Exhibit Management in Homicide or Serious Crime Investigations Flashcards
Exhibit
An exhibit is any item which comes into the possession of Police during the course of an Investigation, whether or not it is eventually tendered as evidence. Whether physical, documentary or biological, ensure the need for consistency and integrity is maintained.
Appointment of OC Exhibits
Recommended to be qualified Detective with experience in:
- Mass Exhibit handling
- Forensic principles
- Methods of exhibit recovery
- Approved procedures for packaging and security of evidence
- Managing contamination/cross contamination issues
- Use of Serious Crime Template.
Reports to 2IC Investigation.
Purpose of OC Exhibits
Responsibilities
- Establishing and maintaining exhibit management systems
- Maintaining the physical security and and continuity of all exhibits
- Prepare and produce exhibits in court.
In smaller investigations, in conjunction with the OC Investigation, establish:
- Evidential value of each exhibit
- Investigative opportunities presented by each exhibit
- Further enquiries that are needed.
Briefings and Liaison
OC Exhibits must attend all forensic strategy meetings and investigation briefings to facilitate information sharing. They must also take responsibility to maintain liaison with OC Investigation, 2IC, Scene, ESR, ECL, Pathologist and other specialists.
OC exhibit updates OC Investigation and 2IC on:
- What exhibits have been found and what are their movements
- Results of any exhibit explanations
- Whether further enquiries are required.
Safe Storage of Exhibits
OC Exhibits should only accept exhibits if:
- The property is properly packaged and sealed, exhibit label is clearly visible and secured outside the package
- Exhibit label contains exhibit number and name of operation. Other details such as description, person who found it, time, date, location are recorded onto exhibit schedule
- Action necessary to preserve the exhibit has bee taken. e.g. wet/bloodstained items for drying.
Examination of Exhibits
OC Exhibits must ensure that all exhibits are fully examined, in accordance with the Forensic Strategy meetings.
OC Exhibits maintains an awareness of the significance of each exhibit and what examinations are available.
OC Exhibits will determine, plan and record the examination and interrogation of every exhibit and establish its relevance to the investigation.
Forensic Strategy Meetings
Forensic Strategy Meetings are held to determine which exhibit or other forensic examinations are required and the priority of this examinations.
Attending the Forensic Strategy Meetings include OC Investigation, 2IC, OC Exhibits, OC Scene, ESR, Pathologist, SOCO and OC Body. Early involvement of Forensic Specialists will ensure exhibits are protected and maximum potential forensic evidence and intelligence are recovered from them.
Topics Cover during a Forensic Strategy Meeting:
- What examinations ESR and others could conduct on the exhibits
- Priority each examination should receive
- Whether any further work is needed to assist a reconstruction
- A plan for any work to be completed that is required to assist the reconstruction
- An agreed reconstruction of the events relevant to the time under investigation.
Following any Forensic Strategy Meeting the OC Exhibit must record on the exhibit register all decisions made during the Forensic Strategy Meeting.
Submission of Exhibits for Examination
OC Exhibits is responsible for managing the subsequent transfer of any exhibits identified during the Forensic Strategy Meeting as requiring forensic examination.
- Ensure exhibit examination decisions are confirmed through the Forensic Strategy Meeting.
- Record in Exhibits Register all decisions about type of examination to be conducted and the priority allocated to each examination.
- Ensure OC Investigation has authorised the proposed examination.
- Prepare necessary documents for ESR.
- Ensure:
- All items are separately wrapped
- All parcels are sealed
- All items are packaged, labelled and numbered
- All items listed on pol143
- Pol143 consistent with with labels on items
- All items are in appropriate condition. - Deliver exhibits for scientific examination promptly to avoid deterioration and loss of evidence.
- Inform expert if scientific examination no longer required.
Exhibit Examination Results
Photography Results
Allowing Inspection of Exhibits
Exhibit Examination Results:
- To OC Exhibits, OC Investigation must be made aware. 2IC to conduct further enquiries.
Photography Results:
- Must have exhibit number displayed. Forwarded to 2IC.
Allowing Inspection:
- OC Exhibits must facilitate the inspection of exhibits by Defence Counsel.
Preparing for Trial
OC Exhibit and OC Investigation in conjunction with other relevant Investigation Team members, must decide on:
- Which exhibits are considered relevant
- Determine the significance of any forensic exams
- Establish the most appropriate manner for exhibits and examination results to be presented to court.
OC Exhibit responsible for arranging transportation of exhibits to and from court, for their security at the venue and for producing them in court.
Producing Exhibits in Court
- Clearly demonstrates evidential value - clothing on a mannequin. Knifes stand
- Avoid any risk of injury, disease, accident, contamination or damage.
Chain of Custody
Includes every individual who has had custardy of the exhibit, from the time discovered until it is produced in court. Used to demonstrate integrity, there for admissibility of exhibits.
Preferable that as few people as possible handle exhibits.
While an exhibit is under their control, each person with custody must be able to demonstrate:
- When they received custody of the exhibit
- Where and how the exhibit was securely stored
- When, why, how the exhibit is moved from one place to another
- How the exhibit has been treated, safeguarded and preserved
- When and why the transfer of custody of an exhibit to another person and to whom.
Called the maintaining of ‘chain of evidence’.
Exhibit Numbering
Exhibit Numbering should be simple, efficient and provide the following key attributes:
- Be consistent
- Allow delegation of exhibit numbers to staff who will use them
- Cope with multiple scenes
- Compatible with technology, allowing search to be conducted using exhibit numbers
- Encompass all exhibits.
Exhibit Number Ranges
Admin - 10000 Victim - 15000 Witness - 20000 Area Canvass - 25000 Scene - 30000 Suspect - 70000
Exhibit Documentation
Following Documents will be used in Serious Crime Investigation.
Scene Exhibit Schedule - Paper record of exhibits at a particular scene.
Exhibit Register - Electronic Master Record of all Exhibits in the investigation.
Chain of Custody Form - Paper record of movements of exhibits, after the time the OC Exhibits has taken custody of it.
Formal Written Statement - Detailing their actions managing the exhibits during the investigation.
