How to Submit Evidence

Saint Lucia Forensic Science Laboratory - Evidence Submission Guidelines


Thank you for choosing the Saint Lucia Forensic Science Laboratory for your evidence analysis needs. To ensure a smooth and efficient process, please follow the guidelines outlined below:


Submission Times

Regular submission times are as follows:


  • Days: Tuesday to Thursday
  • Time: 9:00 am - 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm.


All evidence submissions are done through pre-scheduled appointments. For submissions outside of regular hours, kindly request approval from the Laboratory Director.


A person wearing gloves is holding a bag of brown powder.

Firearms Submission Guidelines

  1. Unfired Cartridges and Ammunition:
  2. Remove all unfired cartridges from the chamber, package separately, and label appropriately.
  3. Unfired ammunition recovered from a firearm should be packaged in a separate container.
  4. Do not mark any part of the cartridge or the bullet. Mark the container.
  5. No unfired ammunition should be secured in the gun box with a firearm.
  6. Magazines:
  7. Remove the magazine from the firearm.
  8. Ensure there is no unfired ammunition left in the magazine.
  9. Empty magazines can be submitted in the same gun box as the firearm.
  10. Specific Firearm Actions:
  11. Semi-automatic pistol: Pull slide backward and lock in place.
  12. Revolver: Open the cylinder, note and number the position of each fired/unfired round, and secure the weapon with the cylinder open.
  13. Safety Measures:
  14. Engage/activate the manual safety switch/device (whenever applicable).
  15. Secure the firearm in the appropriate box with the safety switch/device visible.
  16. Loaded Firearms:
  17. Under normal circumstances, loaded firearms will not be accepted.
  18. If unable to render a firearm safe, take it to the Police Armory as soon as possible.
  19. Do not submit a loaded firearm without prior consultation with the Evidence Control Unit.


Case Acknowledgment

  1. A response will be sent via email acknowledging receipt of case details and providing a review notice timeline.
  2. After review, the Evidence Control Officer will inform the client of which exhibits to submit along with an invitation to schedule a submission appointment.


General Evidence Submission Form

  1. A triplicate General Evidence Submission form must accompany all exhibits.
  2. Rush priority cases must be indicated on the form.
  3. The form must be completed in FULL by the requesting agency.
  4. Instructions are provided on the back of the form.
  5. The form requires the signature of the Head of Department for the case to be accepted at the laboratory.


Submission Process

  1. Upon submission, the second copy of the submission form will be given to the submitting officer.
  2. This copy must be returned upon exhibit collection to complete the chain of custody.
  3. The first copy is sealed with the analysis report for the Court.
  4. The original white copy is the property of the laboratory.


Drug Weight Measurements

  1. Weight measurements of drugs should be conducted using a calibrated scale before submission.
  2. Bulk drug cases will be submitted in the morning for sampling on a designated day and returned to the submitting agency on the same day.
  3. Bulk controlled drugs will not be kept at the laboratory unless sampling cannot be completed in one day.


Exhibit Collection

  1. The investigator will be contacted to collect exhibits as soon as sampling is completed.
  2. If unavailable, a written authorisation must be issued to the Laboratory Director by an officer of Inspector rank or higher to allow another officer to collect on another's behalf.


For further assistance, please contact the laboratory at:

Thank you for your cooperation in adhering to these guidelines. We look forward to providing you with accurate and timely forensic analysis.


Download General Evidence Form