NCJ Number
229915
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 36 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2009 Pages: 8,10,13
Date Published
November 2009
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article briefly examines ways in which law enforcement can better organize their property and evidence rooms.
Abstract
Solid evidence handling shoulders well-managed cases, and in turn reflects a credible, respectable agency. However, many departments are subject to changing policies, space constrictions, high employee turnover, and faulty tracking causing law enforcement agencies to lose their grasp on good property and evidence room maintenance. Suggestions in maintaining property and evidence are presented by the Illinois State Police. First, it is important to annually or electronically document property every time it changes hands. This can be accomplished with a regularly updated evidence management computer system, which can serve as an entry log as well as a numbers reference for management and internal investigations. In addressing a lack of space, having an ongoing mechanism in place to purge extraneous property is recommended. When a department cannot afford to move or remodel, law enforcement can deposit evidence in safe, secure, and automated facilities or a container housed in a climate-controlled warehouse. Lastly and most importantly, evidence management must have qualified and dedicated custodians. All property and evidence personnel should be trained on accreditation standards and implement ongoing and regular inspections, audits, and full inventories.