ASTM E1020-13

Standard Practice for Reporting Incidents that May Involve Criminal or Civil Litigation

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 This practice is intended to provide a complete written account of the case at hand in such a fashion as to allow another individual to interpret the particulars of the incident.  
3.2 This practice is suggested for documenting transitory conditions and data that may change shortly after an incident and be lost forever if not properly and promptly documented.  
3.3 The primary use of this practice is to preserve pertinent information for use by technical experts and other technical personnel who may be called upon to reconstruct the events surrounding the incident.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers guidelines for the collection and preservation of information and physical evidence and the preparation of a documentation report relative to any incident(s) involving personal injury, property damage, commercial loss, or criminal acts which may reasonably be expected to be the subject of 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 the 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 This practice does not apply to laboratory analysis reports.  
1.2.2 If compliance with this standard is claimed, justifications for any deviations from this standard must be documented.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2013
• ICS: 13.200 - Accident and disaster control
• Technical Committee: E30 - Forensic Sciences
• Drafting Committee: E30.11 - Interdisciplinary Forensic Science Standards

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E1020-96(2006) - Standard Practice for Reporting Incidents that May Involve Criminal or Civil Litigation
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2013
• Referred By: ASTM G145-08(2023) - Standard Guide for Studying Fire Incidents in Oxygen Systems
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E1843-20 - Standard Guide for Sexual Violence Investigation, Examination, and Evidence Collection Protocol
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E860-22 - Standard Practice for Examining and Preparing Items That Are or May Become Involved in Criminal or Civil Litigation
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2013

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: E1020 − 13
StandardPractice for
Reporting Incidents that May Involve Criminal or Civil
1
Litigation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1020; 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.
1. Scope E620 Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or Tech-
nical Experts
1.1 This practice covers guidelines for the collection and
E1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related
preservation of information and physical evidence and the
Documentation
preparation of a documentation report relative to any inci-
dent(s) involving personal injury, property damage, commer-
3. Significance and Use
cial loss, or criminal acts which may reasonably be expected to
3.1 This practice is intended to provide a complete written
be the subject of litigation.
account of the case at hand in such a fashion as to allow
1.2 The approach outlined is recommended as good profes-
another individual to interpret the particulars of the incident.
sional practice even though the facts and issues of each
situation require specific consideration, and may involve mat- 3.2 This practice is suggested for documenting transitory
conditions and data that may change shortly after an incident
ters not expressly dealt with herein. Not every portion of this
document may be applicable to every incident or investigation. and be lost forever if not properly and promptly documented.
It is up to the individual preparing the report to apply the
3.3 The primary use of this practice is to preserve pertinent
appropriate recommended procedures in this guide to a par-
information for use by technical experts and other technical
ticular incident or investigation. In addition, it is recognized
personnel who may be called upon to reconstruct the events
that time and resource limitations or existing policies may limit
surrounding the incident.
thedegreetowhichtherecommendationsinthisdocumentwill
be applied in a given investigation. The responsibility of the
4. General
individual preparing the report (or anyone who handles or
4.1 The report described in this practice may be prepared by
examines evidence) for evidence preservation, and the scope of
any person(s) in a formal capacity. Persons investigating in a
that responsibility varies based on such factors as the
formal capacity include but may not be limited to international,
jurisdiction, the status of the individual as a public official or
federal, state and local officials, employers, owners, insurance
private sector investigator, indications of criminal conduct, and
personnel, and other technical experts.
applicable laws and regulations.
1.2.1 This practice does not apply to laboratory analysis 4.2 The data documented by the report shall be factual and
should not contain opinions, hypotheses, judgments, or
reports.
1.2.2 If compliance with this standard is claimed, justifica- conclusions, nor should this report fix blame. For guidance on
reporting opinions, refer to Practice E620.
tions for any deviations from this standard must be docu-
mented.
5. Content
2. Referenced Documents
5.1 An incident report should contain the following:
2
2.1 ASTM Standards: 5.1.1 Detailed chronological narrative of what occurred
before, during, and immediately after the incident; including
any associated personal injury, property damage, commercial
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic
loss, or suspected criminal activity. The sources of information
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.11 on Interdisciplin-
shall be identified.
ary Forensic Science Standards.
5.1.2 Photographs which accurately and fairly identify and
CurrenteditionapprovedJune1,2013.PublishedJuly2013.Originallyapproved
depict the scene, the items, or systems involved in the incident,
in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as E1020 – 96 (2006). DOI:
10.1520/E1020-13.
and the post-incident conditions. Photographs should be taken
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
from many directions and should include overall site views,
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
overall item and system views, intermediate views, and
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. close-up views.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E1020 − 13
5.1.2.1 Appropriate dimensional reference scales should be before removal a
...

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.
Designation: E1020 − 96 (Reapproved 2006) E1020 − 13
Standard Practice for
Reporting Incidents that May Involve Criminal or Civil
1
Litigation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1020; 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.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers guidelines for the collection and preservation of information and physical evidence and the preparation
of a documentation report relative to any incident(s) involving personal injury, property damage, commercial loss, or criminal acts
which may reasonably be expected to be the subject of 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 the 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 This practice does not apply to laboratory analysis reports.
1.2.2 If compliance with this standard is claimed, justifications for any deviations from this standard must be documented.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E620 Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or Technical Experts
E1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related Documentation
3. Significance and Use
3.1 This practice is intended to provide a complete written account of the case at hand in such a fashion as to allow another
individual to interpret the particulars of the case.incident.
3.2 This practice is suggested for documenting transitory conditions and data that may change shortly after an incident and be
lost forever if not properly and promptly documented.
3.3 The primary use of this practice is to preserve pertinent information for use by technical experts and other technical
personnel who may be called upon to reconstruct the events surrounding the incident.
4. General
4.1 The report described in this practice may be prepared by any person(s) in a formal capacity. Persons investigating in a formal
capacity include but may not be limited to international, federal, state and local officials, employers, owners, insurance personnel,
and other technical experts.
4.2 The data documented by the report shall be factual and should not contain opinions, hypotheses, judgments, or conclusions,
nor should this report fix blame. For guidance on reporting opinions, refer to Practice E620.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.11 on Interdisciplinary
Forensic Science Standards.
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2006June 1, 2013. Published February 2006July 2013. Originally approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 19962006 as
E1020 – 96.E1020 – 96 (2006). DOI: 10.1520/E1020-96R06.10.1520/E1020-13.
2
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.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1020 − 13
5. Content
5.1 An incident report should contain the following:
5.1.1 Detailed chronological narrative of what occurred before, during, and immediately after the incident; including any
associated personal injury, property damage, commercial loss, or suspected criminal activity. The sources of information shall be
identified.
5.1.2 Photographs
...