Contaminated evidence

Contaminated evidence is any foreign material that is introduced to a crime scene after the crime is committed.^[1] Contaminated evidence can be brought in by witnesses, suspects, victims, emergency responders, fire fighters, police officers and investigators.^[2]

Juries expect to see forensic evidence before they render a verdict based on that evidence. Because of this, attorneys on both sides try to discredit forensic evidence that does not support their clients' interests. This requires crime scene investigators be especially careful to guard against contamination in the forensic samples. A miscarriage of justice can occur when these procedures are not carried out carefully and accurately.^[3]

^ Warrington, Dick. "Crime Scene Contamination". Forensic Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
^ II, Glenn W. Suter; Efroymson, Rebecca A.; Sample, Bradley E.; Jones, Daniel S. (2000-04-21). Ecological Risk Assessment for Contaminated Sites. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-4200-5669-3. Archived from the original on 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
^ Giannelli, Paul. C. "Wrongful Convictions and Forensic Science". Faculty Publications. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2014.

[Warrington-1] Warrington, Dick. "Crime Scene Contamination". Forensic Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.

[2] II, Glenn W. Suter; Efroymson, Rebecca A.; Sample, Bradley E.; Jones, Daniel S. (2000-04-21). Ecological Risk Assessment for Contaminated Sites. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-4200-5669-3. Archived from the original on 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2020-10-02.

[Giannelli-3] Giannelli, Paul. C. "Wrongful Convictions and Forensic Science". Faculty Publications. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2014.

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