Policy Text
Identification Bur eau Page 1 of 3 3 /02.0 (REV 1/07)
Crime Scene Investigation Eviden ce Collection and Reporting Pro tocol
The purpose of this Order is to o utline the process for the col lection, preservation and
documentation of evidence at a crime scene. I. All Crime Scene Investigati on Officers should be familiar wi th the physical
evidence collection guidelines outlined in the booklet “Sacrame nto County Sheriff
Department Physical Evidence & Cr ime Scene Investigation”, (for m 7401-112),
given to them during training.
II. Evidence Collection
A Crime Scene Investigation Offi cer or Officer s will be the pri mary evidence
gatherer at a major crime scene and/or at a scene requiring spe cial expertise or
equipment. Evidence collection may include the following:
A. Photography: Still photographs m ay be taken of a scene and/ or evidence.
Photographs should be taken with evidence in the location as it was found
by C.S.I., with and/or without num ber stands, labels, or size/c olor scales.
Photographs should include long r ange, intermediate and close-u p views
of the scene or item(s) of evidence.
B. Video: Videography may be taken of a scene with evidence in the location
as it was found by C.S.I., with and/or without number stands, l abels, or
size/color scales. Videography s hould include long range, inte rmediate
and close-up views of the scene or item of evidence.
C. Latent Fingerprints: Latent fi ngerprints lifted from a scen e should be
placed on a “Latent Lift Inform ation” card, (form 7417-035), an d all
headings on the card should be fi lled in. Notations should be made as to
direction and location of lift.
D. Diagram: Diagrams of a sc ene will be required at all homici des or
possible homicides, officer inv olved shootings, and whenever an
investigating detective requests . Scene and evidence measureme nts
should be noted and a diagram of t he scene will be prepared usi ng a
computer-aided drawin g program. The diagram should be submitte d with
a written report.
E. Property Report: Physical evid ence will be collected, packa ged and
marked and will be docu mented on a Property R eceipt/Report Form
Identification Bur eau Page 2 of 3 3 /02.0 (REV 1/07) and/or AFR Packing list. Document ation should include the item number,
a short description of the item and where it was located when c ollected.
Headings of the report form shoul d be completely filled in and the officer
booking the property should print t heir name on the form in acc ordance
with the General Order 16/13. P roperty Report Forms include:
1. Property Receipt/Report (7400-076A) 2. Continuation Form (7400-076B) 3. Firearms (7401-035-2) 4. Money (7401-035-3) 5. Narcotics (7401-035-4)
F. Evidence Recovered by a Hospi tal: Physical evidence is occa sionally
recovered by medical staff at a hospital. The hospital will no tify Sheriff’s
Communication of the need for such evidence to be picked up, an d a
C.S.I. call will be entered into the CAD. The assigned C.S.I. unit shall pick
up the evidence, and document it on a Property Receipt/Report F orm
and/or AFR Packing list. Such evi dence will be placed in a secu red locker
and a report documenting the reco very of such evidence will be completed
and included with the Pr operty Receipt/Report Form and/or AFR P acking
list. The completed report will be turned in at the end of the unit’s watch.
1. A separate locker is located in the University Of Davis Medi cal
Center Operating Room area. The C.S.I. supervisor will assign one
C.S.I. Unit to retrieve the evi dence, if necessary, at least on ce
every pay period, book the evi dence recovered and document thei r
visit on the log sheet i n the C.S.I. Office.
III. Reports
All documentation of evidence wi ll be accompanied by a written record on the
proper Crime Scene Investigation report form, and should includ e the following:
A. Crime scene location, description and condition.
B. Evidence collected describing ho w it was handled, packaged, and the
disposition of the evidence indi cating the chain of custody.
C. Description of any photography , videography, and/or areas pr ocessed for
latent fingerprints.
Appendices:
Sacramento County Sheriff Departm ent Physical Evidence & Crime
Scene Investigation – Form 7401-112
Latent Lift Informati on card – Form 7417-035
Property Receipt/Report – Form 7400-076A
Identification Bur eau Page 3 of 3 3 /02.0 (REV 1/07) Continuation – Form 7400-076B
Firearms – Form 7401-035-2
Money – Form 7401-035-3
Narcotics – Form 7401-035-4