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Trace Evidence Collection: Crime Scene Investigation Guide Videos
NIST and the OSAC Trace Materials and Crime Scene Investigation & Reconstruction subcommittees collaborated with RTI International to produce a wide variety of videos to accompany the Trace Evidence Collection App, a mobile app companion to the Trace Materials Crime Scene Investigation Guide. The guide assists crime scene teams and law enforcement officers by providing guidance on a) recognizing, b) collecting, c) packaging, and d) preserving suspected trace evidence. The guide provides detailed and illustrated chapters that each focus on a specific type of evidence.
The Trace Evidence Collection App is a mobile app companion to the Trace Materials Crime Scene Investigation Guide. The mobile app enables the user to access, search, and reference the guide's contents at any time and in any location. With this information easily accessible, users can reference descriptions of different types of trace evidence, information about where trace evidence might be encountered in crime scenes, and instructions outlining the collection and packaging of trace evidence. The Trace Evidence Collection App is available for Apple iOS devices on the Apple App Store and Google Android devices on the Google Play Store.
These videos are intended to provide visual and audio guidance as well as amplification of the written content from the guide. The videos average 2 to 3 minutes and include closed captioning.
For more information, visit the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science.
Video Production:
These videos were produced through the support of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Financial Assistance Award Number 70NANB21H098. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this video are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the NIST or the U.S. Department of Commerce. Any products and manufacturers discussed are presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by NIST or the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Related OSAC Subcommittees
- The Crime Scene Investigation & Reconstruction Subcommittee supports development of standards and guidance for crime scene investigations.
- The Trace Materials Subcommittee focuses on standards and guidelines related to examination and interpretation of physical evidence that may result from the transfer of small or minute quantities of materials (e.g., hairs, fibers, paint, tape, glass, geological materials).