RFID Technology in Forensic Evidence Management: An Assessment of Barriers, Benefits, and Costs

Published

October 30, 2014

Author(s)

Shannan R. Williams, Melissa Taylor, Anuj Mehta, Irland Jeffrey

Abstract

Forensic science laboratories and law enforcement agencies have increasingly used automated identification technology (AIT), such as barcoding and radio frequency identification (RFID), to track and manage forensic evidence, firearms, and personnel. AIT streamlines the capture, collection, and transfer of data to track assets and people. RFID technology provides enhanced capabilities including precise location, environmental measurements, and automatic real-time updates of the position and condition of assets in an inventory. The need for further information on the use of AIT in evidence management was identified by the Technical Working Group on Biological Evidence Preservation. During its deliberations, the working group commissioned a small study to gain a better understanding of the capabilities of advanced technologies to improve tracking and preservation of evidence.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 8030

Report Number

8030

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

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DOI Link

Keywords

Automated Identification, RFID, Forensics, Forensic Science, Evidence, Evidence Management

Citation

Williams, S. , Taylor, M. , Mehta, A. and Jeffrey, I. (2014), RFID Technology in Forensic Evidence Management: An Assessment of Barriers, Benefits, and Costs, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8030 (Accessed October 9, 2024)