Forensic Evidence to Collect from a Rape Victim

 

Person to collect: This is best done by a person specially trained to work with rape victims. If such a person is not available, then a physician should collect the specimens, being careful to adhere to chain of custody at all times.

 

Materials required:

(1) sterile normal saline solution for rinsing

(2) sterile swabs

(3) small bags and labels

(4) marking pen

(5) evidence container with security tape

(6) clean sheets of paper for the person to stand on while the examination is performed

(7) camera

(8) blood collection equipment

(9) clean fingernail scraper

 

Items to collect:

(1) all clothing and shoes

(2) debris or artifacts

(3) biological samples

(4) control materials to use as reference material

(5) sheet of paper the person was standing on

Source	Samples
head hair	carefully combed for adherent material
pubic hair	carefully combed for adherent material
excess body hair	carefully combed for adherent material
genital (vaginal or penile)	swab and aspirate
oral	swab, oral rinse
nasal	nasal discharge blown into a cloth
anal	swab
fingernails	scrapings
blood	without anticoagulant or preservative

 

Control materials include:

(1) patient's head, body and pubic hairs

(2) solutions used for washings

(3) unopened swab

 

Handling:

(1) All items should be packaged separately in a properly labeled bag.

(2) All items should be carefully documented in legible writing.

(3) All of the material should be sealed with security tape and handled with chain of custody.

 

Limitations:

• A careful rapist may wear a condom, gloves and take other steps to reduce the amount of physical evidence available to document the crime.