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STEP 3
FOREIGN MATERIAL, OUTER CLOTHING AND UNDERWEAR COLLECTION |
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Clothing Evidence |
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Clothing often contains
important evidence. Clothing provides a surface upon which
traces of foreign matter may be found, such as the
assailant’s semen, saliva, blood, hair and fibers, as well
as debris from the crime scene. While foreign matter can
be washed off or worn off the body of the victim, the same
substances often can be found intact on clothing for a
considerable length of time following the assault. Damaged
or torn clothing may be significant. It may be evidence of
force and can also provide laboratory standards for
comparing trace evidence from the clothing of the victim
with trace evidence collected from the suspect and/or the
crime scene. |
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The most common items of
clothing collected from victims and submitted to the
forensic laboratory for analysis are underwear, hosiery,
blouses, shirts, and slacks. The underwear the patient is
wearing should always be collected. There also are
instances when coats and even shoes must be collected. |
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Each garment collected must be
placed separately in its own paper bag and sealed to
prevent cross-contamination from occurring. During the
assault, different garments may have contact with
different surfaces and debris from both the crime scene
and the assailant. Keeping the garments separate from one
another is necessary. This permits the forensic scientist
to reach certain pertinent conclusions regarding
reconstruction of the crime. For example, if semen in the
female victim’s underpants is accidentally transferred to
her bra or scarf during packaging, the finding of semen on
those garments might appear contradictory to the victim’s
own testimony in court of exactly what events occurred in
the assault. |
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Prior to the full examination,
great care must be taken by the attending medical
personnel to determine if the victim is wearing the same
clothing he or she wore during or immediately following
the assault. If so, all clothing that appears torn or
damaged or has foreign debris, hair or stains related to
the assault should be collected. Prior consent should be
obtained from the victim before collecting relevant
clothing. |
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If it is determined that the
victim is not wearing the same clothing involved in the
assault, the attending medical personnel should inquire as
to the location of the original clothing, such as at the
victim’s home or at the laundry for cleaning. When the
determination has been made that items may contain
possible evidence related to the assault, with victim
consent, those items should be collected. This information
should then be given to the investigating officer so that
he or she can make arrangements to retrieve the clothing
before any potential evidence is destroyed. |
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Clothing Collection
Procedure |
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If the victim was wrapped or
in a resting sheet when transported to the treatment
facility in an emergency vehicle. The sheet should be
collected. To minimize loss of evidence, the victim should
disrobe over a white cloth or sheet of paper. If the
victim cannot undress without assistance, making it
necessary to cut off items of clothing, do not cut through
existing rips, tears, or stains. Tell the victim that it
may take a year or more to have clothing items returned to
them as the clothing will be held in custody pending the
resolution of the criminal investigation. If the victim
consents, the clothing should then be collected and
packaged in accordance with the following procedures: |
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Air dry wet
stains, such as blood or semen. |
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After air
drying items, such as underpants, hosiery, slips or bras,
they should be put into separate small paper bags and
sealed. |
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Items such as
pants, dresses or blouses, should be put into separate
larger paper bags and sealed. |
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It is
preferable that each piece of clothing be folded inward.
Place a piece of paper against any stain so that the stain
is not in contact with the bag or other parts of the
clothing. |
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Each clothing
item must be individually bagged. The kit contains paper
bags for underwear bag; outerwear; and foreign debris. If
the kit does not contain enough paper bags, any clean
paper bag is acceptable.
q Remember, infant diapers may also be valuable as
evidence because they may contain semen or pubic hair. |
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Any foreign materials found
should be collected and put into a small paper envelope,
properly labeled and sealed with cellophane tape. |
