Transcription
INSERT COVERi–i
INTENTIONALLY BLANK
LAW ENFORCEMENTEVIDENCE & PROPERTYMANAGEMENT GUIDEThird Edition 2013Produced byPOST Management Counseling Services BureauCALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND T RAINING
Law Enforcement Evidence & Property Management GuideCopyright 2001 California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)Published May 2001Second Edition published February 2005Third Edition published September 2013All rights reserved. This publication (and Volume 2, Part 5: POST Field Training Program Guide) maynot be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical or by anyinformation storage and retrieval system now known or hereafter invented, without prior writtenpermission of the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, with the followingexception: California law enforcement agencies in the POST peace officer program and POST-certifiedtraining presenters are hereby given permission by POST to reproduce any or all of the contents ofthis manual for their internal use.All other individuals, private businesses and corporations, public and private agencies and colleges,professional associations, and non-POST law enforcement agencies in-state or out-of-state may printor download this information for their personal use only.Infringement of the copyright protection law and the provisions expressed here and on the POSTwebsite under Copyright/Trademark Protection will be pursued in a court of law. Questions aboutcopyright protection of this publication and exceptions may be directed to thePublications.manager@post.ca.gov .POST2013MCB-0412-Awww.post.ca.gov
IntroductionPOST MISSION STATEMENTTHE MISSION of the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training is tocontinually enhance the professionalism of California law enforcement in servingits communities.i–i
LAW ENFORCEMENT EVIDENCE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT GUIDEi–INTENTIONALLY BLANKii
IntroductionPOST COMMISSIONERSJim McDonnell . ChiefCHAIRLong Beach Police DepartmentLai Lai Bui . SergeantSacramento Police DepartmentRobert Cooke . Director of TrainingCalifornia Narcotic Officers’ AssociationRobert T. Doyle . SheriffMarin County Sheriff’s OfficeKamala D. Harris . Ex Officio MemberAttorney General, Department of JusticeSandra Hutchens . Sheriff - CoronerOrange County Sheriff’s OfficePeter Kurylowicz, Jr. . Deputy SheriffRiverside County Sheriff’s OfficeRonald Lowenberg . DeanGolden West Criminal Justice Training CenterSylvia Moir . ChiefEl Cerrito Police DepartmentLaurie Smith . SheriffSanta Clara County Sheriff’s OfficeMichael Sobek . SergeantSan Leandro Police Departmenti–iii
LAW ENFORCEMENT EVIDENCE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT GUIDEINTENTIONALLY BLANKiv
IntroductionFOREWORDThe law enforcement evidence/property function is vital to the criminal justiceprocess. Its effective and efficient operation is integral to an agency’s quality ofservice to the community and the criminal justice system. The management of thisfunction has become increasingly complex due, in part, to factors related to legislativemandates, hazardous material storage, the protection and preservation of biological/DNA-related material, security and chain of custody, and the training of evidence/propertypersonnel. The failure to manage the evidence and property function can affect thesuccessful prosecution of criminal violators, resulting in agency liability or loss of publicconfidence.Effective policies and procedures must be established in order to efficiently submit andretrieve items of evidence and property. To support the evidence and property function,managerial and executive personnel must ensure that essential training, both initial andongoing, is identified and provided, with an adequate budget for sustained effectiveoperation. Staff safety, storage facility security, and the ability to accurately catalog andtrack evidence and property are paramount to reducing liability exposure, thus increasingthe credibility and defensibility of the agency.The purpose of the POST Law Enforcement Evidence & Property Management Guide isto provide standardized recommended guidelines for the management of the evidenceand property function, detailing best practices for the submission, receipt, storage, anddisposition of evidence and property items in the agency’s care and control. Agenciesshould use this guide to create or amend policies and procedures to ensure the integrity ofthe evidence and property process, protect the evidentiary value of property, and restoreproperty to its owners in a timely fashion.It is the intention of the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training that