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Procedure 6103Santa Ana Police Department Santa Ana PD Procedures Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/05/16, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Santa Ana Police DepartmentPROPERTY AND EVIDENCE HANDLING - 1PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE HANDLING 6103.1 PURPOSE These procedures provide guidance for handling and packaging property and evidence. This will assure maximum safety, efficiency, and lawful compliance in introducing evidence into the judicial system and ensure that a proper chain of custody is maintained. There may be times evidence does not fit into any of the below categories so handling officers will need to be creative and package an item in a way as they feel best preserves it while maintaining the legal chain of custody, based on their training and experience. If questions arise, seek advice/ guidance from Evidence personnel and/or the on-duty Watch Commander. 6103.2 DEFINITIONS Evidence: Property that must appear in court and be packaged in a way that validates and certifies the chain of custody. Property: Items taken into possession by Department members that will not be used for court purposes. Examples include, but are not limited to, items held for safekeeping or items found and turned over to Department members regardless if the owner is known or not. 6103.3 PACKAGING The essential goal when packaging evidence is to preserve the integrity of the item or sample being handled. Items/samples should be handled with gloves to minimize contamination. Most evidence should be packaged in clean paper packaging. Paper packaging may include envelopes or bags, or items may be wrapped in paper secured with evidence tape. Other examples of packaging that may be used, in appropriate instances, include specially designed cardboard boxes, heat-sealed plastic bags, and Metal Friction Lid Cans (MFLCs). All packages or containers must be clean and not previously used. 6103.4 LABELING Each item/sample, or collection of like items/samples, of evidence should be properly labeled in order to preserve its identity and chain of custody. Labeling should not be done on the item itself, but rather on the individual evidence packaging or container, or on a tag which is attached to the item in instances where the item cannot be packaged. All outer evidence containers or packaging must be labeled. All evidence items must be labeled and properly sealed with evidence tape. In order for a seal to be considered proper, the evidence tape should completely cover all openings to the evidence package or container. The seals must have, at minimum, the initials or signature of the personnel sealing the package and the date the seal was placed. The labeling on the tape should extend over the edge of the seal. All labeling and sealing marks shall be made with permanent ink. Santa Ana Police Department Santa Ana PD Procedures Manual PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE HANDLING Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/05/16, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Santa Ana Police DepartmentPROPERTY AND EVIDENCE HANDLING - 2All items suspected of containing blood or other bodily fluids must be labeled as “Biohazard” using appropriately marked labels. All drugs suspected of containing FENTANYL shall be affixed with a warning label to the package along with an email sent to #PD EVIDENCE, advising that suspected Fentanyl has been booked. 6103.5 CHAIN OF CUSTODY The chain of custody provides an official record of the location of an evidence package. Any time a package is transferred from one location or person to another, or any time a package is opened and/or resealed, the information must be accurately noted in a report and on the attached chain of custody once an item has been booked. 6103.6 BOOKING PROCEDURES When considering which type of packaging to use, keep in mind the purposes the packages serve: •Keeping the evidence as close to it's original condition as possible •Preventing the inadvertent loss of evidence (i.e., falling out of the package) by properly securing all containers •Preventing contamination of evidence •Preserving the individual identity of evidence for court presentation 6103.6.1 PROPERTY RECEIPTS A Property Receipt (SAPD S-85) shall be issued by the handling officer to owners when collecting personal property. A copy of the receipt shall be uploaded into RMS by the booking officer and the original copy shall be placed in the “Evidence” Mailbox. 6103.6.2 LIQUIDS It is not necessary to book samples of alcohol into evidence in alcohol related cases such as misdemeanor DUI, open containers, minors in possession. In these cases officers must describe the substance in their report, i.e. a 12-oz can of Budweiser that still has approx. 6 oz. of a light brown liquid inside the can. A photograph of the beverage should also be included. When it is necessary to book a small amount of liquid as evidence, the liquid should be secured in a small glass vial and attached to the original container. Place both containers into an evidence envelope or paper bag, seal it and attach the property slip. If a glass vial or bottle is used, indicate “glass” on the outside of the package. An example of a beverage to be placed in a vial is one that is suspected to be contaminated. 6103.6.3 BICYCLES Bicycles that are booked as found, recovered, safekeeping or as evidence will be placed in the Bike locker. The brand, description, and serial number, if known, must be included on the property slip. All serialized bicycles must be verified that they are