Policy Text
\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nSEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE NUMBER:
G - 68
GENERAL ORDER
RESCINDS: Formerly E-11
SUBJECT: Evidence and Property
EFFECTIVE: April 14, 1995
REVISED: February 12, 2024
Table of Contents:
I. Purpose
II. Definitions
III. General
IV. Personnel and Equipment
V. Digital and Analog Equipment
VI. Documentation
VII. Crime Scenes (First Responders)
VIII. Collecting Latent Prints
IX. Collection of Biological Evidence (DNA)
X. Evidence Packaging
XI. Labeling and Marking
XII. Firearms and Ammunition
XIII. Drug Paraphernalia and Sharps
XIV. Non-Hazardous Liquids (Including Alcoholic Beverages)
XV. Hazardous Materials
XVI. Large Property
XVII. Photography
XVIII. Money
XIX. Seizure and Analysis of Computer and Digital Devices
XX. Transfer of Evidence or Property
XXI. Evidence and Property Storage Locations
XXII. External Laboratories
I. PURPOSE:
This directive provides instruction for the collection, processing, preserving, packaging, documentation, and
submission of evidence and property. It also contains procedures for latent print processing and the seizure of
computer and digital devices.
II. DEFINITIONS:
A. Identification Number:
The number used for evidence, evidence packaging, and evidence receipts that link it to the employee.
This is the employee's six-digit payroll number. This number ensures chain of custody documentation.
GENERAL ORDER
Evidence and Property
G-68 PAGE 1 OF 26\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nB. Chain of Custody:
A written record which tracks evidence as it passes from one person to another.
C. Crime Scene Analysts:
Analysts are employees responsible for processing extensive or complex crime scenes.
D. Digital Forensic Examiner:
An Investigator trained in the identification, preservation, examination, analysis, and presentation of
digital evidence obtained from computers or other digital devices. Digital Forensic Examiners are
assigned to the Digital Forensics Unit in the Criminal Investigations Division.
E. Digital Forensic Specialist:
An Investigator or civilian assigned to the Digital Forensic Unit who is receiving training in the
identification, preservation, examination, analysis, and presentation of digital evidence obtained from
computers or other digital devices. Digital Forensic Specialists work under the supervision of a Digital
Forensic Examiner and are assigned to the Digital Forensics Unit in the Criminal Investigations Division.
F. Evidence:
Any substance, testimony, writings or material object found, recovered or received which offers proof in
connection with a criminal incident. All property within the custody of the Evidence Unit must be
handled as evidence.
G. Evidence Specialists:
A person assigned to the Forensic Laboratory Services Division who works under the supervision of the
Evidence Custodian, and who is responsible for the reception, documentation, storage, and release of
property and evidence held by the Evidence Unit.
H. Forensic Digital Enhancement:
When trained crime scene analysts examine and process images, digital graphic files, or videotape
segments for fingerprints, tool marks, footwear impressions, questioned documents, or other evidence.
I. Property:
Found or recovered property having no evidentiary value, but which must be held for its rightful owner,
sold at auction in accordance with Florida Statutes, or destroyed. It may also be defined as former
evidence with no evidentiary value, which is to be disposed of by the Sheriff's Office.
III. GENERAL:
A. All collected evidence and property will be submitted to Evidence Unit storage lockers, or directly to the
Evidence Unit, for secure storage before going off-duty.
B. Evidence must be properly contained and properly sealed to protect it from loss, cross-transfer and/or
contamination. A container is “properly sealed” only if its contents cannot readily escape and only if
entering the container results in obvious damage/alteration to the container or its seal.
C. Property not submitted as evidence should be properly contained and properly sealed as if it were
evidence. If the size of the property prohibits placement within a container or the shape prevents it from
being wrapped in packaging paper, the property is to be properly tagged for identification purposes.
GENERAL ORDER
Evidence and Property
G-68 PAGE 2 OF 26\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nD. Commanders are responsible for providing supplies necessary for the safe and proper processing of
evidence. Proper evidence packaging and officer safety depend upon the availability of evidence bags,
sharps containers, boxes, gloves, and fingerprint powder and evidence tape.
E. As part of their investigation, field personnel and Investigators are required to make an effort to identify
and notify the owner or custodian of property taken into Sheriff’s Office custody.
F. Proper safeguards and preservation techniques are necessary when handling and collecting evidence.
Gloves should always be worn to protect employees and prevent contamination of evidence.
G. Employees are prohibited from storing evidence or found property in desks, lockers, vehicles, homes, or
other places that could jeopardize the chain of custody or expose it to contamination or loss.
H. Personal use of any evidence or property is strictly prohibited.
I. Firearms and other weapons will be confiscated by order of a court, or in accordance with applicable
Statutes and Enforcement Procedures. Firearms may also be taken by Deputies when their owners wish
them held for safekeeping, disposal, or destruction. Weapons taken under these circumstances will be
placed into evidence according to the procedures contained in this directive.
NOTE: Weapons will not be held for safekeeping merely because an owner wants the Sheriff’s Office to
temporarily store the weapons as a matter of his/her convenience.
J. When submitting evidence, employees use their six-digit payroll number and not radio or 17 numbers.
K. When evidence or property is taken into custody, a written report will be completed describing the
circumstances by which it came into Sheriff’s Office possession, and will describe each item collected. A
completed Chain of Custody Form and the report case number will accompany all submitted evidence
and/or property. This includes firearms taken by court order (court or injunction order numbers are not
used). To ensure strict control, all property and evidence must be logged into Café and status coded
before field personnel go off duty.
L. No property or evidence items are submitted to the Evidence Unit through the interoffice mail system.
M. Improperly packaged or tagged evidence is not accepted by Evidence Specialists.
1. If such evidence is left in an evidence locker, the Evidence Specialist retrieves it to free the
locker and provide for its safekeeping.
2. The Evidence Specialist notifies the submitter (and his/her Supervisor) that they need to return
to the Evidence Unit to make the necessary corrections. Corrective action is made even if the
submitter is off duty. Failure to comply is considered a violation of this policy.
N. After business hours, Evidence Specialists are summoned to Building 100 when evidence:
1. Requires refrigeration and all available evidence refrigerators are already in use,
2. Is of such bulk or quantity that storage lockers are inappropriate or inadequate, and
3. Cannot be submitted due to the unavailability of evidence lockers.
IV. PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT:
A. The Sheriff's Office provides personnel and equipment for processing crime scenes.
GENERAL ORDER
Evidence and Property
G-68 PAGE 3 OF 26\n\n--- Page 4 ---\n\n1. Employees notify their Supervisor when their processing supplies need to be replenished.
2. Sheriff's Office vehicles are subject to supervisory inspection to ensure adequate inventories of
crime scene processing supplies and equipment are being maintained.
3. Field Personnel:
Field personnel are given equipment to process latent prints and collect, seal and submit
evidence at simple, non-extensive crime