Policy Text
Identification Bur eau Page 1 of 1 3 /02.3 (REV 1/07)
Collection and Booking of Biological Evidence
The purpose of this Order is to o utline the policy for the coll ection and booking of
biological evidence. I. Definition
Biological Evidence is any physi ological evidence that may prov e necessary
elements of a crime, such as blood, semen or tissue.
II. Responsibility
A Crime Scene Investigation Office r or a detective will be resp onsible for the
collection of biological evidenc e requiring booking. All biolo gical evidence that is
necessary for later laboratory analysis will be stored in the P roperty Warehouse
in a controlled environment. D ue to limited storage space in t he Property
Warehouse controlled environment a rea, biological evidence will be limited to
homicides, sexual assaults, or fe lony assault cases where the d etective deems
preservation of the evidence is n ecessary for later laboratory analysis.
III. Collection and Packaging
Whenever possible samples of bio logical evidence should be coll ected in lieu of
the entire item of evidence found . When a sample has been take n from an entire
item, the sample should be dr ied and packaged in paper. The co ntainer should
be marked “POTENTIAL DNA EVIDE NCE” and booked as usual. The re mainder
of the item should be booked as evidence in the usual manner.
A. For samples of sufficient quantity for analysis, follow the guidelines
outlined in the departmental bookle t “Sacramento County Sheriff
Department Physical Evidence & Cr ime Scene Investigation” (Form 7401-
112).
Appendices: Sacramento County Sheriff Department Physical Evidence & Crime
Scene Investigation – Form 7401-112