The Handbook of Forensic Services provides guidance and procedures for safe and efficient methods of collecting, preserving, packaging, and shipping evidence and describes the forensic examinations performed by the FBI’s Laboratory Division and Operational Technology Division.

FBI Forensic Services

The successful investigation and prosecution of crimes require, in most cases, the collection, preservation, and forensic analysis of evidence. Forensic analysis of evidence is often crucial to determinations of guilt or innocence.

The FBI has one of the largest and most comprehensive forensic laboratories in the world, and the FBI Laboratory is accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board. The forensic services of the FBI Laboratory Division and the Operational Technology Division are available to the following:

• FBI field offices and legal attachés.
• U.S. attorneys, military tribunals, and other federal agencies for civil and criminal matters.
• State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies in the United States and territorial possessions for criminal matters.

• No examination will be conducted on evidence that has been previously subjected to the same type of examination. Exceptions may be granted when there are reasons for a reexamination. These reasons should be explained in separate letters from the director of the laboratory that conducted the original examination, the prosecuting attorney, and the investigating agency.
• No request for an examination will be accepted from laboratories having the
  capability of conducting the examination. Exceptions may be granted upon approval of the FBI Laboratory Director or a designee.
• No testimony will be furnished if testimony on the same subject and in the same case is provided for the prosecution by another expert.
• No request for an examination will be accepted from a nonfederal law enforcement agency in civil matters.

In addition, when submitting evidence to the FBI Laboratory, contributors acknowledge the following:

• FBI examiners will choose appropriate technical processes to address the contributor’s request for examination.
• Depending on the caseload of the Laboratory and the needs of the contributor, evidence examinations may be subcontracted.
• An FBI Laboratory Report of Examination may contain the opinions and/or interpretations of the examiner(s) who issued the report.

Violent Crime Versus Property Crime

The FBI accepts evidence related to all crimes under investigation by FBI field offices; however, it accepts from state and local law enforcement agencies only evidence related to violent crime investigations. The FBI does not routinely accept evidence from state and local law enforcement agencies in cases involving property crimes unless there was personal injury or intent to cause personal injury. These guidelines help to ensure that the FBI continues to provide timely forensic assistance to law enforcement agencies investigating crimes of violence or threatened violence. Additional restrictions may be imposed on case acceptance to achieve this goal.

At the discretion of the FBI Laboratory Director or a designee, the FBI may accept evidence from property crime cases. Such exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis and should not be regarded as setting a precedent for future case acceptance. All accepted cases will be afforded the full range of forensic services provided by the FBI.

The following are examples of property crimes that are not routinely accepted for examinations:

• Arson of unoccupied residential and commercial buildings and property.
• Explosive incidents and hoaxes targeting unoccupied residential and commercial buildings and property.
• Vandalism and malicious mischief directed toward residential or commercial buildings and property.
• Nonfatal traffic accidents involving speedometer and headlight examinations except in cases involving law enforcement and government officials.
• Hit-and-run automobile accidents not involving personal injury.
• Automobile theft, except automobile theft rings or carjackings.
• Breaking and entering.
• Burglary.
• Minor theft (under $100,000).
• Minor fraud (under $100,000).

Download Handbook of Forensic Services (Revised 2007)

PDF fomrat, 2.7MB, 202Pages.

Editor: Kim Waggoner
Editorial Assistant: Kathryn H. Suchma
Graphic Design: Sandra D. Holliday

An FBI Laboratory Publication. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Quantico, Virginia.
ISBN 978-0-16-079376-9

Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Submitting Evidence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Evidence Examinations . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Crime Scene Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Crime Scene Search . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

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