ASTM E860-07(2013)e2

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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2013
• ICS: 03.120.20 - Product and company certification. Conformity assessment
• Technical Committee: E30 - Forensic Sciences
• Drafting Committee: E30.11 - Interdisciplinary Forensic Science Standards

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
´2
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.
ε NOTE—Editorial corrections were made to 5.4.2 in October 2017.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This practice sets forth guidelines for the examination
E1188 Practice for Collection and Preservation of Informa-
and testing of actual items or systems (hereinafter termed
tion and Physical Items by a Technical Investigator
evidence) that may have been involved in a specific incident
E1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related
that are or may be reasonably expected to be the subject of civil
Documentation
or criminal litigation. This practice is intended to become
E1492 Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and
applicable when it is determined that examination or testing of
Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory
evidence is required, and such examination is likely to change
E1843 Guide for Sexual Violence Investigation,
the nature, state or condition of the evidence.
Examination, and Evidence Collection Protocol
1.2 This practice recommends generally acceptable profes-
2.2 Other Documents:
sional practice, although the facts and issues of each situation 3
NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
may require specific considerations not expressly addressed
herein. Deviations from this practice are not necessarily wrong
3. Terminology
or inferior, but such deviations should be justified and docu-
3.1 Definitions:
mented.
3.1.1 destructive testing—testing, examination, re-
1.3 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing examination, disassembly, or other actions likely to alter the
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
original, as-found nature, state or condition of items of
education, training, or experience and should be used in evidence so as to preclude or adversely affect additional
conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this
examination and testing.
practice may be applicable in all circumstances.
3.1.2 spoliation of evidence—the loss, destruction, or mate-
rial alteration of an object or document that is evidence or
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
potential evidence in a legal proceeding by one who has the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility for its preservation. Spoliation of evidence may
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
occur when the movement, change or destruction of evidence,
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
or alteration of the scene significantly impairs the opportunity
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
of other interested parties to obtain the same evidentiary value
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
from the evidence as did any prior investigator.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
4. Significance and Use
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
4.1 This practice establishes procedures to be followed to
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
document the nature, state, or condition of items of evidence.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
It also describes specific actions that are required if planned
1 2
This practice is under the jurisdiction of Committee E30 on Forensic Sciences For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.11 on Interdisciplinary contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Forensic Science Standards. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved June 1, 2013. Published July 2013. Originally approved the ASTM website.
in 1982. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as E860 – 07. DOI: 10.1520/ Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch
E0860-07R13E02. Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, http://www.nfpa.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
´2
E860 − 07 (2013)
testing, examination, disassembly, or other actions are likely t
...

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.
´2 ´2
Designation: E860 − 07 (Reapproved 2013) 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.
ε NOTE—Editorial corrections were made to 5.4.2 in October 2017.
1. 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E1188 Practice for Collection and Preservation of Information and Physical Items by a Technical Investigator
E1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related Documentation
E1492 Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory
E1843 Guide for Sexual Assault Investigation, Examination, and Evidence Collection
2.2 Other Documents:
NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 destructive testing—testing, examination, re-examination, disassembly, or other actions likely to alter the original,
as-found nature, state or condition of items of evidence so as to preclude or adversely affect additional examination and testing.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of Committee E30 on Forensic Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.11 on Interdisciplinary Forensic
Science Standards.
Current edition approved June 1, 2013. Published July 2013. Originally approved in 1982. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as E860 – 07. DOI:
10.1520/E0860-07R13E01.10.1520/E0860-07R13E02.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, http://www.nfpa.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
´2
E860 − 07 (2013)
3.1.2 Spoliationspoliation of evidence—the loss, destruction, or material alteration of an object or document that is evidence or
potential evidence in a legal proceeding by one who has the responsibility for its preservation. Spoliation of evidence may occur
when the movement, change or destruction of evidence, or alteration of the scene significantly impairs the opportunity of other
interested parties to obtain the same evidentiary value from the evidence as did any prior investigator.
4. 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
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