PHYSICAL EVIDENCE MANUAL - Crime Scene Investigator Network

Physical Evidence Manual
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Collection and Packaging of Firearms Evidence
The primary concerns when packaging firearms are safety and the preservation
of the evidence including blood, trace evidence, and latent prints that may be
present.
• Never insert anything into the barrel of a firearm.
• Minimize handling because it is possible to recover latent prints from
firearms and ammunition.
• Do not remove cartridges from magazines, however, do remove the
magazine.
• Absent special circumstances, recovered firearms and ammunition
components should not be physically marked in any manner (see
exception listed below). Label the packaging instead.
• Mark the position of the cylinder on both sides of the top strap before
opening the cylinder of a revolver and make note of the position of fired
and unfired cartridges in the cylinder. This is so the position of the
cylinder, as recovered, can be determined after the cylinder is opened.
• Store and transport firearms unloaded and rendered safe. If unable to do
so, hand-deliver the firearm to the laboratory and inform lab personnel
immediately of the firearm’s condition.
• Any evidence with possible blood or body fluids should be air-dried, then
packaged in paper bags, envelopes, or cardboard boxes labeled with a
“BIOHAZARD” label.
• Individually package fired ammunition in plastic bags or paper envelopes
to prevent alteration or obliteration of microscopic markings.
• Recover any unused ammunition of the same brand and type for
laboratory examinations.
Under Hammer
1 Rem 38 Spl (fired)
2 W-W 38 Spl (fired)
3 F-C 38 Spl (unfired)
4 F-C 38 Spl (unfired)
5 W-W 38 Spl (unfired)
6 W-W 38 Spl (unfired)
Figure 5: Example of how to note the positions
of cartridges and cartridge cases in the cylinder
of a revolver.
Adopted: May 2002
Revisions: 6
Last Revision: January 31, 2008
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