Policy Text
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Property
and
Evidence
Manual
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Purpose
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department strives to stay on the cutting edge of
technology and prominent issues . In an effort to produce the best product to serve and
protect the community the Property and Evidence Manual Committee ( PEMC) has
developed a procedures manual. The goal of the manual is to have a formal written
guideline that can provide direction, instruction, examples , and clarification in the
collecting, possession, transfer of custody, security, accountability, and disposal of
property or evidence . This manual is a living document that will be reviewed regularly to
address changes in f orms and procedures .
The PEMC developed a comprehensive manual, which is a living document, requiring
changes with the passage of time. The PEMC consists of members throughout the
Department to meet, discuss, identify issues, strategize, and define the current property and
evidence procedures. The PEMC will re -convene on a regular basis to rev iew and revise
the Property and Evidence Manual and update all Department Property and Evidence
forms.
The main objective of this manual is to bring consistency throughout the Department in
how property and evidence are handled. Another objective is to provide a resource for
Department members to refer to when questions arise regarding property and evidence
issues.
All Department members are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the contents of
this manual when seeking information about property and/or evidence procedures .
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Introduction
The gathering and maintenance of property and evidence is an essential function of law
enforcement duties. Property is defined as, any material object of value, however slight,
tangible or intangible , to which an owner has a legal right. Evidence is defin ed as,
documentary or oral statements and material objects admissible as tes timony in a court of
law. The D epartment has specific standards and directives that detail the documentation of
possession, transfer of custody, security, accountability, and disposal of property or
evidence that co mes into the possession of the D epartment.
Managing property and evidence is one of law enforcement's most critical tasks. All
evidence must be fully tracked and stored properly in order to be introduce d in judicial
proceedings as well as to safeguard from mishandling. In some instances, evidence must
continue to be stored long after the court cases have been adjudicated. Property units utilize
a barcode scanning system called Electronic Law Enforcement Evide nce Tracking System
(eLEETS ). The eLEET System is used for tracking and auditing property and evidence
items and provides an electronic accounting of all property and evidence placed into
property and evidence areas.
When the D epartment comes into custody or possession of property or evidence in the
performance of official duties, strict documentation and records are required to be
maintained. The property and/or evidence is also stored in restricted access areas within
secured lockers. Through these stric t storage requirements, the property and evidence is
maintained within a verifiable chain of custody. The chain of custody serves to protect the
property and/or evidence from loss or theft as well as ensuring it will not lose its eviden tiary
value in a court of law .
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Table of Contents
Organizational Considerations ...................................................................................................................... 7
Organizational Structure ........................................................................................................................... 8
Business Hours .......................................................................................................................................... 9
Safety, Security, and Storage ...................................................................................................................... 11
Labeling and Assigning Locat ions ............................................................................................................ 12
Safety Policy and Procedures for Hazardous and Biohazardous Materials ............................................ 12
Security Policy and Procedures ............................................................................................................... 13
Temporary Storage ................................................................................................................................. 13
Refrigeration ........................................................................................................................................... 13
Outside Storage ...................................................................................................................................... 13
Receiving and Temporary Evidence Lockers ........................................................................................... 13
Property Intake and Packaging ............................................................................................................... 14
Facility Access ......................................................................................................................................... 14
Visitors’ Log ............................................................................................................................................. 14
Property and Evidence Handling and Packaging ......................................................................................... 15
General Packaging Procedures ............................................................................................................... 16
Explosives, Ammunition, Flammable, and Hazardous Materials ............................................................ 16
Firearms Packaging Procedures .............................................................................................................. 16
Sharps: Knives, Glass, Homemade Weapons .......................................................................................... 17
Narcotics/Controlled Substances ............................................................................................................ 18
Currency/High Value Items ..................................................................................................................... 19
Electronic Media/Photos/Digital Storage ............................................................................................... 21
Biological/DNA ........................................................................................................................................ 22
Blood Drying and Wet Evidence Drying Equip ment ............................................................................... 22
Perishables .............................................................................................................................................. 23
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Pruno ....................................................................................................................................................... 23
Pyrotechnic Devices ................................................................................................................................ 23
Found Property ....................................................................................................................................... 23
Safekeeping ............................................................................................................................................. 24
Improperly Submitted Evidence ............................................................................................................. 24
Property/Evidence Disposition and Purging ............................................................................................... 26
Disposition of Evidence ........................................................................................................................... 27
Justification to Retain Evidence .............................................................................................................. 28
Statute of Limitations .............................................................................................................................. 28
Evidence from Search Warrants ............................................................................................................. 28
Considerations for Disposal .................................................................................................................... 29
Methods of Disposal and Classifications of Property ............................................................................. 30
Dispos ition/Purging of Firearms ............................................................................................................. 30
Disposition/Purging of Ammunition ....................................................................................................... 32