IN VIOLENCE AND ABUSE CASES, perioperative nurses are responsible for protecting victims' rights and ensuring that potential evidence of a crime is not compromised. FORMAL EDUCATION for nurses now is available in the relatively new field of clinical forensic nursing. PERIOPERATIVE NURSES should ensure that they receive proper education in identifying, collecting, and securing evidence and maintaining the chain of custody, whether through a formal education process or by reviewing protocols at their facilities. AORN J 78 (October 2003) 563–569.