ABSTRACT
As with any other form of trace evidence, the collection, handling, and preservation of scent is key in order to use it in a formal legal setting. All personnel involved in the investigation have a duty to keep and preserve the evidence from date of collection until nal resolution of the judicial process. is not only includes proper canine training and interpretation of behavior, but also an accurate chain of evidence in the actual acquisition of the scent source. In this chapter, the basic methods of scent collection, mediums, and objects used as scent articles as well as scientic studies evaluating an array of collection materials are discussed. Currently, there is no uniform human scent evidence collection method. Each country that uses scent as an investigative tool runs their programs and protocols a little dierently. All variations make use of an absorbent medium to gather human scent, yet the materials used have not been previously optimized or standardized among the law enforcement community. It is hoped to provide not only a practical eld perspective (i.e., police work) of scent collection parameters, but also laboratory ndings that help clarify optimal working conditions for a useful scent sample.
