ASTM E1843-20

Standard Guide for Sexual Violence Investigation, Examination, and Evidence Collection Protocol

ABSTRACT
This guide covers the basic components for the development of a sexual assault investigation protocol, with specific attention to the examination of assault scenes, victims and suspects of sexual assault, the recovery of testimonial, physical, and behavioral evidence, and the preservation and custody of physical evidence. This guide also outlines procedures requiring the experience of experts in a diversity of fields. A multidisciplinary team approach to sexual assault investigation is necessary and is the current standard of care. This team should include members skilled in the following disciplines: law enforcement, criminalistics, victim advocacy, and clinical, forensic practice.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide outlines the basic components for the development of a sexual violence investigation protocols, with specific attention to the examination of sexual violence scenes, victims and suspects of sexual violence, the recovery of testimonial, physical, and behavioral evidence, and the preservation and custody of physical evidence.  
1.2 This guide outlines protocols requiring the experience of experts in a diversity of fields. A multidisciplinary team approach to sexual violence investigation is necessary and is the current standard of care. This team should include members skilled in the following disciplines: law enforcement, criminalistics, victim advocacy, and clinical, forensic practice.  
1.3 This standard cannot replace knowledge, skills, or abilities acquired through education, training, and experience (see Practice E2917, Education and Training) and is to be used in conjunction with professional judgement by individuals with such discipline-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities.  
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: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Aug-2020
• ICS: 11.100.99 - Other standards related to laboratory medicine
• Technical Committee: E30 - Forensic Sciences
• Drafting Committee: E30.11 - Interdisciplinary Forensic Science Standards

Standards Content (Sample)

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.
Designation: E1843 − 20 An American National Standard
Standard Guide for
Sexual Violence Investigation, Examination, and Evidence
1
Collection Protocol
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1843; 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 guide outlines the basic components for the devel-
E1020 Practice for Reporting Incidents that May Involve
opment of a sexual violence investigation protocols, with
Criminal or Civil Litigation
specific attention to the examination of sexual violence scenes,
E1188 Practice for Collection and Preservation of Informa-
victims and suspects of sexual violence, the recovery of
tion and Physical Items by a Technical Investigator
testimonial, physical, and behavioral evidence, and the preser-
E1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related
vation and custody of physical evidence.
Documentation
1.2 Thisguideoutlinesprotocolsrequiringtheexperienceof
E1492 Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and
experts in a diversity of fields. A multidisciplinary team
Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory
approach to sexual violence investigation is necessary and is
E2123 Practice for Preservation of Evidence in Sexual
thecurrentstandardofcare.Thisteamshouldincludemembers
Violence Investigation
skilled in the following disciplines: law enforcement,
E2124 Specification for Equipment and Supplies in Sexual
criminalistics, victim advocacy, and clinical, forensic practice.
Violence Investigations
1.3 This standard cannot replace knowledge, skills, or E2917 Practice for Forensic Science Practitioner Training,
Continuing Education, and Professional Development
abilities acquired through education, training, and experience
(see Practice E2917, Education and Training) and is to be used Programs
inconjunctionwithprofessionaljudgementbyindividualswith
3. Terminology
such discipline-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities.
3.1 Definitions:
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.1 human traffıcking, n—recruitment, transportation,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons by improper means
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
(such as force, abduction, fraud, or coercion) for an improper
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
purpose including forced labor or sexual exploitation).
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3
(1)
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 3.1.2 rape, n—penetration, no matter how slight, of the
vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the
victim.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. (2)
3.1.3 sexual assault, n—physical, sexual activity without
2. Referenced Documents
the consent of the other person or when the other person is
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
unable to consent to the activity.
3.1.3.1 Discussion—The activity or conduct may include
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic
physical force, violence, threat, intimidation, ignoring the
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.11 on Interdisciplin-
objections of the other person, causing the other person’s
ary Forensic Science Standards.
intoxication or incapacitation (through the use of drugs or
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2020. Published November 2020. Originally
alcohol) or taking advantage of the other person’s intoxication
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as E1843 – 16. DOI:
10.1520/E1843-20.
(including voluntary intoxication).
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
3
Standardsvolumeinformation,refertothestandards’sDocumentSummarypageon The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of
the ASTM website. this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
...

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: E1843 − 16 E1843 − 20
Standard Guide for
Sexual AssaultViolence Investigation, Examination, and
1
Evidence Collection Protocol
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1843; 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 guide coversoutlines the basic components for the development of a sexual assaultviolence investigation protocol,
protocols, with specific attention to the examination of assault sexual violence scenes, victims and suspects of sexual
assault,violence, the recovery of testimonial, physical, and behavioral evidence, and the preservation and custody of physical
evidence.
1.2 This guide outlines proceduresprotocols requiring the experience of experts in a diversity of fields. A multidisciplinary team
approach to sexual assaultviolence investigation is necessary and is the current standard of care. This team should include members
skilled in the following disciplines: law enforcement, criminalistics, victim advocacy, and clinical, forensic practice.
1.3 This guide offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This standard cannot replace knowledge,
skill,skills, or abilityabilities acquired through appropriate education, training, and experience (see Practice E2917and should ,
Education and Training) and is to be used in conjunction with sound professional judgment.professional judgement by individuals
with such discipline-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities.
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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E620 Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or Technical Experts
E1020 Practice for Reporting Incidents that May Involve Criminal or Civil Litigation
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
E2123 Practice for Preservation of Evidence in Sexual Violence Investigation
1
This guide 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 March 1, 2016Sept. 1, 2020. Published March 2016November 2020. Originally approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 20102016
as E1843 – 96 (2010).E1843 – 16. DOI: 10.1520/E1843-16.10.1520/E1843-20.
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 standards’sstandards’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

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E1843 − 20
E2124 Specification for Equipment and Supplies in Sexual Violence Investigations
E2917 Practice for Forensic Science Practitioner Training, Continuing Education, and Professional Development Programs
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 human traffıcking, n—recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons by improper means (such as
force, abduction, fraud, or coercion) for an improper purpose including forced labor or sexual exploitation).
3
(1)
3.1.2 rape, n—penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex
organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.
(2)
3.1.3 sexual assault, n—physical, sexual activity without the consent of the other person or when the other per
...