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Forensic DNA Education for Law Enforcement Decisionmakers

Law Enforcement Responsibilities at the Scene

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Law Enforcement Responsibilities at the Scene

All personnel responding to a crime scene are responsible for properly assessing the scene to establish what evidence exists and the best means to collect and protect that evidence. This includes:

  • Securing the scene and limiting access
  • Identifying existing evidence
  • Identifying and protecting evidence
  • Prioritizing evidence to be submitted to the laboratory
  • Properly packaging and submitting evidence in accordance with agency and laboratory protocols
  • Properly documenting the scene
cropped view of a photography taking a photo at a crime scene
National Institute of Justice (NIJ) (see reuse policy).

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