A New Officer’s Guide to Handling Evidence

Although it depends on the situation, most crime scenes come with breadcrumb trails that lead to suspects and a complete understanding of what happened. These trails are officially known as physical evidence, and pertains to any object that connects a crime scene to a suspect.

Any criminal act can include a transfer of matter. This can be in the form of fingerprints, blood, or even unusual marks on the scene. It can also include rather clumsy pieces of evidence, such as the suspect’s identification cards.

Although police tracking software helps make the process of handling and logging evidence easier, the more information you arm yourself with the better. This is especially true if you’re a new officer. To learn more about handling evidence, we’ve gathered some important information:

Court-Imposed Standards on Evidence

A strict protocol must be followed when dealing with physical evidence. All items must meet court-imposed standards for a piece of evidence to be viable, and the officer needs to provide the following:

• How the evidence was obtained
• When and where the evidence was obtained
• How the piece of evidence can establish the guilt of the party involved
• The officers handling the evidence
• How the evidence has been stored

In addition, officers must also establish that the evidence currently presented in court is the very same item obtained and analyzed from the crime scene. In addition, they also need to prove that the object has not been tampered with or altered in any way.

Understanding the Chain of Custody

The chain of custody essentially pertains to a chain of possession, a timeline of which all officers must strictly follow. This begins from the time the physical evidence was located and ends when it is produced during the trial.

Every single detail must be accounted for, as failure to show that the chain of evidence has been followed will result in a rejection of the evidence, no matter how compelling. As a result, law enforcement agencies store their evidence in secure evidence rooms, where items can be stored to ensure total protection.

The question now stands—how can an officer maintain the chain of custody?

• Step 1: Make sure to limit the number of officers handling the evidence.
• Step 2: Everyone who had the evidence must be documented, preferably written receipts containing the date, time, and purpose of having the evidence
• Step 3: All pieces of evidence must be properly fitted with a police evidence label, sealed, and secured in their respective containers.
• Step 4: Once properly secured, all these containers must then be kept in a safe evidence room, free from the possibility of tampering and the harsh elements.

The Importance of Using Crime Kits

Bear in mind that certain pieces of evidence can be sensitive. This includes fingerprints, blood, and even pieces of hair. For this reason, crime scene kits must always be present, especially when conducting a thorough evidence collection. Here are some of the non-negotiable items an officer should carry at all times:

• Ziploc bags
• Paper bags
• Small brush
• Plastic or glass containers
• Plastic or glass vials
• Masking tape
• Dusting powder
• Gloves
• Envelopes
• Cameras
• Tweezers

Pencils and paper for documentation

Handle Your Evidence in the Best Possible Way

From everything gathered, one thing is clear—the success of an investigation depends on the items present at the scene. Without evidence, cases remain unsolved, making evidence handling an integral part of bringing justice. Unfortunately, handling evidence can prove to be a challenge, especially for new officers. Make sure to keep this guide in mind as you carry out your duties.

Our Innovative Police Tracking Software

Even the best need help—if you’re looking for new and better ways to handle your evidence, turn to PMI Evidence Tracker™. Our complete system includes everything you need, including our innovative software, barcode scanner, shelf and evidence labels, and more. We offer you the tools to transform your department. Reach out to us today to learn more.