Why Is It Important To Collect Firearm Evidence

536 Words2 Pages

Processing firearms especially for a crime scene is really important. Making sure none of the evidence on the firearm is tampered with or changed can make or break a case. That’s why forensics take collecting firearm evidence very carefully from the scene at an upmost careful priority.
The first and one of the most important steps of collecting evidence is photographing the scene before anything is touched or moved around. Then making sure that the firearm is unloaded or on safety, but always treat a firearm as if it was loaded at all times. When unloading a gun it must be with the most careful care to preserve the evidence. Evidence that can be on a firearm to be preserved is fingerprints, blood, hair, and fibers. The firearm is to be handled on the areas least likely to have fingerprints on. …show more content…

If you are doubtful about what you are seeing, then do not dust for prints just submit the firearm to the lab for examination. Personally delivering the evidence to the lab is preferred. A loaded firearm have a special case to be transported in. If being sent through the mail, it must be unloaded and packaged securely. Also make a sketch of the area that all evidence is recovered from. Make sure to include the location measurements. The serial number should be recorded as well as photographed. Older firearms do not serial numbers so they are to be tagged and pictures taken very well.
Once the firearm is taken to the lab it is dusted for fingerprints and examined for blood, fibers, paint, or anything else that can be evidence. The police will compare the firearm to the bullets that are found around crime scene. If they do not match to the firearm found at the scene that means the police have to look for another gun somewhere around the scene. They also can compare gun shell casings to suspect’s personal

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