Exhibits Flashcards
(37 cards)
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 in formal evidence. Exhibits will
come to the attention of Police in a variety of forms and by diverse means. Whether they are physical, documentary or biological the need for consistency in how they are managed is critical to ensure the integrity of exhibits is maintained.
In homicide and other serious crime investigations, the person appointed to the role of OC Exhibits should be a?
Suitably qualified in terms of training and relevant experience. In a homicide investigation it is recommended that the OC Exhibits is a qualified Detective.
The OC Exhibits is a qualified Detective, preferably with previous experience in?
- mass exhibit handling
- forensic principles
- methods of exhibit recovery
- approved procedures for packaging and security of evidence
- managing contamination and cross-contamination issues
- use of standardised documentation as contained in the Serious Crime Template.
During any investigation, the OC Exhibits is responsible for?
Establishing and maintaining exhibit management systems and for maintaining the physical security and continuity of all exhibits. Their duties will culminate in the provision of an accurately recorded exhibit package and the availability of exhibits as required throughout the Court process.
In smaller investigations the OC Exhibits (in conjunction with the OC Investigation) may also conduct an appreciation and facilitate a thorough interrogation of every exhibit, to establish the?
- evidential value of each exhibit
- investigative opportunities presented by each exhibit
- further enquiries that are needed.
The OC Exhibits is responsible for establishing required standards for the?
Recovery, handling, labelling, storage, submission to experts, presentation at Court and disposal of
exhibits and ensuring these processes are completed in accordance with the requirements set by the OC Investigation and the Serious Crime Template. The OC
Exhibits must communicate required standards to all investigation team members, usually at investigation conferences.
The OC Exhibits must, where appropriate, update the OC Investigation and 2IC with relevant information relating to?
- what exhibits have been found, and their movements
- the results of any exhibit examinations
- whether any further enquiries are required
In the first instance the OC Exhibits should only accept an exhibit if?
• the exhibit label contains the exhibit number and the name of the operation. Other details such as a description of the item, the details of the person finding it, the time, date and location are recorded on the Scene Exhibit Schedule, as downloaded from the Serious Crime Template.
• the property is correctly packaged and sealed, and the exhibit label is visible and secured on the outside of the package
• any prompt action necessary to preserve the exhibit has been taken, for example, drying wet or bloodstained clothing in an appropriate drying facility. The OC Scene,
OC Exhibits and where necessary ESR should be consulted as necessary. For guidance, refer to the ESR Forensic Evidence Guidelines.
Whether sealed or not, no exhibits should be taken into the?
Investigation Headquarters
All decisions relating to selection of particular types of forensic examination and prioritisation of those examinations in a homicide or other serious crime investigation will be made at a?
Forensic Strategy meeting.
Developing a strategy for examination of exhibits allows the OC Exhibits to?
Prioritise tasks in line with the direction of the investigation.
Forensic Strategy meetings are held to determine?
Which exhibit or other forensic examinations are required and the priority of those examinations.
Those attending Forensic Strategy meetings include the?
OC Investigation, 2IC, OC Exhibits, Crime Scene Co-ordinator/OC Scene, and anyone else deemed necessary by the OC Investigation.
Topics covered during a Forensic Strategy meeting may include?
- What examinations ESR and others could conduct on exhibits.
- The 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 crime under investigation.
Following any Forensic Strategy meeting, the OC Exhibits must record on the Exhibits Register, all?
Decisions taken about the types of examinations to be conducted and the priority allocated to the examination of each exhibit.
Ensure any exhibits identified for forensic examination are prepared before being delivered, specifically?
• all items are separately wrapped
• all parcels are sealed
• all items or their packages are labelled and numbered
• a list of all items is attached to the Police Form 143
• the Police Form 143 is consistent with the labels on the items
• items are in an appropriate condition, for example, clothing is dry and
blood samples are refrigerated.
The OC Exhibits must ensure the Police Form 143 contains sufficient information, including?
• brief circumstances of the case
• purpose(s) of the examination
• location where each item originates from e.g. from a particular scene,
victim, witness or suspect
• whether any exhibits are damp or require special attention
• authorisation by the appropriate supervisor.
All exhibits photographed in a Police photographic studio must have the?
Exhibit number displayed in the photograph.
The OC Exhibits must facilitate the inspection of exhibits by?
Defence counsel, in circumstances where Police have an obligation to allow such inspection, under section
19(1) of the Criminal Disclosure Act 2008
The OC Exhibits is responsible for arranging the transportation of exhibits to and from Court, for their?
Security at the venue and for their production, as directed by the Prosecutor.
The OC Exhibits is responsible for preparing the exhibits for production at Court. This must be conducted in a manner which?
- clearly demonstrates the evidential value of the exhibits, eg. by mounting clothes on a mannequin or board
- avoids any risk of physical injury, disease, accident, contamination or damage.
The OC Exhibits should dispose of the exhibits as directed and prepare and submit a report of exhibit disposal to the 2IC. The report should include?
Appropriate receipts for all exhibits that have been returned and certificates of destruction for others.
While an exhibit was under their control, each person with custody of the exhibit must be able to demonstrate?
- when they received custody of the exhibit and from whom
- where and how the exhibit was securely stored
- when, why and how the exhibit was moved from one place to another
- how the exhibit has been treated, safeguarded and preserved
- when and why they transferred custody of an exhibit to another person, and to whom.
The exhibit numbering system should be simple, efficient and provide the following key attributes?
- be consistent
- allow delegation of exhibit numbers to staff who will utilise them
- cope with multiple scenes
- be compatible with technology, allowing searching to be conducted using exhibit numbers
- encompass all exhibits, e.g. Medical Examination Kits (MEKs), documents, reference blood samples and photographs sent to ESR.
