ASTM E2057-00

Standard Specifications for Preparation of Laboratory Analysis Requests in Sexual Assault Investigations (Withdrawn 2009)

ABSTRACT
These specifications describe the basic elements of a request for the scientific examination of physical evidence collected in the investigation of a sexual assault. These specifications outline considerations that will facilitate the analysis of sexual assault evidence by a potentially large group of forensic experts. The request for scientific examination of sexual assault evidence should include a completed sexual assault medical/nurse sexual assault examiner/medical examiner evaluation form in accordance with the requirements.
SCOPE
1.1 These specifications describe the basic elements of a request for the scientific examination of physical evidence collected in the investigation of a sexual assault. These specifications are designed to be used in conjunction with other specifications, guides, and practices associated with sexual assault examinations that are listed in Section .
1.2 These specifications outline considerations that will facilitate the analysis of sexual assault evidence by a potentially large group of forensic experts. These experts can include, but are not limited to, serologists, odontologists, latent print examiners, firearm and toolmark examiners, and trace materials analysts. The success of their combined work generally requires a clear understanding of the issues and relationships involved in the case.
WITHDRAWN RATIONALE
These specifications describe the basic elements of a request for the scientific examination of physical evidence collected in the investigation of a sexual assault.  
Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee E30 on Forensic Sciences, these specification were withdrawn in January 2009 in accordance with section 10.5.3.1 of the Regulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees, which requires that standards shall be updated by the end of the eighth year since the last approval date.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jan-2000
• Withdrawal Date: 31-Dec-2008
• ICS: 13.310 - Protection against crime
• Technical Committee: E30 - Forensic Sciences
• Drafting Committee: E30.01 - Criminalistics

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E2057-10 - Standard Specifications for Preparation of Laboratory Analysis Requests in Sexual Assault Investigations
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2010
• Referred By: ASTM E2123-20 - Standard Practice for Preservation of Evidence in Sexual Violence Investigation
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2000
• Referred By: ASTM E2124-20 - Standard Specification for Equipment and Supplies in Sexual Violence Investigations
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2000

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: E 2057 – 00
Standard Specifications for
Preparation of Laboratory Analysis Requests in Sexual
1
Assault Investigations
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 2057; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
The meaningful analysis of physical evidence recovered in sexual assault investigations requires not
only careful attention to the preservation of easily damaged or degraded biological materials but also
the 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 the
analysts have at their disposal concerning the circumstances of the assault and the relationship(s) of
the victim(s) and suspect(s), the more successful their efforts will be in resolving questions in the
investigation. Failure to adequately document and report this information in the request for scientific
analysis could lead to the application of useless tests of the evidence that may destroy materials better
used in other more meaningful examinations.
1. Scope E 1843 Guide for Sexual Assault Investigation, Examina-
2
tion, and Evidence
1.1 These specifications describe the basic elements of a
request for the scientific examination of physical evidence
3. Terminology
collected in the investigation of a sexual assault. These
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in these
specifications are designed to be used in conjunction with other
specifications, see the Compilation of ASTM Standard Defini-
specifications, guides, and practices associated with sexual
tions (1990).
assault examinations that are listed in Section 2.
1.2 These specifications outline considerations that will
4. Summary of Practice
facilitate the analysis of sexual assault evidence by a poten-
4.1 Requests for laboratory analysis should be supported by
tially large group of forensic experts. These experts can
sufficient documentation to allow the laboratory scientist(s) to
include, but are not limited to, serologists, odontologists, latent
understand the conditions surrounding the assault and the
print examiners, firearm and toolmark examiners, and trace
relationship(s) between different items of evidence.
materials analysts. The success of their combined work gener-
4.2 These specifications are to be used in conjunction with
ally requires a clear understanding of the issues and relation-
Guide E 1843.
ships involved in the case.
5. Significance and Use
2. Referenced Documents
5.1 These specifications are designed to ensure that evi-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
dence associated with a sexual assault investigation is handled
E 1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related
2 and analyzed in the most useful manner and without wasting
Documentation
evidentiary materials and analytical time or resources, or both.
E 1492 Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and
2
Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory
6. Procedure
2
E 1732 Terminology Relating to Forensic Science
6.1 The request for scientific examination of sexual assault
evidence should include a completed sexual assault medical/
nurse sexual assault examiner/medical examiner evaluation
1
These specifications are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-30 on
form in accordance with Guide E 1843. It should also include
Forensic Sciences and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 on
a complete investigative review as described as follows.All of
Criminalistics.
the information described may not be available in a specific
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 2000. Published April 2000.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02. case or at the time of an initial request for analysis, but it
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E 2057
should be forwarded to the examining forensic laboratory in between the time of the assault and the initial assault exami-
writing as soon as the information is developed. nation and collection of physical evidence.
6.2 The analytical request and investigative review should
6.2.9 Description of all the individuals with day-to-day
include the following information to the extent that it is
access to the locations listed in 6.2.6 and these individual’s
available in a specific case:
relationships.
6.2.1 Time line, beginning with the victim’s initial contact
6
...