Spoliation of Evidence
the loss, destruction, or material alteration of an object or document that is evidence or potential evidence in a legal proceeding by one who has the responsibility for its preservation.
Discussion—Spoliation of evidence may occur when the movement, change or destruction of evidence, or alteration of the scene significantly impairs the opportunity of other interested parties to obtain the same evidentiary value from the evidence as did any prior investigator.
Committee
Interdisciplinary
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732-24e1 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2024.
Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732-24e1 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org