ASTM E860-97(2006)
(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
SCOPE
1.1 This practice sets forth guidelines for handling of items that may have been involved in a specific incident that is or is reasonably expected to be the subject of criminal or civil litigation.
1.2 The approach outlined is recommended as good professional practice even though the facts and issues of each situation require specific consideration, and may involve matters not expressly dealt with herein. Not every portion of this document may be applicable to every incident or investigation. It is up to the individual preparing the report to apply the appropriate recommended procedures in this guide to a particular incident or investigation. In addition, it is recognized that time and resource limitations or existing policies may limit the degree to which recommendations in this document will be applied in a given investigation. The responsibility of the individual preparing the report ( or anyone who handles or examines evidence) for evidence preservation, and the scope of that responsibility varies based on such factors as the jurisdiction, the status of the individual as a public official or private sector investigator, indications of criminal conduct, and applicable laws and regulations.
1.2.1 If compliance with this standard is claimed, the justifications for any such deviations from this standard must be documented.
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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Designation:E860–97 (Reapproved 2006)
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 E 860; 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.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This practice sets forth guidelines for handling of items 2.1 ASTM Standards:
that may have been involved in a specific incident that is or is E 1188 Practice for Collection and Preservation of Informa-
reasonably expected to be the subject of criminal or civil tion and Physical Items by a Technical Investigator
litigation. E 1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related
1.2 The approach outlined is recommended as good profes- Documentation
sional practice even though the facts and issues of each E 1492 Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and
situation require specific consideration, and may involve mat- Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory
ters not expressly dealt with herein. Not every portion of this 2.2 Other Documents:
document may be applicable to every incident or investigation. NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
It is up to the individual preparing the report to apply the
3. Significance and Use
appropriate recommended procedures in this guide to a par-
3.1 This practice sets forth the guidelines for the examina-
ticular incident or investigation. In addition, it is recognized
that time and resource limitations or existing policies may limit tion and testing of evidence that is, or may become involved in
litigation. It outlines procedures to be followed to document
the degree to which recommendations in this document will be
applied in a given investigation. The responsibility of the the nature, state, or condition of evidence. It also describes
specific actions that are required if planned testing, examina-
individual preparing the report ( or anyone who handles or
examines evidence) for evidence preservation, and the scope of tion, re-examination, disassembly, or other action is likely to
alter the nature, state, or condition of the evidence so as to
that responsibility varies based on such factors as the jurisdic-
preclude or adversely limit additional examination and testing.
tion, the status of the individual as a public official or private
sector investigator, indications of criminal conduct, and appli-
4. Procedure
cable laws and regulations.
4.1 The person, firm, or corporation conducting examina-
1.2.1 If compliance with this standard is claimed, the
tions or tests of the evidence must document the nature, state,
justifications for any such deviations from this standard must
and condition of the evidence by descriptive, photographic, or
be documented.
other suitable methods prior to any test examination, re-
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
examination, disassembly, or alteration. An attempt should be
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
made to determine and document change(s), alteration(s) or
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
contamination of the evidence subsequent to the incident.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4.2 If proposed tests, examinations, or other actions are
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
likely to alter the nature, state, or condition of the eviden
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