ASTM E1459-13(2018)

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: E1459 − 13 (Reapproved 2018) An American National Standard
Standard Guide for
Physical Evidence Labeling and Related Documentation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1459; 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 3. Summary of Practice
1.1 This guide describes methods to be used for labeling 3.1 Any individual item of evidence is marked with a
physical evidence collected during field investigations; re- numeric or alphanumeric designation that is unique and allows
the origin of the item to be unequivocally established.
ceived in a forensic laboratory; or isolated, generated, or
prepared from items submitted for laboratory examination.
4. Significance and Use
1.2 Many types of physical evidence may be hazardous. It is
4.1 By following the procedures specified in this guide, any
assumed that personnel assigned to the collection, packaging,
item of physical evidence will have a traceable audit trail by
storing, or analysis of physical evidence will take precautions
which the origin, past history, treatment, and analysis of the
as appropriate to the evidence.
item can be determined.
1.3 This guide offers a set of instructions for performing one
4.2 By following these procedures, the chain of custody of
or more specific operations. This standard cannot replace
any item of physical evidence will be maintained and docu-
knowledge, skill, or ability acquired through appropriate
mented.
education, training, and experience and should be used in
conjunction with sound professional judgment.
5. Marking Evidence Upon Original Collection
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5.1 General Requirements:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5.1.1 See Practice E1188 for the collection and preservation
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
of items. Each item of evidence will be assigned a unique
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
numeric or alphanumeric designator by the investigator who
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
collects the evidence, or by someone designated to assign item
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
numbers. The system used should ensure that items cannot be
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
confused physically, and cannot be confused when referred to
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
in records or other documents.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
5.1.1.1 Similar evidence items may be collected as a group
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
and assigned a single designator (for example, remains of
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
fireworks paper collected within Sampling Quadrant 3, metal
shavings from under lathe, pieces of broken glass from around
2. Referenced Documents
northwest kitchen window, droplets of metal from area of
2.1 ASTM Standards:
origin). Follow the guidelines in Section 6 if any portion of the
E1188 Practice for Collection and Preservation of Informa-
item is isolated from the remainder of the group (like for
tion and Physical Items by a Technical Investigator
inspection, spot testing, or chemical analysis).
E1492 Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and
5.1.2 Whenever possible, sequential identifiers will be used
Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory
for evidence associated with a particular incident, event, or
scene.
5.1.3 The location and condition of each item should be
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic
documented prior to collection.
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.11 on Interdisciplin-
5.1.4 Each item should be properly protected in an appro-
ary Forensic Science Standards.
priate manner.
Current edition approved June 1, 2018. Published June 2018. Originally
5.1.5 Each item or its proximal container shall be marked or
approved in 1992. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as E1459 – 13. DOI:
10.1520/E1459-13R18.
tagged with the following information:
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
5.1.5.1 Item number,
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of AS
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