System and method for documenting evidence

摘要

A system and method for documenting evidence. Investigators are provided a mobile client device enabling them to document evidence directly at a crime scene. Documentation is provided to an evidence gathering module which collects the documentation and stores it to an evidence database. Once the investigation is complete, a chain of custody document is generated. Documentation is time and date stamped and each documented item of evidence is linked to the particular investigator that documented it. The mobile client device provides automated location and environmental data, reducing error and overhead for the investigator.

主权项

1. A multi-user system for managing and coordinating, by a supervising investigator, the documenting , by a plurality of scene investigators of tangible physical evidence located at a remote investigation scene and generating one or more chain of custody forms for the tangible physical evidence, the system comprising a host device comprising a processor and operated by the supervising investigator, a plurality of client devices each comprising a processor and operated by one of the scene investigators and an evidence database:
the host device configured to: generate a plurality of case files, each case file corresponding to a case for which tangible physical evidence is to be gathered by the plurality of scene investigators; associate each of the case files with a plurality of scene investigators to permit access to the respective case files by the one or more plurality of scene investigators from the remote investigation scene; and transmit and receive communications with the plurality of client devices to direct the plurality of scene investigators to document the tangible physical evidence at the remote investigation scene; and each of the plurality of client devices comprising an evidence gathering module configured to: permit access from the remote investigation scene to each of the case files to each of the scene investigators associated with the respective case file; receive from the host device, during the course of evidence gathering, instructions to document tangible physical evidence for the respective case; present the instructions to the scene investigator operating the client device to enable the scene investigator to appropriately document the tangible physical evidence; generate, during the course of evidence gathering, the documentation relating to the tangible physical evidence gathered by and in custody of the scene investigator; during the course of evidence gathering and prior to generation of a chain of custody form, communicate the documentation relating to the tangible physical evidence to the host device for approval by the supervising investigator; and upon the supervising investigator approving the gathered documentation of the tangible physical evidence: generating at least one chain of custody form, each said form identifying the documentation, the tangible physical evidence and the scene investigator in possession of one of said documented items of the tangible physical evidence; communicating the documentation relating to the tangible physical evidence and the chain of custody forms to the host device for storage in the evidence database; and notifying the scene investigator in custody of the tangible physical evidence of the sufficiency of the documentation and to secure and maintain the custody of the tangible physical evidence; and upon the supervising investigator not approving the documentation of the tangible physical evidence, communicating with the client device to instruct the scene investigator operating that client device to generate further documentation at the remote investigation scene relating to the tangible physical evidence, prior to generating the chain of custody forms for corresponding ones of the documented items of tangible physical evidence.