One full-time Property and Evidence Technician receives all items taken as either evidence, safekeeping, or found property. The property technician is responsible for logging, and maintaining all items received on a case until there is final court adjudication. Following the final adjudication of a case, all property that is still in control of the property technician is released to the owner or it is properly disposed of.
There are various statutory requirements concerning the storage and disposal of property. These laws specify the time period items must be retained by law enforcement agencies and the format of required notifications. Any serialized property must be queried through a computerized database to determine whether it has been reported as lost or stolen. All seized illegal narcotics and related paraphernalia are destroyed pursuant to a court order. Confiscated guns and other illegal weapons are also destroyed. After a specified amount of time, unclaimed property can be sold at public auction or destroyed if there is no appreciable value.Access to the property room is strictly controlled. Any movement of property in or out of the property room is properly recorded on an official “property record report” to ensure the integrity of the evidence. Significant cases rely heavily on the consistent chain of evidence.
Each year, the property and evidence technician receives and processes over 11,000 pieces of property taken as evidence, for safekeeping, or as found property.