NCJ Number
211016
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 32 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2005 Pages: 32,34-38,40,42
Date Published
August 2005
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article discusses principles and procedures for determining what and when items in a police property facility should be removed from the inventory and how their disposition should be handled; the practices of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) are featured.
Abstract
As in the grocery business, police property-room personnel must keep a trained eye on expiration dates (statutes of limitations) in each case. This information helps determine the length of time to maintain a piece of evidence. Evidence linked to misdemeanor cases comprises nearly 70 percent of the items in property rooms. By linking evidence items to the statute of limitations for misdemeanors, which range from 1 to 2 years in most States, most evidence can be cleared after a relatively short period. Investigating detectives, who should be consulted before disposing of evidence items after the statute of limitations on the case has expired, are often reluctant to permit disposal of the evidence because it may be related to another more serious case or may become an issue in a legal claim against the department. In such cases, a cost-benefit analysis should determine whether the item is kept or removed from the inventory. The International Association for Property & Evidence (IAPE) recommends setting criteria to guide the length of time property should be stored before being reviewed. The LVMPD has seven clerical workers to evaluate items for purging and disposal. This article also discusses the automation of evidence management, job descriptions for personnel in the management of property-room inventory, and ways of disposing of various types of evidence items.