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CBRN Sciences Unit
The mission of CBRNSU is to develop and maintain the FBI Laboratory's ability to conduct and/or
direct high-quality forensic examinations of hazardous chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear
materials (CBRN), and all related evidence.
Since the FBI Laboratory can not accept CBRN material or contaminated evidence, the CBRNSU
maintains formalized partnerships with key laboratories within the US Government, academia, and the
private sector to provide the FBI with critical scientific capabilities and expertise.
The CBRNSU is also tasked with ensuring that traditional forensic examinations, such as latent
fingerprints, trace materials, DNA, etc., can be carried out on evidentiary items contaminated with
hazardous CBRN materials. Additionally, the CBRNSU staff conducts research to support case work.
The CBRNSU has three case-working programs…….
Biological
Threat
Agents
Chemical
Warfare
Agents
Radiological/
Nuclear
Materials
Forensic Issues
Evidence Collection
Chain of Custody
Secondary evidence
Security of evidence
Conventional Forensic Examinations
Conflicts with analysis of CBRN materials
Preservation of evidence
On-site analysis
Admissibility
Evidence Handling
Considerations
Evidence security – control access
Package it properly – consider procedures for tamper
detection
Maintain Chain of Custody
Secondary evidence
Areas to consider when looking for traditional evidence
Evidence preservation – avoid consumption of evidence
Secondary Evidence
Secondary evidence is a work product derived from an
examination process.
It is not an individual item submitted by a contributor and
could not have been assigned an item identifier through the
inventory process.
Each unit quality manual will contain unit-specific means
of identifying secondary evidence. Additionally, each unit
will have a secondary evidence log.
Secondary evidence will be returned, unless it is
consumed during the examination, destroyed according
to existing regulations, or meets the criteria for retention
by the FBI Laboratory.
Secondary Evidence
Preservation of secondary evidence less critical if
original material remains for re-testing.
If original sample not available, or consumed
during process, attempt to establish an archive
sample as quickly as possible from original
sample.
Photographs of results from secondary samples
Make sure that photographs are clear and unambiguous
depictions of results
Conventional Forensic
Examinations
Trace evidence
Questioned documents
DNA (human nuclear and mitochondrial)
Latent fingerprints
Photography
Explosive device analysis
Chemistry
Toolmarks
Contact Information
Alan Giusti, CBRN Sciences Unit
Phone: 703-632-8411
Blackberry: 571-237-1818
E-mail: [email protected]
Question 1
When does chain of custody start and stop
for the laboratories?
Question 2
How long does evidence or potential
evidence need to be stored?
When it is determined what materials need to
be maintained?
Question 3
What is the process for handling COC for
materials that are split for testing such as
multiple plates?
Question 4
What materials do we need to collect from
our first responders to initiate our laboratory
chain of custody?
Question 5
Can someone explain the relationship
laboratories should have with their local
WMD coordinators?
Question 6
Will laboratory security tapes ever be
needed for court cases?
Question 7
How often are laboratory staff brought to
court to testify in cases?
Question 8
Does chain of custody only apply in cases
where the FBI contacted the lab before
hand?
Question 9
Where are the LRN COC forms found
online?
Question 10
Are there other resources out there to learn
more about the subject?
Live Questions
???