Correcting Confiscated Currency

Ever wondered what to do with damaged or mutilated currency? Not long ago, a suspect under the influence of narcotics decided to dispose of his drug money by digesting it as responding officers arrived on scene. Fortunately, the officers were able to "recover" the evidence, but needless to say, it was not suitable for recirculation. 

In accordance with department policy, we forwarded the mutilated currency to the U.S. Department of the Treasury for replacement. To read more about how their services can aid you and your agency, visit their website.

Surprising News from the US Supreme Court

“In a rare defeat for law enforcement, the Supreme Court unanimously agreed on Monday to bar police from installing GPS technology to track suspects without first getting a judge's approval.” (Read the complete article from ABC News here.)

For more information on the search warrant process, see http://www.leginfo.ca.gov or California Penal Code Sections 1523-1542.

Out with the Old, In with the New

Be it your new year’s resolution or early spring cleaning, it’s great to keep in mind services like PropertyRoom.com that help you to clean out old property and put the income back into your department.

PropertyRoom.com’s service is quick, efficient, and now even allows for FedEx to pick up your smaller boxed items. It’s a great way to purge your property and evidence rooms on a monthly basis, as well as avoid the fuel surcharge.

As a side note, their barcode system is beyond reproach. It works so well to track all your items quickly and easily during an audit.

What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas?

The Transportation Security Administration seems to have “bitten off” more criticism over the holiday weekend in Las Vegas, when an airport security officer took a passenger's frosted cupcake because he thought its vanilla-bourbon icing could be a “security risk”.

After reading this article, thoughts of what TSA’s Property and Evidence Room might look like came to mind and I am hoping they have a well-developed photographic policy for “perishables”.

Rightfully so, many prosecutors will frown on the release of any property/evidence in their cases. However, the storage of perishables in the Property and Evidence Room is ill-advised. 

When developing your “Perishables” policies consider the following:

• Prosecutor approval
• Homicide or major crime?
• Photographs with a line of measurement to reflect the size and shape
• Use a department approved/trained photographer
• Comprehensive case report articulating the confiscation and control of the property/evidence
• Forensic lab analysis prior to disposal
• Dispose of item(s) according to department policy and the law.

Exciting Developments for Our Upcoming Course

We’re gearing up for our Property & Evidence Certification Course on February 15-16 in San Francisco, and are pleased to announce that the course includes four subject matter specialists. In addition to reviewing the entire property and evidence role, our guest speakers will discuss health and safety/blood borne pathogens, DNA issues, and explosive storage and disposition. This course offers in-depth training and question/answer sessions from seasoned professionals, promises to be a highly informative session, and is essential training for anyone involved in property and evidence. There’s still time to register at HartEvidence.com. We hope to see you there!