Helpful Information About Submitting Evidence to the Crime Lab.
Helpful information about submitting evidence to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab's Evidence Section. Learn about the NSP 750 Evidence Submittal Form, submission process, and guidelines for resubmissions. Ensure all necessary details are provided for proper analysis of evidence.
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Helpful Information About Submitting Evidence to the Crime Lab Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab Evidence Section
Submission Forms
750 Evidence Submittal Form Can be found on the NSP website under the Crime Lab Forms/Documents Heading. https://statepatrol.nebraska.gov/divisions/investigative-services/crime-laboratory The current NSP 750 Form is dated 2020. Ensure this is the one you are using. https://statepatrol.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/750_evidence_submittal_form_6 -2020.pdf ALL sections of the submittal are important and should be properly filled out. If the Case Information section is left blank the evidence can not be accepted until the information is received. If you have any questions about the 750 form, contact us at (402) 471-8950.
Enter your info, agency info, and supervisor info. We will use this to contact you if we have questions or need clarification. (Ensure the email address is an individual account) If you need a copy of the report(s) sent to another Agency or Attorney s Office indicate that here. Enter Case Information - Suspected offense should be in words not number codes. - Date of offense should be the initial arrest or first offense date if it is over a time frame. - County should be the county that the offense took place in. - Agency case # should stay in a consistent format. - Troop Area is only applicable for NSP Troopers. Enter names of all parties involved and indicate type: Suspect, Victim, or Other. The preferred format is: LASTNAME, FIRSTNAME MI. Provide Sex, DOB, SID#/FBI# if possible. Enter case information here including all pertinent info that will assist the lab in analysis. This section is only for Biology submissions. This communicates if we can consume a sample during analysis or if you would like to be contacted first. If this is the first evidence submitted check NO . If this is additional evidence for a case check YES, Additional Submission. If this is evidence that has already been at the lab and is now returning for further testing check YES, Re-Submission. If the evidence has been sent to a different lab provide where it was sent previously. Item # should be your agency property number. List all evidence items and what examinations are needed (BIO, CS, FA, LP, TX, NIB). Include any special conditions or storage needs of evidence. If the evidence is a resubmitted item check the far-right box.
Re-Submissions A Resubmitted item is any item that has previously been submitted to the NSP Crime Lab. Do NOT resubmit an item to the Crime Lab without having a conversation with an analyst. Ensure the evidence is returned in the original packaging with the Crime Laboratory yellow barcode clearly visible. There are two areas on the 750 submittal form to communicate when an item is being resubmitted. Check Yes, Re-Submission of Item(s):, provide what item is being resubmitted, and provide the analyst's name you contacted about the re-submission along with the Laboratory Case Number (if known) in the second box. In the Item Inventory enter the item as you did on the first submission while making sure to check the far-right box for Resubmitted Item.
750B - RUSH Request Form Can be found on the NSP website under the Crime Lab Forms/Documents Heading. https://statepatrol.nebraska.gov/divisions/investigative-services/crime-laboratory The current NSP 750B Form is dated 2015. Ensure this is the one you are using. https://statepatrol.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/750b_rush_request.pdf A Rush form does not guarantee the case will be rushed. There are numerous factors that must be considered before approving a case to be rushed ahead of others at the lab. Someone from the Crime Lab will reach out to discuss the case and needed analyses further. All cases wishing to be rushed require a 750B form to be filled out and submitted with the 750 form. Rushes can be added to a case after submission with a proper 750B form filled out and sent to the evidence section.
Evidence Submission Policies
Separate Cases into Individual Packaging If evidence found to be belonging to two separate cases (two unique case numbers) the evidence will not be accepted into the lab. If this is found during a hand delivery the submitting officer will be asked to separate the cases before they will be checked in. Note: This can be done at the crime lab with provided packaging if necessary. If this is found during a mail submission the evidence will be immediately returned to the submitting agency for separation. The agency will be contacted and informed of why the evidence is being returned. Both cases can be mailed back to the crime lab once they are appropriately packaged separately. Two cases can not be entered into our LIMS system together as each individual case number is required to have a tracking number to maintain proper chain of custody. Crime Lab personnel under no circumstances will open and separate the cases themselves.
