- 01: Introduction
- 02: History
- 03: Propellants, Firearms, and Ammunition Development
- 04: Modern Firearms Manufacture
- 05: Small Arms Ammunition
- 06: Evidence Handling Procedures
- Introduction
- Objectives
- AFTE Knowledge and Ability Factors
- Types of Evidence
- Associative Evidence
- The Crime Scene
- Evidence Submission
- Laboratory Evidence Handling
- Case Tracking Within the Laboratory
- Firearm and Toolmark Examination Considerations
- Selected Bibliography
- 07: Equipment and Instrumentation
- 08: Examination of Firearms
- 09: Cartridge and Shotshell Examination
- 10: Characterization and Evaluation of Fired Projectiles
- 11: Bullet Comparison and Identification
- 12: Gunshot Residue and Distance Determination
- 13: Toolmark Identification
- 14: Communicating Results
- Resources
Examiner-Based System
Home > Evidence Handling Procedures > Case Tracking Within the Laboratory > Evidence Distribution > Examiner-Based System
Based on laboratory protocol, a laboratory manager or supervisor typically assigns each evidence submission to an examiner within a particular forensic discipline. The assignment is determined based upon the nature of the case and the documented type of evidence.
Upon breaking the seal on the container, the examiner acts as the hub of the chain of custody within the laboratory and is responsible for
- distributing evidence,
- sequencing examinations,
- identifying significant examinations that were not requested.
In the examiner-based system, the firearm/toolmark examiner reviews all evidence in a given submission. The examiner is expected to exercise management skill, knowledge, and decision-making expertise.
This approach requires that the examiner is generally familiar with the forensic capabilities of the laboratory.
