ERT

Evidence Response Team Unit

Mission

The Evidence Response Team Unit (ERTU) enables FBI field office Evidence Response Teams (ERTs) to collect evidence supporting FBI priority investigations in a professional, competent, and systematic manner by providing ERTs with training, equipment, and forensic expertise.

The Program

The program consists of ERTs in all 56 FBI field offices. These highly-trained and equipped teams, totaling about 1,200 personnel, operate at a high level of competence to ensure evidence is collected in such a manner that it can be introduced in courts throughout the U.S. and the world. ERTs strive to be the model for crime scene processing from the standpoint of safety, expertise, training, equipment, and ability.

The Team

Supervisory special agents, mechanical engineer, logistics management specialist, forensic K9 operations specialist, management and program analyst, and assistants.

The Work

• Provide training, crime scene equipment and supplies, and on-scene support to field ERTs and coordination for response at national and international special events;
• Provide basic forensic evidence instruction to new agents training classes and to the National Academy, as well as advanced forensic training for all field ERT personnel;
• Provide canine/handler teams to assist federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies;
• Develop new ERT software to collect and record information and print records relating to the crime scene for use in court proceedings.
• Oversee the FBI’s Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team (USERT) program and the FBI’s Human Scent Evidence Team (HSET). USERTs in several FBI field offices provide an underwater search capability with trained divers and sophisticated equipment to assist underwater search and recovery for evidence and human remains. The HSET is based at the ERTU and provides capability to track persons associated with certain items of evidence through the use of specially trained canines.

Mission

The Evidence Response Team (ERT) mission is to identify, document, collect, and preserve evidence supporting all FBI cases. These highly-trained and equipped teams operate at a high level of competence to ensure evidence is collected in such a manner that it can be introduced in courts throughout the U.S. and the world. ERTs strive to be the model for crime scene processing from the standpoint of safety, expertise, training, equipment, and ability. The ERT can provide assistance in any area of evidence collection management from traditional search warrants to complex crime scenes. ERTs are especially valuable dealing with large or complicated scenes, cases with multiple scenes, and cases that are multi-jurisdictional. When resources permit, and Special Agents in Charge (SAC) authorize, ERTs can assist other agencies by processing crime scenes, conducting searches, and providing training courses.

To contact our local Evidence Response Team see our field contact information.