07R13E01.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch
the ASTM website. Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, http://www.nfpa.org.
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