Chapter 5 – Adult Custody and Security Operations

54110.6 Crime Scene Investigation

• The staff investigating a crime scene where a gassing has occurred should ensure they are wearing proper protective equipment, such as gloves. The outer door of the cell or the general area where the gassing occurred should be photographed. Any areas on the door, door opening, or general area that appear to be contaminated with the same substance that was thrown on the victim should also be photographed. If the crime scene is a cell, the door of the cell should be opened and photographed as discovered. A search for any container used by the suspect to commit the gassing should be initiated, and if discovered, should be photographed in place and collected and processed as evidence.

• Investigating staff should look for traces of the gassing substance on the floor, walls, or any other surface where the substance may be located to be photographed and for the purpose of collecting samples. When collecting samples, staff should use sterile swabs, and should also take a “control” swab of an apparent uncontaminated area adjacent to the area contaminated by the gassing substance prior to taking a swab of the suspected gassing substance. The control swab and the contaminated swab should also be processed as evidence. All evidence must follow an appropriate chain of custody and be retained in an evidence locker maintained by the ISUInstitution Services Unit for possible future criminal prosecution.