Biological Evidence Preservation: Considerations for Policy Makers

Published

April 14, 2015

Author(s)

Shannan R. Williams, Melissa Taylor, Susan M. Ballou, Mark D. Stolorow, Margaret C. Kline, Phylis S. Bamberger, Larry Brown, Rebecca Brown, Burney Yvette, Davenport Dennis, Lindsay DePalma, Ted Hunt, Cynthia E. Jones, Ralph Keaton, William Kiley, Joseph Latta, Karen Thiessen, Gerry LaPorte, Linda E. Ledray, Randy Nagy, Brian Ostrom, Linda Schwind, Stephanie Stoiloff

Abstract

Biological Evidence Preservation: Considerations for Policy Makers is a policy brief intended to provide guidance to legislators, advocates, and managers within criminal justice agencies that influence policy. The content in this document is informed by an in depth analysis of current State legislation in existence as of the date of this document's publication. Using examples from existing State statutes, and a thorough examination of current trends, law, scientific literature and the expertise of the membership, the following report discusses key legislative provisions and recommends statutes, rules, or policies to be implemented by states to improve the preservation of biological evidence.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 8048

Report Number

8048

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

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DOI Link

Keywords

Forensic Science, DNA, Evidence, Policy

Citation

Williams, S. , Taylor, M. , Ballou, S. , Stolorow, M. , Kline, M. , Bamberger, P. , , L. , Brown, R. , Yvette, B. , Dennis, D. , DePalma, L. , Hunt, T. , , C. , Keaton, R. , Kiley, W. , Latta, J. , Thiessen, K. , LaPorte, G. , Ledray, L. , Nagy, R. , Ostrom, B. , Schwind, L. and Stoiloff, S. (2015), Biological Evidence Preservation: Considerations for Policy Makers, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8048 (Accessed October 13, 2025)