Policy Text
Policy
730Santa Ana Police Department
Custody Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/07/05, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Santa Ana Police Department***DRAFT*** Forensic Evidence - 1Forensic Evidence
730.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to maintain credibility between the incarcerated persons and the
facility's qualified health care professionals by establishing clear guidelines restricting facility
health care professionals from participating in the collection of forensic evidence for disciplinary
or legal proceedings.
730.1.1 DEFINITION
Definitions related to this policy include:
Forensic evidence - Physical or psychological data collected from an incarcerated person that
may be used against the incarcerated person in disciplinary or legal proceedings.
730.2 POLICY
Qualified health care professionals of this facility are generally prohibited from participating in the
collection of forensic evidence or performing psychological evaluations for disciplinary or legal
proceedings.
Qualified health care professionals of this facility should not be involved in the collection of forensic
evidence except when complying with state laws requiring the collection of blood samples from
incarcerated persons, provided the incarcerated person has consented to the procedure and staff
are not involved in any punitive action against the incarcerated person.
Qualified health care professionals of this facility may collect blood or urine for testing for alcohol
or drugs when it is done for medical purposes and under a physician's order. Qualified health care
professionals of this facility may conduct incarcerated person-specific, court-ordered laboratory
tests and examinations or radiology procedures with the consent of the incarcerated person.
Qualified health care professionals of this facility are prohibited from being involved in the following
procedures:
(a)Body cavity searches
(b)Psychological evaluations for use in adversarial proceedings
(c)Blood draws for lab studies ordered by the court, without incarcerated person consent
(d)Any medical procedure, except emergency lifesaving measures, that does not have
the incarcerated person's written consent
It shall be the responsibility of the Chief of Police or the authorized designee to arrange
for appropriately trained professionals to collect forensic evidence for disciplinary or legal
proceedings.