MODULE FORENSIC CHEMISTRY AND TOXICOLOGY

CHAPTER 2: RCP (RECOGNITION, COLLECTION &

PRESERVATION) OF PHYSICAL
EVIDENCE

Objectives:
a) Apply knowledge of correct handling and processing of physical
evidence
b) Develop skills in preservation and transportation of physical
evidence

WHAT IS CRIME SCENE?

Crime scene is an area or vicinity of occurrence of

physical evidence.
Crime scene processing can be done
through scientific crime scene analysis – a slow,
methodical, systematic, and orderly process of
collecting physical evidence, based on proper
recognition and collection, to be process in a
laboratory by a specialist or a forensic examiner to
uncover significant clues for them.

Crime scene investigation is much more than processing (searching), documenting

(notes, photos, and sketches), and certainly, more than bagging and tagging/ markings physical
evidences, the main objective is to know how to recognize physical evidences to be processed.

RECOGNITION OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

IN A CRIME SCENE

o Recognition is a qualitative process of systematically evaluating physical evidence

to determine if their qualifications are sufficiently similar or substantially equivalent to established
and published standard of the receiving laboratory jurisdiction or country.

❖ Identity as One Way of Recognizing Physical Evidence

o Identity is always sought during criminal investigation. It is often asking whether the
physical evidence found in the suspect’s possession can be linked to the crime scene.
❖ Important concepts on the quality and use of physical evidence

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a. Mathematical probability – most of the human action requires judgements. The

outcome of an event can be logically estimated based on past performance, known
conditions and experience.

b. Individual characteristics – what make one thing different from all other similar items
are individual characteristics.

c. Class characteristics – while class

characteristic is a property of evidence that can
only be associated with a group and never with a
single source.

d. Comparison – the obvious physical match

between objects. Example are rip, tear, or
breakage of a counterpart of for the object that
was used to inflict the damage.

e. Rarity – the exceptional circumstances connected with the place, time, or general
conditions under physical evidence is discovered tend to heighten its quality.

f. Exchange – when two objects come into contact, there is always a transfer of small
materials between the two.

❖ LOCARD’S EXCHANGE PRINCIPLES in recognition of Physical Evidence

o Locard’s exchange principle is a concept which states that

“Whenever a criminal comes into contact with a victim, an object, or a crime
scene, he or she will leave evidence, and will also take away evidence”

o Edmund Locard (early 20th century) a Frenchman who sets up a

forensic laboratory in Lyons, France. He is considered as the Father of
Edmond Locard Forensic Science.

o Sherlock Holmes – a fictitious character but considered as the

Father of Crime Detection.

o Dr. Hans Gross – written the first investigation book entitled

“Search for the Truth” and known as the “Father of Criminalistics”

Hans Gustav
Adolf Gross

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COLLECTION OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

o Before collection, participate in any scene debriefing to determine post-scene

responsibilities; to share and determine which sample needs specialist.

❖ Factors to be considered in collection of physical evidence

a. Maintain the integrity of the evidence – should be intact and never remove from the
material that contains them as found in the crime scene as possible. Use plastic or
glass bottles, manila envelopes, screw-capped glass vials, pillbox or used the folded
paper (druggist fold).

b. Mark for proper identification – Markings was placed at the time of collection, and
if possible, put their initial and date on the evidence itself and if not, on an evidence
lag.

c. Photograph before collection –

Fragile evidence is collected right after
being photograph and use forceps in picking
small items to prevent contamination.

d. Obtain control standards from known

samples, that is from a known origin, for
comparison purposes.

e. Observe method of
collection/removal – vacuums are used for
fiber, dirt, glass, and hair. Plaster or dental stone are used for foot/ shoe and tire print.
Other evidence has special methods of removal. Human bodies require special
attention, and examiner/ searcher are only allowed to make a non-intrusive
examination and do sketches. The body belongs to coroner or medical examiner.

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PROCESSING OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

o Many collected physical evidences are not suitable for a laboratory analysis. To
perform a meaningful chemical analysis, we must be obtaining a laboratory SAMPLE.

❖ Sample is a small, homogenous (same throughout) sample whose composition is

representative of the larger/ real object.
❖ Sampling is the process of selecting representative material to analyze.

❖ Goals of sampling involves two

things
o To obtain representative samples
o To avoid any bias in the selection of this
sample

❖ Classification of Sampling

1. NON-PROBABILITY SAMPLING/ JUDGEMENT OR AUTHORITIES SAMPLINGS –

samples often are chosen using the expertise of those who have a feel for the process
and believe that they intuitively know when and where to obtain a representative
sample. This often contains hidden biases, and statistical methods for the estimation of
precision cannot be applied.

2. PROBABILITY SAMPLING – ensures that the sampling scheme is developed in such

a manner that will yield samples that are highly indicative of the properties in the bulk
ensemble. A sample must be large enough to give a good representation of the
population, but small enough to be manageable.

❖ Methods of Sample Smuggling

o SMURFING – 50 grams of shabu is required by the trafficker, the pusher will

effort to give this amount via courier to purchase and bring only 49 grams to
avoid the maximum penalty.
o SLOPPING – purchasing contaminated or diluted chemical from legal source
during transfer clearing process.

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References:
Bell, Suzanne, Forensic Chemistry, Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458, 2006.
Sunico, Lorenzo Forensic Chemistry, NBI, Manila.
Saferstein, Richard, Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, 2nd edition, Prentice Hall New York, 2001.
Fox, Richard and Cunning Carl. Crime Scene Search and Physical Evidence Handbook, US Department of
Justice, Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, NILECJ, 1973.

LINKS

TOPIC LINK FOR VIDEO

Physical Evidence: Preserving the Truth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awcnMrZiSmU

Collecting Blood Evidence, Luminol and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zCaz0U94JI
Blue Star

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