Guidance document

The biological evidence preservation handbook: best practices for evidence handlers

NISTIR 7928
Author
Technical Working Group on Biological Evidence Preservation of the National Institute of Standards and Technology of the United States of America (NIST)
Publication Year
2013
Thematic Area
Law & Policies / Forensics
Topic
Prevention / Management of the Dead
Access
Open access

The Biological Evidence Preservation Handbook offers guidance for individuals involved in the collection, examination, tracking, packaging, storing, and disposition of biological evidence. This may include crime scene technicians, law enforcement officers, healthcare professionals, forensic scientists, forensic laboratory managers, evidence supervisors, property managers, storage facility personnel, lawyers, testifying experts, court staff members, and anyone else who may come in contact with biological evidence. While many of the recommendations relate to the physical storage, preservation, and tracking of evidence at the storage facility, this handbook also covers the transfer of the material between the storage facility and other locations and discusses how the evidence should be handled at these other locations.