Submission Guidelines for Touch DNA

BACKGROUND In 2012 a decision was made to stop accepting DNA submissions from handled objects on secondary designated offence cases due to its low success rate. In 2015, this restriction was further expanded to include all offence types.

This document provides further details on the types of samples or scenarios that fall within this policy and those that don’t. It is not meant to be an exhaustive list but rather should provide some general guidelines to assist FAC and investigators in understanding the spirit of the policy.

DEFINITION In the spirit of the policy, DNA from handled objects or “touch DNA” as it is often referred to is used to describe an event where a person has had single or limited contact with an item or person only for a very brief moment.

EXAMPLES OF “TOUCH DNA” GENERALLY NOT ACCEPTED BY THE LABORATORY

• A person picks up a rock and throws it through the window.

  • Any object already located at the scene and briefly handled by a suspect.

• A person leans on a table or counter top for a brief moment.

  • Any brief contact between a suspect’s hand and the surface of an object.

• A suspect uses a hammer from a complainant’s garage.

  • Any brief contact or handling of an item not belonging to the suspect.

• A person is grabbed on their clothes for a brief instant.

  • Any brief contact between a suspect’s hand and complainant clothing.

• A person is grabbed by the arm for a brief moment

  • Any brief contact between suspect’s hand and the skin of a complainant.

• Fired ammunition components (shell casings, cartridges, bullets, etc)

  • Primarily applies to components collected for secondary designated offences

Case scenarios will determine acceptance, please contact the FAC to discuss case specifics. Exceptions are approved by the National Operations Manager, or delegate.

Note: These guidelines should not prevent the collection and preservation of evidence that may be of value for the investigation (e.g. swabbing of fired ammunition components prior to submission for firearms analysis).

EXAMPLES OF WHAT IS NOT CONSIDERED “TOUCH DNA” THAT CAN BE ACCEPTED Items that are deemed personal and that are likely belonging to a suspect do not fall in the “touch DNA” category since it would be expected that these items were handled multiple times by their owner, hence increasing the chances of being able to generate a single DNA profile.

• Cell phones, sunglasses, watches & jewelry

• Baseball hats and any items of clothing allegedly left at a scene by a suspect.

• Items known to belong to a suspect and likely to have been handled extensively.

• Any items that may contain body fluids such as saliva, blood or semen.