This lesson covers how investigators collect and document evidence, preserve integrity, and manage privacy during harassment investigations.
Evidence Collection and Documentation
This lesson covers how investigators collect and document evidence, preserve integrity, and manage privacy during harassment investigations.
Evidence Collection and Documentation
Evidence collection supports credible findings and protects privacy. Maintain chain of custody for physical, digital, and testimonial evidence.
Documentation should be clear, factual, complete, and non-judgmental. Use neutral language and record dates, times, locations, and witnesses.
- Interviews: record consent, summarize statements, identify corroborating or contradicting details
- Digital evidence: screenshots, emails, chat logs; secure storage and timestamps
- Physical evidence: where applicable, preservation and labeling
- Contemporaneous notes: maintain contemporaneous notes and avoid edits after recording
Privacy and access: restrict who can view evidence; protect sensitive information while enabling a thorough review.