One of the most important aspects of any criminal case is the EVIDENCE! An FNE uses the myriad of knowledge, skills, and abilities they have developed to assist in criminal cases. One way they do this is to IDENTIFY GAPS IN COLLECTION AND MISHANDLING OF EVIDENCE.
This is CRUCIAL in criminal cases because evidentiary issues can:
invalidate the evidence
compromise the admissibility of evidence
compromise integrity & credibility of evidence in court
cause inconsistencies
create confusion or ambiguity about the origin, context, or significance of evidence with the jury
can WIN or LOSE a case!
Common gaps identiofied by Forensic Nurse Consultants include:
Chain of Custody Issues
Ex. lack of proper documentation and/or tracking of evidence from crime scene to laboratory
Incomplete Documentation
Ex. missing or inadequate documentation of injuries, observations, or collection procedures
Contamination or Tampering
Ex. improper handling techniques or contamination during collection, storage, or transportation
Failure to Use Standardized Protocols
Ex. deviations from established protocols for evidence collection, preservation, and documentation
Insufficient Training
Ex. inadequate training of personnel involved in evidence collection and handling can result in errors or omissions
Inadequate Preservation
Ex. improper storage conditions or delays in submitting evidence to the laboratory
Documentation Errors
Ex. errors in labeling, dating, or describing evidence can create confusion or ambiguity
