• Place where a particular crime has been committed or where physical

evidence of such crime is found

• Indoor
• Outdoor

• Primary: actual commission

• Secondary: signs of criminal activity
• Protection of crime scene
• Recognition of evidence
• Searching of evidence
• Documentation of crime
scene and evidences
• Collection of Evidence
• Marking of Evidence
• Packaging of Evidence
• Analysis of Evidence
• Interpretation of results
• Reporting of results and
expert testimony
SPIRAL
SEARCH
GRID
SEARCH
LINE/STRIP
SEARCH
QUADRANT/
ZONE
SEARCH
WHEEL/RAY
SEARCH
Equipment/items are required while collecting the evidences:
• Scalpels
• Forceps
• Scissor
• Glass, wood cutter
• Cotton
• Paper and Plastic zip bags
• Wrapping Paper
• Cardboard boxes
• Thermometer
• Hand tools
• Tweezers
• Gloves (Latex /nitrile gloves (Non-latex/ N-DEX)
• Air tight Plastic Containers
Duties of the Investigator:

• Analyze crime scenes to determine what sort of evidences is present and how these can be
collected and packaged.
• Document the crime scene by taking photographs of the crime scene and evidences present.
• Prepare sketches of the crime scene by measuring the actual distances between the items of
evidences and fixed objects.
• Record observations and findings related to the location and position of evidences.
• Various physical evidence, including fingerprints, weapons and bodily fluids needs to be
collected and packaged properly.
• Catalogue and preserve all the evidences according to their nature to transfer them to forensic
labs.
• Log for all the evidences has been prepared and has to assure that descriptions recorded into
the log must match the photos of the evidences taken at the scene and this description is
included in the crime scene report. For example, if a firearm is collected, the serial number of
this firearm in the log must match the serial number recorded with close-up photo that was
taken at the scene.
Analysis of Interpretation
Evidence of Results

Reporting
Results and
Expert
Testimony
Duties of the Laboratory Investigator:

• As per the requirement, perform chemical, biological, and physical

analysis on evidences received from crime scene.
• If required, experts in specialized fields, such as Ballistics, questioned
document, fingerprint, serologist, toxicologist and Odontology etc. can
be consulted.
• Interpret the results of scientific analyses to explore the possibility to
establish the link between suspects and crime scene or victim.
• Track chain of custody of all the evidences.
• Finally reconstruction of crime by arranging the sequence of events.
❖ The chain of custody must always be maintained by identified persons, who have the
authority by law to possess the evidence such as police officers, forensic experts,
evidence technicians, officers of the court, etc.

❖ Chain of custody begins from the crime scene itself, and continues till the evidence is
presented in the court. Chain of custody exists to ensure full transparency of the
process of how an evidence is collected, handled and stored.

❖ Mukesh and Ors. v. State (NCT of Delhi) and ors, (2017) the Supreme Court said that a
DNA sample is admissible in the court only when it is proved that there is no error in
sampling and the sample is not tampered.
Information to be recorded:
• Date of collection;
• Time of collection;
• Identity of the reporting agency;
• Identity of the submitter;
• Unique identifying code;
• Location of the lab where
examination has to be conducted;
• Permission to conduct examination
of the item;
• Case investigator;
• Descriptive list of items submitted
for examination (includes the
model, serial number and make);
• Unique markings on the items;
• Condition of the item;
• Identity and signature of the examiner;
• Brief description of steps taken during
examination (searching old files,
recovering erased data);
• Signature of each individual involved in
the chain of custody, with correct date
and time; and
• Any other relevant information about
the item.
Procedure of establish Chain of Custody:

• Collecting evidence

• Examination of the evidence

• Using legally justifiable techniques

and methods to analyse the evidence

• Reporting all the information

obtained by examining and analysing
the evidence.
Precautions to be taken by officers:

1. The number of people handling the evidence must always be limited.

2. The package in which the evidence is kept must be sealed.
3. Before submitting the evidence in the court, double check the markings to avoid any
confusion before the court.
4. Photos and screenshots of the original evidence must always be taken (physical or
digital).
5. Modern software systems can help to track the movement of all types of evidence.
6. All the names, unique identification numbers, dates and other relevant information
must be checked before submitting the evidence in the court.
7. Witnesses for the evidence can increase the credibility of the evidence.
8. Signed receipts of transfer must be obtained.