Preservation Of Forensic Evidence Research Articles

Forensic evidence in sexual assault laws: a content analysis of state statutes in the United States of America

ABSTRACT The collection of forensic evidence is perceived to be a panacea in sexual assault investigations and criminal prosecutions. However, research has shown an alarmingly different reality, whereby forensic evidence is rarely available, collected, tested, or available during criminal investigations and court procedures. Regardless, many states have begun implementing new policies to improve the collection and preservation of forensic evidence. This study explores the state of forensic evidence policies and legislation throughout the United States of America as they relate to sexual assaults through a content analysis of the nation’s state statutes. Following the 2016 legislative session statutes were found to be organized into two themes: 1) survivor-related statutes and 2) offender-related statutes. Though innovative forensic evidence policies were observed, much of this legislation appeared to be inconsistent with the reality of sexual assault and is best described as vague and inadequate. In view of these observations, this paper discusses policy implications and areas of future research.

Emergency Nursing Review Questions: November 2021

Preservation of forensic evidence is a critical element of emergency department nursing. Two major objectives of forensic evidence collection are preservation (preventing degradation and contamination) and maintaining the chain of custody. Bullets and other metal fragments should be handled in a manner that prevents chipping or scratching, which includes using padded equipment for handling and storage. When managing a trauma patient, 2 sheets should be placed on the floor of the hospital room instead of 1 sheet.

Knowledge of Forensic Nursing Practices: Efficacy of an Intervention for Nursing Students.

Forensic science has become increasingly relevant to health professionals' roles in preserving trace evidence when crimes have been committed. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of a structured intervention to improve nursing students' knowledge of forensic nursing practices. A pretest/posttest quasi-experimental study, without a control group, was conducted. A nonprobabilistic sample of students from the third and fourth years of a nursing degree program took part in the study. The General Questionnaire on Forensic Nursing and the Questionnaire on Knowledge of Forensic Nursing Practices were administered before and after a structured intervention. Eighty-seven students (mean age of 22.8 ± 3.9 years) took part in the study. Of the participants, 85.7% were female, 98.8% claimed they had not received training in forensic nursing during their degree, and 97.6% reported that they did not have contact with situations that involved the collection and preservation of forensic evidence during their internships. As for their knowledge of forensic practices, out of a total of 74 questions, the number of right answers after the course (69.15 ± 3.05) was higher than the result obtained previously (62.95 ± 4.47). The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01), leading to the conclusion that the structured intervention was effective in improving knowledge of forensic nursing practices. The results demonstrated the importance of specific training in forensic nursing and support the conclusion that a curricular unit in this area should be developed for inclusion in nursing degree curricula.

Preservation of Forensic Evidence by Nurses in a Prehospital Emergency Care Service in Brazil.

Violence is a growing public health problem worldwide. Nurses increasingly must perform forensic procedures with the responsibility to collect, document, preserve, and store evidence that may be used in the investigation of a violent crime. However, few nurses receive education in forensic evidence collection as part of their training. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between nurses' knowledge and performance of forensic evidence procedures. This is a descriptive survey study of nurses working in a prehospital emergency care service in Aracaju, Brazil. A 32-question survey related to forensic evidence knowledge and procedures was completed by 128 nurses. Descriptive statistics and Kendall's Tau-b were used to describe the sample and evaluate correlations. Results revealed an overall linear relationship between knowledge and performance of forensic evidence procedures (r = .69). The strongest correlation was between knowledge and documentation (r = .71). Weaker correlations were demonstrated between knowledge and evidence collection (r = .47), evidence preservation (r = .47), and overall evidence procedure execution (r = .53). Forensic nursing knowledge is related to forensic evidence procedure performance. Although the study showed that nurses agreed forensic evidence procedures are important for criminal investigations, most reported they were unprepared to carry out these procedures. The need for additional training and adherence to established institutional protocols are identified as contributing factors.

Forensic Investigation of Crimes Against the Amur Tiger and Other Animals: Problems and Solutions

The late 20th century saw the development of a new special framework for the conservation of large mammals – both tigers and their prey, mostly ungulates, – along with their habitats in the Far East of Russia. Tightening controls on poaching, illicit trafficking and trade in wild animals and their parts, as well as enforcement of adequate penalties for these crimes rely on effective crime detection procedures and quality forensic investigation, which provides important grounds for prosecution. There are currently only four organizations conducting such forensic investigations within the geographic range of the Amur tiger.Efforts to facilitate forensic assistance have included production of the monograph “The Basics of Wildlife Forensics”, establishment of a veterinary treatment and diagnostic center for post-mortem examinations and a carcass storage facility for preservation of forensic evidence, and ongoing work to create biorepositories.However, there is still no streamlined system for state-supported forensic investigation of crimes against wildlife and forensic examinations of wild animals, their parts and derivatives.Such examinations should be conducted by specialized centers under designated conservation authorities of the constituent subjects of the Russian Federation, similar to the forensic bureaus of the Ministry of the Interior.

