📓 Crime Scene Tech Quiz | Ned’s Notes #35

🎉 Ned says: You’ve got it!

A druggist fold is a small folded paper packet that can be used to contain small, dry trace evidence or powders. The folding helps keep those tiny particles from making an unauthorized escape.

🤔 Ned says: Not this time, detective.

Airtight metal cans have their place, particularly when preserving certain volatile substances is important. But that’s not what Ned would reach for first for this particular type of small, dry evidence.

😏 Ned is giving you a look.

Paper can certainly be useful for some types of evidence, particularly biological evidence that needs appropriate drying. But a grocery bag isn’t the answer to every evidence-packaging question. Nice try.

☕ Ned says: Step away from the coffee pot.

A coffee filter belongs in the break room, not in your evidence kit. Small, dry evidence needs packaging that helps prevent loss and contamination, not whatever happens to be sitting next to the coffee maker.

😏 Ned says: Let’s keep the evidence in the box. Literally. But not like this.
An open container offers little protection from loss or contamination. Evidence packaging should keep the item secure.

🤔 Ned says: Not necessarily.
Plastic can be appropriate for some dry evidence, but it isn’t the automatic choice for everything. The nature and condition of the evidence matter.

🎉 Ned says: Good choice, detective!
A manila evidence envelope can be a good choice for many types of dry trace evidence. It helps contain the evidence while allowing you to label and seal the package properly.

🧐 Ned says: That’s a little too delicate.
Tissue paper isn’t a suitable general-purpose evidence package. You want packaging that protects the evidence and can be properly sealed and identified.

🤔 Ned says: Not this time.
Sealing damp biological evidence in plastic can trap moisture, which can promote degradation and microbial growth. That’s not what you want when preserving evidence.

🧐 Ned says: Wrong evidence, detective.
Airtight metal containers have important uses for certain types of evidence, but they aren’t the usual choice for properly prepared biological evidence.

😏 Ned says: Close—but let’s be a little more professional.
Paper is generally preferable to plastic for biological evidence, but evidence should be packaged in an appropriate evidence container or bag, not simply whatever paper bag happens to be available.

🎉 Ned says: Exactly!
Once damp biological evidence has been properly dried, an appropriate paper evidence bag can help protect it while allowing any remaining moisture to escape. The package should then be properly sealed, labeled, and handled according to established procedures.

😏 Ned says: That’s a little more bag than evidence.
A large paper bag isn’t ideal for a small item that needs to remain secure. The packaging should be appropriate to the size and nature of the evidence.

🎉 Ned says: Now we’re talking!
For certain small, dry items, a small rigid container can help keep the evidence secure and prevent it from being crushed, lost, or damaged. Caution: As always, the container should be appropriate for the specific evidence and follow applicable evidence-handling procedures.

🤔 Ned says: Save that one for a different case.
Airtight metal cans can be important for preserving certain volatile evidence, but they’re not the go-to choice simply because an item is small and dry.

🧐 Ned says: Reasonable, but not necessarily the best fit here.
A manila evidence envelope can be useful for many dry items, but the packaging should also protect a small, fragile item from shifting around or becoming damaged.

🎉 Ned says: Correct, detective!
For some clean, dry evidence, a properly sealed plastic evidence bag may be appropriate. The important thing is matching the packaging to the type and condition of the evidence, not simply grabbing the nearest container.

🤔 Ned says: Not quite.
An open container doesn’t adequately secure or protect evidence. Evidence packaging should be properly closed and sealed according to established procedures.

☕ Ned says: We’ve already had this conversation.
The coffee maker remains innocent, but its filters are still not part of Ned’s evidence kit. Find the appropriate packaging and leave the caffeine alone.

😏 Ned says: Bigger isn’t always better.
A grocery bag may be useful for certain purposes, but it’s not automatically appropriate for every dry item. Evidence packaging should be selected based on the evidence and the need to protect it from loss, damage, or contamination.