The property room: important considerations

FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin,The, July, 2004 by Barney Kinman

If possible, agencies should designate one employee for each property room function. For example, property rooms responsible for transporting items to and from the crime lab should have one person assigned to that duty. This person may need to spend time in court on a regular basis because of chain-of-custody. Logically, spreading this assignment out among more than one person in the unit presents the risk of having the entire staff in court regularly. In cases where the designated person is not available for this assignment, agencies should consider using someone outside of the property unit to avoid closure due to lack of staffing. Agencies also should assign one employee to handle all disposals--for many departments, this alone can be a full-time job.

All evidence room personnel should receive cross training to handle every function of the property room. This helps limit the need for temporarily assigned employees. Departments certainly should avoid the temptation to temporarily staff their evidence rooms with, officers facing pending disciplinary issues. For instance, legal issues can arise if such officers have access to evidence in a pending trial. Agencies must realize that interim employees may cause more problems than they solve.

Conclusion

Law enforcement agencies can benefit from examining their property rooms and ensuring that they serve the organization as effectively as possible. Factors, such as location, security, staffing, storage, and disposal, all prove important in this evaluation.

All departments recognize the importance of properly handling evidence in their custody--not doing so can be problematic. An efficient evidence room serves an important role in support of an agency's mission.

Endnotes

(1) Agencies should develop and adhere to a detailed written policy concerning property room staffing and procedures.

(2) The author presents these recommendations based on his professional experience in property room management and suggests a formal seminar on the subject for more thorough training.

(3) For additional information, see CALEA Online, http://www.calea.org.

(4) Agencies must ensure that procedures governing the disposal of firearms and other relevant items reflect the appropriate use of the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. For additional information, see Stephanie L. Hitt, "NCIC 2000," FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, July 2000, 12-15.

RELATED ARTICLE: Some Considerations for the Property Room

* Is it situated in the best available location?

* Does it offer plenty of storage space?

* Are disposals handled appropriately?

* Is it organized effectively?

* Does it have the right staffing level?

* Is it secure?