ASTM E1188-11

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Designation: E1188 − 11
Standard Practice for
Collection and Preservation of Information and Physical
1
Items by a Technical Investigator
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1188; 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 2.3 Evidence that has been collected and preserved shall be
identified with, and be traceable to, the incident. This practice
1.1 This practice covers guidelines for the collection and
sets forth guidelines for such procedures.
preservation of information and physical items by any techni-
cal investigator pertaining to an incident that can be reasonably
3. Procedure
expected to be the subject of litigation.
3.1 Documentary Information—Collect information related
1.2 This practice recommends generally accepted profes-
to events and conditions occurring before, during, or after the
sional principles and operations, although the facts and issues
incident. Documentary information may be held by any entity
of each situation require consideration, and frequently involve
associated with the incident. Make a broad search to identify
matters not expressly dealt with herein. Deviations from this
documents and, where possible, collect them. Obtain state-
practice should be based on specific articulable circumstances.
ments as early as feasible from all individuals associated with
1.3 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing
the incident and the recovery activity.
one or more specific operations. This standard cannot replace
3.2 Physical Evidence:
knowledge, skill or ability acquired through appropriate
3.2.1 Plan the investigation to protect physical evidence
education, training, and experience and should be used in
significant to the incident. The plan should consider the
conjunction with sound professional judgment.
possibility of identity loss, physical loss, or the deterioration or
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
destruction of information due to environmental effects or the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
recovery and collection activities. For each item considered to
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
be significant to the incident, document, collect and preserve
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
physical items and their information content as soon as
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
possible.
3.2.2 Document conditions that prevent or interfere with the
2. Significance and Use
preservation of any potential evidence in the state in which it
2.1 This practice is intended for use by any technical was found. This might include hazardous or accessibility
investigator when investigating an incident that can be reason- conditions, weather conditions, or other existing complica-
ably expected to be the subject of litigation. The intent is to tions.
obtain sufficient information and physical items to discover
3.2.3 Assign a unique identifier to each item collected and
evidence associated with the incident and to preserve it for
include this information in a label securely attached to the item
analysis.
or as documentation on the item’s container and enter the
identifying information on a log sheet together with a brief
2.2 The quality of evidence may change with time,
description of the item. The evidence documentation should
therefore, special effort should be taken to capture and preserve
also clearly include any specific details necessary for preser-
evidence in an expeditious manner. This practice sets forth
vation of the item, such as temperature control or special
guidelines for the collection and preservation of evidence for
handling instructions.
further analysis.
3.3 Photographic Documentation:
3.3.1 Commence photographic documentation as soon as
1 possible after the incident. Document the scene of the incident
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.11 on Interdisciplin- and the condition of items involved.
ary Forensic Science Standards.
3.3.2 Potential evidence should be photographed in the
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2011. Published October 2011. Originally
position where it is first observed by the investigator. If items
approved in 1987. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as E1188 – 05. DOI:
10.1520/E1188-11. involved in the incident are disassembled or subjected to
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