thisguide will lead to improved management of the evidence and property function. POSTenvisions that this guide will serve as a comprehensive resource to aid evidence andproperty staff, field personnel, supervisors, managers, and executives in understanding thecritical role of the evidence and property function to the agency, the criminal justice system,and the community.The Commission appreciates the contributions of an ad-hoc advisory committee ofevidence and property personnel from agencies throughout California.Comments or questions related to information contained in this guide should be directed tothe Management Counseling Services Bureau at (916) 227-4800.ROBERT A. STRESAKExecutive Directori–v
LAW ENFORCEMENT EVIDENCE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT GUIDEINTENTIONALLY BLANKvi
IntroductionACKNOWLEDGMENTS2012-2013AD HOC ADVISORYCOMMITTEELarry Brown . Los Gatos Police DepartmentJim Griffith . Oceanside Police DepartmentJoanna Grivetti . Richmond Police DepartmentLarry Kiefer . East Bay Regional Park District Police DepartmentJoe Moralli . Chico Police DepartmentCharles Rigmaiden . Richmond Police DepartmentDeborah Souza . Milpitas Police DepartmentSharon Whitaker . Rocklin Police DepartmentFINISHINGTEAM MEMBERSSandi Bumpus . Rocklin Police DepartmentScott Koll . Roseville Police DepartmentPOSTPROJECTCOORDINATORSDon Shingara . Senior ConsultantKathy Hobson. Staff Services ManagerNancy Lewis . Graphic DesignerPOSTMANAGEMENTCOUNSELINGSERVICES BUREAURich Bond . Bureau ChiefVeronica Hagen . Office TechnicianKathy Hobson. Staff Services ManagerDave Hoig . Senior ConsultantDan Koenig . Special ConsultantJames Rose . Special ConsultantJoe Sampson. Senior ConsultantRon Sanchez . Special ConsultantDon Shingara . Senior Consultanti–vii
LAW ENFORCEMENT EVIDENCE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT GUIDEINTENTIONALLY BLANKviii
IntroductionCONTENTSPOST Mission statement. iPOST Commissioners . iiiForeword . vAcknowledgments . viiExplanation and Use of This Guide . xiChapter1ORGANIZATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS(Organization, Personnel, Training, Policy/Procedure) . 1-1Purpose . 1-1Guideline 1.1Organizational Structure . 1-12Guideline 1.2Personnel Assignment, Staffing, and Training . 1-2Guideline 1.3Facility Access/Hours of Operation . 1-3Guideline 1.4Emergency and Disaster Planning . 1-4Guideline 1.5Budget Allocation . 1-4Guideline 1.6Policy and Procedure Development . 1-5Guideline 1.7Identifying and Mitigating Problems . 1-6DOCUMENTATION AND FORMS . 2-1Purpose . 2-1Guideline 2.1Property Receipts . 2-13Guideline 2.2Establishing and Maintaining Chain of Custody . 2-2Guideline 2.3Chain of Custody Stamps, Labels/Property Tags, and Sealing Packages . 2-3Guideline 2.4Firearms Documentation/Forms . 2-4Guideline 2.5Property Release . 2-5Guideline 2.6Annual Forms/Procedure Review . 2-5Guideline 2.7Visitors’ Log . 2-6Guideline 2.8Automated Property Management . 2-6SAFETY, SECURITY, AND STORAGE . 3-1Purpose . 3-1Guideline 3.1Facility Design and Storage Areas . 3-14Guideline 3.2Temporary Storage: Lockers and Refrigeration . 3-2Guideline 3.3Receiving and Processing Areas . 3-3Guideline 3.4Special Storage Concerns . 3-3Guideline 3.5Safety Policies/Procedures for Hazardous and Biohazardous Materials . 3-5Guideline 3.6Security Policies/Procedures . 3-6EVIDENCE AND PROPERTY HANDLING PROCEDURES . 4-1Purpose . 4-1Guideline 4.1General Handling Procedures . 4-1Guideline 4.2Explosives, Ammunition, Flammable, and Hazardous Materials HandlingProcedures . 4-3i–ix
LAW ENFORCEMENT EVIDENCE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT GUIDEChapterGuideline 4.3Firearms Handling Procedures . 4-4Guideline 4.4Narcotics/Controlled Substances Handling Procedures . 4-6Guideline 4.5Currency/High-Value Items Handling Procedures . 4-7Guideline 4.6Electronic Media/Photos/ Digital Storage Handling Procedures . 4-8Guideline 4.7Biological/DNA Handling Procedures . 4-9Guideline 4.85 Table 4.1: Temporary Storage Conditions Matrix . 4-12 Table 4.2: Long-term Storage Conditions Matrix . 4-12Blood Drying and Wet Evidence Drying Equipment . 4-14AUDITS, INVENTORIES, AND INSPECTIONS . 5-1Purpose . 5-1Guideline 5.1Audits . 5-16Guideline 5.2Inventories . 5-3Guideline 5.3Inspections . 5-4EVIDENCE AND PROPERTY DISPOSITION AND PURGING . 6-1Purpose .
Sheriff Marin County Sheriff’s Office Kamala D. Harris . Ex Officio Member Attorney General, Department of Justice Sandra Hutchens . Sheriff - Coroner Orange County Sheriff’s Office Peter Kurylowicz, Jr. . Deputy Sheriff Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Ronald Lowenberg . Dean Golden West Criminal Justice Training Center Sylvia Moir . Chief El Cerrito Police .
