Why wear a Tyvek suit for a Perp Walk?

August 25, 2013 1:02 PM

I've noticed that the NYPD has a habit of doing perp-walks with the suspect in a Tyvek suit. Why?

I've seen this a few times, here and here for example.

posted by wrok to Law & Government (3 answers total)

to capture forensic evidence?
posted by arnicae at 1:10 PM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: If the clothing the person was arrested in was relevant to the crime and needed to be removed to be put into evidence - ie gunpowder residue - or if the individual were not clothed, it is a quick solution to getting something on the individual.
posted by sciencegeek at 1:29 PM on August 25, 2013 [2 favorites]

Not only can it keep evidence in, it can keep cross contamination out. Like the DNA from the previous collar made by the officer, for instance. Even in the "clean" situation of a crime lab it is frighteningly easy to contaminate the sample with your own DNA, making it much more difficult to analyse.
posted by wnissen at 1:32 PM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]