Consideration should be given to the physical aspect of the evidence collection phase. Like any other investigation, documentation, collection, and preservation should be done while following proper guidelines and best practices to ensure the integrity of the investigation. At a crime scene, for example, evidence has to be properly identified, labeled as handled by authorized staff, and trained in investigative procedures that can be scrutinized in a court of law.
A first responder toolkit should contain the following items in preparation for documentation, evidence collection, and preservation at the scene:
- Protective clothing including eye-wear and gloves
- Anti-static mat or wristbands
- Identification label tags, stickers, and portable labeling devices (if available)
- Various pens and markers for easy identification
- Cable ties
- Toolkit with various sizes of Philip, Flat Head, Torx, and specialized screwdrivers or heads
- Flashlight and magnifying glasses
- Seizure and Chain of Custody forms
- Containers, boxes, and packaging materials including anti-static and stronghold bags
Here's a budget but portable and very well-organized screwdriver kit that I keep in my first responder toolkit. It has all the attachments for opening desktops, laptops, tablets, and also for removing and even opening removable storage media such as hard disk drives, optical drives, and even floppy drives if I encounter them:
