Evidence+Preservation+2011-4

= = In New York, there are no laws that requires the preservation
 * Preservation Laws**

North Carolina - Biological evidence collected in a criminal case has to be preserved. For the death sentence evidence will be kept safe until the sentence is carried out and the inmate dies. For a life without parole, the evidence will be preserved until the convicted persons death.  For Class B1-E felonies, including homicide, sex offenses, assault, kidnapping, burglary, robbery, and arson or burning, evidence should be preserved for the length of the individuals incarceation. In cases where the person pled guilty evidence will be preserved for three years from the date of conviction or until released. If the case is unsolved in cases such as homicide or rape, the evidence will be preserved as long as the case is open and hasn't gone cold.

Pennsylvania has no laws on Evidence Preservation. = = =Research = Keeping Evidence Safe To avoid contamination of evidence that might have DNA, always take the following precautions:
 * Wear gloves, changing them often.
 * Use disposable instruments or clean them thoroughly before and after handling each sample.
 * Avoid touching the area where you believe DNA may exist.
 * Avoid talking, sneezing, and coughing over evidence.
 * Avoid touching your face, nose, and mouth when collecting and packaging evidence.
 * Air-dry evidence thoroughly before packaging.
 * Put evidence into new paper bags or envelopes, not into plastic bags. Do not use staples.

"Whenever a case goes to trial without strong evidence, the chances are that an innocent person will be convicted or that a guilty person will be acquitted. When evidence is destroyed, justice is not served."

=Types of Evidence=
 * Fingerprints
 * Bite Marks
 * Broken Fingernails
 * Blood/Body fluids
 * Firearms
 * Hair
 * Fiber
 * Paint
 * Glass