Overlooking forensic evidence? A review of the 2014 International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict

The main task of this article is to determine whether the attention paid to the coverage of documenting, collecting and preserving physical and digital evidence is sufficient to ensure its admissibility in both national and international courts. This article undertakes this task by critically examining the 2014 International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict, which was part of the 2014 Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. The objectives of this article are threefold. It first considers the special evidentiary rules of international courts. Secondly, it reviews the limited references to physical and digital evidence in the 2014 Protocol and discusses the potential pitfalls of failing to recognise the weight this evidence carries in national and international courts. Finally, the article recommends the use of trained forensic experts in the investigations of sexual violence and the establishment of uniform and comprehensive policies and procedures on the documentation, collection and preservation of forensic evidence, which are currently lacking in the 2014 Protocol.

Sexual violence perpetrated against women in India: the role of forensic evidence

ABSTRACTIn response to the upsurge in acts of sexual violence against women in India, Parliament passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act of 2013, amending existing statutes and rules of evidence relating to crimes of sexual violence and the practices of forensic professionals in the country. While a step in the right direction, this law paid little attention to forensic evidence in sexual violence cases, which can provide a more objective, scientific account of events, aid in the reconstruction of crimes, and help strengthen cases against perpetrators. The objectives of this article are twofold: to raise awareness for the need for a more prominent role of forensic evidence in sexual violence cases and to recommend ways to establish uniform and comprehensive policies and procedures on the collection and preservation of forensic evidence in order to ensure that cases of sexual violence against women are heard in Indian courts.

Proper handling of bullet evidence in trauma patients

Gunshot-related trauma varies in frequency around the world; however, every trauma center should be prepared for and capable of dealing with patients who have sustained gunshot injuries. While the appropriate medical and surgical treatment of gunshot injuries is the goal of the trauma center, many gunshot cases involve situations that have various criminal and/or other forensic concerns. As such, healthcare providers in trauma centers need to be aware of important evidence issues related to gunshot injuries. This paper provides basic information and guidelines for healthcare providers regarding the appropriate identification, documentation, collection, and preservation of forensic evidence in gunshot injury cases.

CSI

Emergency department (ED) nurses care for victims of trauma almost daily. Although preservation of evidence is crucial, the ED is chaotic when a trauma patient arrives and staff members must do everything possible to save the patient's life. However, an integral responsibility of the staff nurse is collection and preservation of forensic evidence. This article provides insight into the process undertaken by a multidisciplinary team to develop a set of evidence-based guidelines for forensic evidence collection. The team compiled evidence from more than 20 articles and consultations with law enforcement officials and forensic experts. This information was used to develop a set of guidelines for forensic evidence collection in the ED or operating room. Staff educational needs presented some challenges. Training was designed to specifically address the roles of three major groups of staff: patient representatives and emergency and trauma nurses. Educational topics included evidence recognition, handling of clothing, gross/trace evidence, documentation, packaging of evidence, and use of the "chain-of-evidence" form. Practice modifications included development of a new "chain-of-evidence" form, a forensic cart in the operating room, and use of a collapsible plastic box for collection of clothing in the ED.

The role of Victorian emergency nurses in the collection and preservation of forensic evidence: a review of the literature

Emergency Departments (ED) are providing care for increasing numbers of patients who present as a result of criminal or interpersonal violence and patients may be victims, suspects or perpetrators. As a result, the role of emergency nurses in the recognition, collection and preservation of forensic evidence is increasing. There is little published literature about the role and responsibilities of emergency nurses regarding the collection and preservation of evidence in the state of Victoria and this is complicated by a lack of department and organisation policy and the need for more specific educational preparation of emergency nurses in this area. While it is well accepted that the primary focus of nursing care will always be the physical and emotional care of the patient, the increasing importance of the role of emergency nurses in the recognition and collection of forensic evidence in Victoria is now being recognized and the need for education of emergency nurses in this area understood. This paper reviews the literature related to the recognition, collection and preservation, of forensic materials in EDs by emergency nurses in the state of Victoria and discusses the role of emergency nurses in Victoria in caring for patients who present as victims of violence and in whom the collection and preservation of forensic evidence is required.

The Examination and Assessment of Female Victims of Acute Sexual Assault

ABSTRACTThe examination and assessment of female victims of acute sexual assault are reviewed, with particular emphasis on the role of the sexual assault examiner in the collection, documentation and preservation of forensic evidence. Victim consent, the sexual assault history, and the collection of clothing, body, and anal/genital evidence are discussed in detail, emphasizing important forensic issues in each area. Future topics in this area are considered, including: use of colposcopy and toluidine blue dye to enhance genital examination, implications of Section 497.01 of the Criminal Code of Canada, the general warrant provision, and the increasing collaboration between the disciplines of medicine and nursing in the care of victims of acute sexual assault.

Preservation of forensic evidence in the Accident and Emergency department

Nursing staff in Accident and Emergency Departments see large numbers of patients whose injuries may lead to criminal and civil legal proceedings. In an increasing number of these cases, the police will require statements from nursing, as well as medical staff. The preservation of trace evidence, clothing, blood and other samples is often of vital importance in the subsequent legal process. This paper reviews the nature of forensic evidence, its collection, identification and storage. It also offers advice on record keeping, and the issue of consent to the taking of samples.