Evidence Transfer

Preparation of Evidence Containers

  • All evidence containers, such as the CT100 Kit, CT400 Kit, and clothing bag(s), must be marked with identification information, properly sealed, and marked with chain of custody information. (Refer to REPACKAGING, LABELING AND SEALING EVIDENCE CONTAINERS page 51)
  • All stickers, such as the orange “BIOHAZARD” and if applicable, (if a moist specimen was collected in Step 13) the yellow “MOIST SPECIMEN” sticker must be placed on the upper left corner of the Kit. (Refer to REPACKAGING, LABELING AND SEALING EVIDENCE     CONTAINERS page 51)
  • All evidence seals should be placed on the evidence containers. Two (2) seals should be placed on the Kit and two (2) seals should be placed around the ends of the folded opening on the large brown clothing bag. Initial all seals.
  • The yellow carbonless duplicate copy of page one (1) of the Medical Report must be sealed in the envelope on the bottom of the Kit.
  • The white copies of all Medical Report pages must be placed in the patient’s medical record.

Appropriate Transfer Personnel

  • Under no circumstances should sexual assault patients be allowed to handle evidence after it has been collected. (Exception- Pubic hairs specimens may be pulled by the patient if s/he prefers. The patient should wear non-lubricated gloves if s/he completes this step). (Refer to step 9 KNOWN PUBIC HAIR PULLED PAGE 45).
  • Only a police officer should transfer physical evidence from health care facilities to the State of Connecticut Forensic Laboratory or the Toxicology/Controlled Substance Laboratory for storage and/or analysis.
  • If the patient is undecided about the notification of the police regarding the assault, the department or troop with jurisdiction where the assault occurred (if known) or where the health care facility is located (if unknown) should be contacted (See below regarding when to contact police).

Appropriate Contact Timing

If the patient consents to the notification of police regarding the assault:

  • Contact police as soon as possible to avoid delaying the sexual assault patient for longer than necessary.
  • If police are unable to arrive before the examination and treatment of the patient is completed, suggest that arrangements be made for the police interview to be conducted at another location at a later time, rather than require the victim to wait in the hospital.
  • Encourage police to arrive at the facility as soon as possible to conduct the interview with the victim and to transfer evidence to the State of Connecticut Forensic Laboratory.

If the patient is undecided about notifying police regarding the assault:

  • Use a Control Number instead of the patient’s name and medical record number on the Kit identification label. The patient’s identity should not be disclosed to the police without her/his consent.
  • Contact police after the patient has been discharged to avoid making the patient feel pressured by the officer’s presence.
  • Labeled, sealed evidence containers should be properly and securely stored until they are    turned over to police. (See below-Temporary Storage of Evidence Container).

Temporary Storage of Evidence Containers

  • Completed Kits and filled clothing bags should be transferred to police custody as soon as practical for transport to the State of Connecticut Forensic Laboratory.
  • Evidence that is not immediately transferred to police for transport to the State of Connecticut Forensic Laboratory should be labeled, sealed, and temporarily stored in a secure area or kept under observation until turned over to police.
  • If temporary storage of the Kit and clothing bags is required prior to the transfer of custody to police, store as follows:
    • The completed, sealed Kit should be stored in a secure, refrigerated area.
    • The filled, sealed clothing bag(s) should be stored in a secure, dry area at room temperature.
    • If evidence is stored prior to being transferred to police, the person storing the evidence must document the storage as instructed on the Kit box. (See below).
    • Do not retain evidence at the hospital if the patient is undecided about reporting. To preserve the chain of evidence and evidence integrity, evidence should be stored at the Laboratory and not the health care facility. Evidence must be stored for sixty (60) days when a patient is undecided about whether to notify police of the assault and must be transferred to police for transport to and for storage at the State of Connecticut Forensic Laboratory or Toxicology/Controlled Substance Laboratory.

Transfer Documentation

The evidence transfer must be documented in the following places:

  • The evidence container labels (Kit and clothing bag(s)). (Refer to QUESTIONS REGARDING EVIDENCE COLLECTION page 31).
  • Page 4 of the Medical Report. (See SAMPLE FORM page 25).
  • Lines 13 and 14 of the Checklist. (See SAMPLE FORM page 27).

Evidence Containers

  • Be sure that “MEDICAL PERSONNEL” section of the Kits and clothing bag labels are completed.
  • If evidence is stored prior to being turned over to police, the person storing the evidence should complete the lower section of the “MEDICAL PERSONNEL” section on the Kit and clothing bag labels. (Note that if the patient is undecided about notifying police about the assault, a Control Number, and not the patient’s name or medical record number, should be used to identify evidence containers. See CONTROL NUMBER page 19).
  • The health care personnel who transfers the evidence to police should complete the first line of the “POLICE PERSONNEL” section of the Kit and clothing bag labels.
  • The police officer who received the evidence from the health care facility person should complete the second line of the “POLICE PERSONNEL” section of the Kit and clothing bag labels.
  • Police and the State of Connecticut Forensic Laboratory/Toxicology-Controlled Substance Laboratory personnel will document the continuing chain of custody.

Medical Report Forms

  • If evidence is stored prior to being turned over to police, the storing person must complete Section 9E on page four (4) of the Medical Report.
  • The health care personnel who transfers the evidence to police must complete section 9e on page four (4) of the Medical Report.
  • The police officer that takes custody of the evidence from the health care personnel must  complete Section 9E on page four (4) of the Medical Report.

Checklist

  • Line 13 of the Checklist should be appropriately marked by the examiner responsible for the examination of the sexual assault patient to indicate that evidence was transferred to police.
  • Line 14 of the Checklist should be appropriately marked by the examiner responsible for the examination of the sexual assault patient to indicate that arrangements were made for the transfer of evidence to the State of Connecticut Forensic Laboratory by police for sixty (60) day storage.