Document A Scene and Log Evidence
Record a scene with photos, labels, times, and an evidence log before anything is moved.
- Observation vs. inference: Forensic work starts by separating what was seen from what is concluded.
- Evidence identity: Labels, photos, and logs keep evidence tied to the right source.
Prerequisites are inferred: pending teacher review.
Re-learn the skill with worked practice and clear examples.
Record a scene with photos, labels, times, and an evidence log before anything is moved.
A scene log says: Item A3, glass fragment, under desk, photo taken, collected 9:14 AM by Lee. What key information is included?
Reviewed- A.Evidence ID, location, time, and collector
- B.Only the suspect's name, which the entry gives as Lee
- C.Nothing usable, because no suspect or cause is named
- D.Only the time of collection, with nothing else recorded
Show the worked solution ▾
Answer: A. Evidence ID, location, time, and collector
- Step 1: Read the entry: The log includes A3, location, time, and collector.
- Step 2: Match documentation needs: Those details make evidence traceable.
Why it's right: The entry includes the core documentation details.
- B: Lee is the collector, not a suspect; the entry names no suspect.
- C: A scene log records what was found and who handled it, not who did it.
- D: The time is there, but so are the ID, the place, and the collector.
Aligned to Biotechnology Research and Experiments · reading level ~grade 9
An evidence bag passes from the collector to a courier to the lab, and each person signs and dates the tag. What does that signed record create?
Reviewed- A.A known standard that the lab compares the item against later
- B.A chain of custody that accounts for the item at each handoff
- C.A search warrant that permits the item to be opened and tested
- D.A scale reference that lets the lab measure the item accurately
Show the worked solution ▾
Answer: B. A chain of custody that accounts for the item at each handoff
- Step 1: Read what the signatures record: Each signature marks who held the item and when.
- Step 2: Name the record: An unbroken list of who held an item and when is the chain of custody.
Why it's right: Signing and dating at each handoff produces a chain of custody, which shows the item was accounted for from collection to testing.
- A: A known standard is a comparison sample, not a record of who handled the evidence.
- C: A warrant is a legal permission granted before collection, not a tag signed afterward.
- D: A scale reference is a ruler photographed beside an item, not a signature record.
Aligned to Biotechnology Research and Experiments · reading level ~grade 9
- In Unit 1.1 Investigating the Scene, this skill turns class evidence into a result another person can check.
Fill these in as you work through the lesson.
- Scene log (written record of evidence and actions):
- Scale ruler (shows object size in a photo):
- Evidence ID (unique label for an item):
- Timestamp (date and time recorded):
Document a scene from view to close-up, label each item with an evidence , and log the before moving it.
- Which photo shows the whole scene?
- Why include a scale ruler?
- What belongs in the evidence log?
A hair is found near a desk. Plan the wide, mid, and close photo plus one log entry.