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• • • • • freezer is mainly used to preserve human tissue, blood, bodies, body parts, etc., not objects. If you collect forensic information, especially artifacts containing biometric data, hand these materials over to official investigators at the earliest possible time. Remember that you do not possess the training or ability to handle and preserve this information appropriately, and that collection/efforts of preservations should at all times be weighted against the possibility of tampering with the value of this evidence, or spoiling it altogether. If more than one item is to be collected, give each item a unique reference number before collecting it. A item reference number is the identification number assigned to each item of evidence. It is unique to each item, is assigned when processing the crime scene and remains unchanged throughout the chain of custody process. It can start at 1 or A and proceeds sequentially when reference numbers need to be given to additional items being collected. When there is a significant number of items alphanumeric designation is also a possibility. Bag and seal each item individually and include a statement detailing exactly what, when, where, by whom it was collected, including the item reference number, if applicable. See the Chain of Custody sections (Sections 2.1.8 and 3.1.1) as well as the Appendix for template chain of custody forms. Remember, while it might be allowed to handle artifacts if no professional investigator is available and the artifact runs the risk that it will otherwise be lost or damaged, under no circumstances should be unofficial investigators handle organic forensic material such as semen, blood, hair, skin, etc. Firearms and Associated Material Unofficial investigators may encounter firearms, cartridges, casings, and bullets. Safety should always be the primary consideration. Unofficial investigators’ own safety as well as the safety of victims, witnesses, and the public take precedence over gathering information. Therefore anyone without appropriate training must leave the handling of firearms and associated material to professional investigators. 92

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PILPG Handbook on Civil Society Documentation of Serious Human Rights Violations Sept 2016

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Documentation Purpose

Perpetrator-centred documentation

Topic(s)

Data/Information Strategy
Preservation and Archiving
Verification

Type

Guide

Description: Increasingly, civil society actors engage in documentation and investigation processes, seeking to collect evidence against those responsible for serious human rights violations. The purpose of this Handbook is to provide guidelines and best practices for the collection and management of information on serious human rights situations for those that are not professionally trained in such documentation practices. While the Handbook strongly emphasizes the need to refrain from investigating human rights abuses and to refer to professionals, practice shows that this is not always possible. Only under such circumstances and as a last resort may civil society actors consider engaging in certain documentation practices and not in others, always seeking to include professionals when and where possible. They may however only do so by adhering to the ethical principles and documentation guidelines that are provided in this Handbook. These enable unofficial investigators to do no harm, identify security risks, preserve crime scenes, prevent the loss of evidence, and manage the information in manner that preserves confidentiality, security and probative value, with an eye to possible use in later redress processes and without jeopardizing the future work of professionally trained and officially appointed investigators.

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PILPG_Handbook_on_Civil_Society_Documentation_of_Serious_Human_Rights_Violations_Sept_2016_tcm289-785328.pdf
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PILPG Handbook on Civil Society Documentation of Serious Human Rights Violations Sept 2016

Primary Documents

Verification Handbook

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