Notetaking in Casework examinations Flashcards
(28 cards)
What are contemporaneous notes?
- Record of what the exhibit is and what it looks like pre exam
- Where it came from - location
- When it was seized
- Who examined it in the lab
- How was it done
What are the general rules?
- examination notes have a common layout
- some examinations have specific examination notes in a standard format
- written in a logical order with the correct pen type/colour
What to do when you make a mistake?
- single line strike through
- signed and dated in every page
- no erasures
- no pencil
Multiple mistakes infers poor quality
What needs to be included in examination notes?
- continuity/integrity of exhibit handling prior to examination
- sufficent relevant detail of exhibit/exam process
- sufficent/relevant detail of evidence recovery from the exhibit
- continuity/integrity of exhibit handling post examination
Remember - examination notes are a reflection on you and your competence and may be used in court.
What is continuity?
- check CJA label and that they match against submission form - MG21
- check integrity of exhibit/exhibit seals
- check continuity has been signed by previous handlers
- sign continuity on the back of the CJA label after your examination
What are specific note details?
- continuity in exhibit label
- details of packaging - what type and is it secure/sealed
- anti-contamination details
- exhibit/examination details
- examination date/signature of scientists carrying out the exam on every page
- details of any equipment used during the examination
What is the shorthand/terminology used?
- mop cap = hair net
- LHS, RHS, I/S, O/S - as exhibits is worn/used
- LP, KM, AP, PTT - tests employed by scientists when exmaining for bodily fluids - BF
- LPM, PLM, HPM, DMR, SEM, MSP, FTIR - types of equipment used and analytical techniques used
- RBS - red brown staining used for blood examination
- BPA - blood pattern analysis during complex casework
- Shedability test - how ‘sheddy’ the composition of an item is - carried out after debris examination
What should we do if we make an error in our examination notes?
Acknowledge it and rectify it
How do we acknowledge errors?
Single line strike through
What is written at the top of the notes and exhibit label details section?
- CJA labels on packaging for evidence in UK can be either integral or attached by using tape - including seal numbers
- CJA label has to be an exact copy
What do we put in the packaging details section?
- Nature of packaging (brown paper bag)
- Is the integrity of the packaging ok?
- continuity is signed
Why is lab coat/gloves and signature and date cruical?
It provides a record of where the item was exmained, by who and on what given date
Crucial to state whether lab coat/gloves were worn so that it’s noted if there could be potential contamination. Should be worn so there’s no contamination.
Why is the checklist used?
- Used to demonstrate item not contaminated during exmaination
- used in conjuction with ‘who’/’when’
- if examining body fluids -> show reagents are being used are working correctly
Follow RFT approach
What order should the ehadings be in in the exmaination notes section?
- general description
- labels/logos
- condiiton/damage
- hairs/fibres
- debris
- body fluids
- any other points of interest / diagram
What should be written in the general description?
What makes the item unique? Describe it.
What should be written under labels/logos?
- position of label (I/S LHS seam/collar)
- brand/size
- fabric details
- manufacture details/washing instructions
- if no label/logo then state this
What should be written under condition/damage?
- wear/tear
- is it stained/clean
- does it smell
- damage - fashion, chemical, from the incident
- old vs new
- is it wearable/in useable condition
Damage can also be its own heading
What should be written under damage?
- cut, torn, wear, tear
- new, old
- cut, scoring, pulling, gunshots, knife marks
What should be written for weapons?
- Types - can you determine classification/type
- dimensions
- weight - bludgeoning
- any damage - bent blade, broken handle, rusted
- brand details - labels/logos
What should be written under hairs/fibres?
- any loose hairs seen
- any obviouslt visible fibres, threads, clumps seen
- what position are they in
- how were they recovered
- did you use equipemt to assist search/recovery
What should be written under debris?
- include any particulates which have come off the exhibit
- how was it collected - shaken, brushed, picked
- what was it collected into to - petri dish, gel lift
searching dberis for paint/glass:
- which did you search for
- how did you search
- what was found
What should be written under body fluids?
- blood
- semen
- saliva
What should be noted after a BF blood exam?
- detail any visual red/brown staining - RBS
- location of staining
- presumptive test results - LGM/KM +/-
- size with measurements/intensity of stain
- pattern details - BPA
Positive stains for blood are always coloured in red on the diagram.
What should be noted after a BF semen exam?
- detail and white/crusty staining
- location - I/S,O/S
- presumptive test results - AP +/- and colour of reaction
Positive stains are always coloured purple on a diagram.