NO Syringes Syringes as evidence are a great health concern for lab personnel. There will be no submission or testing of hypodermic syringes at the Crime Lab. Cases submitted to the laboratory that contain hypodermic syringes will be returned to the submitting agency without testing. The case may only be resubmitted if the syringe is flushed. The only exception to this policy is when the syringe is the screw off needle type and the needle has been entirely removed by unscrewing it from the syringe. Note: Cutting the needle from the syringe DOES NOT qualify for this exception. A flush of the syringe is preferred. This can be preformed with a small amount of water or alcohol. Note: It is INCREADIBLY important to specify which is used on the submittal form. Please clearly indicate on the submittal form if a flush was completed or if the needle was removed from a screw off syringe. If it is unclear to the evidence section if a needle syringe is included in the submission the evidence may be returned.
NO Staples Staples are NOT an accepted method of sealing evidence. Staples pose a biohazard risk to those handling the evidence. The analysts are working with potentially dangerous evidence and if their gloves were to be poked by a staple, they could get infected. Staples will have to be removed from evidence if brought in by hand and sealed with tape provided by the Crime Lab. This includes staples used to attach property paperwork onto evidence bags. If staples are found through mailed evidence the evidence will be returned to the submitting agency for removal of all staples before acceptance into the Crime Lab.
NO Scotch Tape Scotch tape is NOT an accepted method of sealing evidence. Scotch tape is more susceptible to tearing and contamination. Packing tape, Duck tape, or Tamper Evidence tape are all preferred forms of seals that will be accepted at the Crime Lab. If scotch tape arrives for a hand delivered item the agency will be asked to correct the seal before the evidence will be accepted. If scotch tape is used for mail submissions the agency will be contacted regarding our seal policy and the evidence will be corrected by the Forensic tech at the lab on first mistakes. Evidence may be returned to the submitting agency for corrections if this is seen as a common submission practice.
Special Precautions
Plastic Wrapped Sexual Assault Kits Biological evidence needs to be packaged in breathable containers (paper bags, cardboard boxes, etc.) to prevent DNA degradation from the growth of yeast, mold, and bacteria. If you have SA kits in your evidence storage that are packaged in plastic, they need to be placed in a refrigerator while being stored. A plastic wrapped sexual assault kit will be accepted if it is a Project Kit that was never tested.
Fentanyl Any evidence item with suspected or known Fentanyl MUST be double bagged. Indicate on the 750 submittal form the item contains suspected Fentanyl. Document this in the case scenario and/or item description of each item suspected to contain fentanyl. If evidence is confirmed fentanyl in the pill form, the evidence can be mailed back. If evidence is confirmed fentanyl in a different form (powder, foil, etc.), REGARDLESS of how it was submitted, it must be picked up by hand.
Firearms Do NOT mail live ammunition. Ensure that the firearm is UNLOADED before submitting it to the Crime Lab. Be sure the firearm is secure in its packaging. When submitting in-person, a firearm and the magazine may be submitted in the same packaging if the magazine is removed from the firearm. Submit the firearm and loose ammunition separately. If the ammunition is unable to be removed from the firearm, it may be brought into the Crime Lab IN-PERSON ONLY and a Firearms examiner will look at the evidence before it is accepted into the lab. For more information about mailing restrictions visit: https://www.usps.com/ship/shipping-restrictions.htm
Separate Storage Requirements When packaging items for a case that have different storage requirements it is important that they are packaged separately. For example, a sexual assault kit and urine for the same case. Both pieces of evidence should be placed in their own Individual packaging for both mailed and in-person delivery. This will help preserve the integrity of the evidence items by ensuring proper storage and not having to open the package to separate the items. When re-submitting items from a case with different storage requirements CONTACT THE CRIME LAB for assistance.
