3 Best Practices of Evidence Handling in Your Police Department

The professional handling of physical evidence is a necessity among law enforcement officers. Fortunately, modern-day solutions like police evidence management systems ensure that all evidence is gathered and documented correctly. However, there are large-scale mistakes that your department could be making that are decreasing the effectiveness with which you handle evidence—which is why you should always be looking for ways to improve this process.

This article will discuss the three best practices of department-wide evidence handling. Take this as an opportunity to further develop your unit by identifying critical issues and finding ways to manage physical evidence efficiently.

1. Provide Orientations for Officers to Learn about Your Evidence Management System

Many law enforcement specialists use evidence software to ensure that all resources are well-accounted for, and each physical evidence is easily accessible. However, certain law enforcement officers in your force may not know how to use the police evidence management system, which can affect the processing of cases. This is typically due to a lack of working knowledge on the functions of the evidence software.

As such, ensure that everyone gets to attend orientation sessions about your police evidence management system. You can also reconsider the current system you use and upgrade to a more efficient one to streamline your law enforcement unit’s productivity and maintain a high success rate with your assigned cases.

2. Improve Accountability Among Different Teams and Shifts

Law enforcement units often find themselves in situations where certain criminal cases are connected, especially among different teams and shifts. However, there is sometimes a lack of accountability among law enforcement officers to exchange crucial physical evidence information.

For example, suppose you find the same fibers and threads trail in many day-shift cases but fail to secure a lead. Fortunately, there is physical evidence found in the police evidence management system from the night-shift task force that can provide you with a lead!

These pressing issues are why accountability among different teams and shifts in your law enforcement unit should be a top priority. You can also invest in technological means, like evidence software, to ensure that all law enforcement officers get to access the physical evidence they need.

3. Upgrade Outdated Evidence Tracking Systems

Your law enforcement unit needs to ensure that all physical evidence arrives at key departments of your unit, such as the forensic science department and the evidence inventory. However, there are times when the evidence tracking system is outdated, and this affects your timely access to crucial physical evidence.

As such, you should invest in state-of-the-art, reputable evidence tracking systems that are easy to use and efficient. Remember to also integrate these systems properly with your existing police evidence management system. Through this, your law enforcement unit can keep to the criminal case timeline and ensure that the victims get the justice they need.

Find Solutions to Manage Physical Evidence Effectively

Although there are tendencies in the law enforcement system to follow the latest trends, you cannot improve your unit’s performance if they don’t have access to the best tools to manage all the physical evidence received. This is why you should consider all the previously mentioned best practices and find different ways to effectively manage physical evidence.

At the same time, be on the lookout for the best solutions for your law enforcement unit’s physical evidence management and success and your community’s safety and well-being.

Invest in the Best Police Evidence Management Systems

PMI Evidence Tracker™ can provide you with the best police evidence management system for your department. We also offer you convenient support for your law enforcement officers’ use. Partner with us today!