Tips for Law Enforcement
The GHRCFL encourages you to call for assistance any time you have a question about the best way to proceed with evidence collection.
When submitting a Service Request Form or an Evidence Custody Form, the case agent or officer should be as concise and thorough as possible. These forms are used to make decisions about the request, therefore, any vague or ambiguous terminology may make it more difficult to interpret or understand what services are needed. This may slow down the processing of the request.
As they apply. Please indicate the following on the Service Request Form. They are very important details for the Examiners to have.
- The on or off status of the computer when it was located.
- If the device was on, the method used to turn it off.
- Any efforts on your part or anyone else in the chain of custody, to turn on or access the computer. It is considered a best practice to never attempt to turn on or attempt to access a computer that may be examined since this can alter or destroy evidence.
Important Note:
Exercise caution while handling sensitive computer equipment. In situations where the casing of a computer is open and the internal working are exposed, there is danger of damaging the computer because of the buildup of static electricity that is held by the human body. The hard drive is especially susceptible to static electricity, even if it is exposed to a small amount of voltage, and a microchip can be damaged with as little as 500 volts of static electricity. (Walking across a rug can produce a static electricity voltage of up to 12,000 volts.) Static electricity, at very low levels may not even be felt by a person, but can still cause damage to a hard drive or a microchip. It is best to let a professional handle the equipment or take precautionary measures such as grounding the static electricity before touching any of the internal components of the computer.
Examination Best Practices FAQ Sheet (File information: ExaminationBestPractices.doc; 453 KB; Last Modified: 04/21/05)
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