Policy Text
Page 1 of 2 16/20 (New 3/07)
Evidence - Chain of Possession
The purpose of this General Order i s to outline the procedure r equired for evidence
chain of possession when remov ed from the Property Warehouse on a temporary basis.
I. General
Utmost care must be taken to i nsure an unbroken chain of posses sion for each
item of property booked. The chai n of possession is an accurat e recording of the
movement of each article of pr operty from the ti me it is recove red/confiscated by
an officer until it is returned to its rightful owner or otherw ise disposed of.
II. Sign Out Procedure
A. An officer obtaining any evi dence or property from the Prope rty
Warehouse shall sign for the property.
B. Property Warehouse personnel sha ll issue the officer a copy of the Chain
of Possession form along with t he evidence. The form will rema in with the
property until the property is given to an outside agency.
III. Court Use
At the time the officer confer s with the Deputy District Attorn ey, a determination
shall be made as to the property's potential use as evidence in court.
A. If the property will be used, t he officer shall have the Dep uty District
Attorney sign for it in the C hain of Possession section of the Chain of
Possession form. The officer sha ll retain the form for return to the
Property Warehouse.
B. If the property will not be us ed, the officer shall return i t along with the
Chain of Possession form to the Property Warehouse.
IV. Returning Property To The Property Warehouse
A. Officers may return the pr operty by any of the following m ethods:
1. Place the property along with the Chain of Possession form i n any
Department property locker.
Page 2 of 2 16/20 (New 3/07) 2. Return the property along with the Chain of Possession form to the
Property Warehouse in person.
B. If the property is not being returned, the Chain of Possessi on form still
needs to be returned to the Proper ty Warehouse for tracking. T his can be
done by:
1. Placing the Chain of Posse ssion form in any Department prope rty
locker.
2. Returning the Chain of Posse ssion form directly to the Prope rty
Warehouse.
3. Faxing a copy of the form or sending it via Interdepartmenta l mail to
the Property Warehouse.
V. Transferring Possession of Property
Each time a piece of property c hanges hands, the Chain of Posse ssion form
must be signed by both parties. A copy of the form must be ret urned to the
Property Warehouse at the end of each day the property changes hands.
VI. Vehicles
A. Vehicles may be taken dire ctly to the Property Warehouse for cases
requiring Crime Lab work. Office rs shall escort the towed vehi cle and may
need to coordinate with a Crime Sc ene Investigation Officer to gain entry
into the Crime Lab yard.
B. When the Crime Lab work is comp leted, the officer shall use an
Identification Lab Disposition fo rm, indicating to whom the veh icle may be
released. The person who takes possession of the vehicle must have a
valid driver’s license and sign t he form before it can be relea sed.