Electronic Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for First Responders, Second Edition

April 14, 2008

Chapter 2. Investitgative Tools and Equipment

Section 2 — Tools and Materials for Collecting Digital Evidence

In addition to tools for processing crime scenes in general, first responders should have the following items in their digital evidence collection toolkit:

• Cameras (photo and video).
• Cardboard boxes.
• Notepads.
• Gloves.
• Evidence inventory logs.
• Evidence tape.
• Paper evidence bags.
• Evidence stickers, labels, or tags.
• Crime scene tape.
• Antistatic bags.
• Permanent markers.
• Nonmagnetic tools.

First responders should also have radio frequency-shielding material such as faraday isolation bags or aluminum foil to wrap cell phones, smart phones, and other mobile communication devices after they have been seized. Wrapping the phones in radio frequency-shielding material prevents the phones from receiving a call, text message, or other communications signal that may alter the evidence.