ASTM E2057-10

Standard Specifications for Preparation of Laboratory Analysis Requests in Sexual Assault Investigations

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.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
These specifications are designed to ensure that evidence associated with a sexual assault investigation is handled and analyzed in the most useful manner and without wasting evidentiary materials and analytical time or resources, or both.
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 2.
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, toxicologists, pathologists, 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2010
• ICS: 13.310 - Protection against crime
• Technical Committee: E30 - Forensic Sciences
• Drafting Committee: E30.01 - Criminalistics

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E2057-00 - Standard Specifications for Preparation of Laboratory Analysis Requests in Sexual Assault Investigations (Withdrawn 2009)
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2010
• Referred By: ASTM E2124-20 - Standard Specification for Equipment and Supplies in Sexual Violence Investigations
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2010
• Referred By: ASTM E2123-20 - Standard Practice for Preservation of Evidence in Sexual Violence Investigation
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2010

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:E2057 −10
StandardSpecifications for
Preparation of Laboratory Analysis Requests in Sexual
1
Assault Investigations
This standard is issued under the fixed designation ; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) 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 and Evidence Collection
1.1 These specifications describe the basic elements of a
3. Terminology
request for the scientific examination of physical evidence
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in these
collected in the investigation of a sexual assault. These
specifications, see the Compilation of ASTM Standard Defini-
specifications are designed to be used in conjunction with other
tions (1990).
specifications, guides, and practices associated with sexual
assault examinations that are listed in Section 2.
4. Summary of Practice
1.2 These specifications outline considerations that will
4.1 Requests for laboratory analysis should be supported by
facilitate the analysis of sexual assault evidence by a poten-
sufficient documentation to allow the laboratory scientist(s) to
tially large group of forensic experts. These experts can
understand the conditions surrounding the assault and the
include, but are not limited to, serologists, toxicologists,
relationship(s) between different items of evidence.
pathologists, odontologists, latent print examiners, firearm and
4.2 These specifications are to be used in conjunction with
toolmark examiners, and trace materials analysts. The success
Guide E1843.
of their combined work generally requires a clear understand-
ing of the issues and relationships involved in the case.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 These specifications are designed to ensure that evi-
2. Referenced Documents
dence associated with a sexual assault investigation is handled
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
and analyzed in the most useful manner and without wasting
E1843 Guide for SexualAssault Investigation, Examination,
evidentiary materials and analytical time or resources, or both.
6. Procedure
1
These specifications are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on
6.1 The request for scientific examination of sexual assault
Forensic Sciences and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 on
evidence should include a completed medical examiner or
Criminalistics.
SANE evaluation form, in accordance with Guide E1843.It
Current edition approved April 1, 2010. Published May 2010. Originally
should also include a complete investigative review as de-
approved in 2000. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as E2057 – 00, which was
withdrawn January 2002 and reinstated in April 2010. DOI:10.1520/E2057-10.
scribed as follows.All of the information described may not be
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
availableinaspecificcaseoratthetimeofaninitialrequestfor
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
analysis, but it should be forwarded to the examining forensic
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. laboratory in writing as soon as the information is developed.
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E2057−10
6.2 The analytical request and investigative review should 6.2.6 Description of all individuals with legitimate access to
include the following information to the extent that it is the assault scene(s) and their relationships.
available in a specific case: 6.2.7 Detailed description of the assault.
Age/sex/race of the assailant(s), if known. 6.2.8 Descrip
...