Premature Purging in the Spotlight

This article from yesterday’s the San Francisco Chronicle, highlights yet again the awesome responsibility we share as custodians of property and evidence.

The intake, maintenance, storage, security, and disposal, of all property and evidence should be managed with the utmost care and in accordance with all laws.

Above all, you should not be disposing of any Property or Evidence without prior approval from the prosecuting attorney or investigating officer in every case. 

* * *

Our hearts and prayers are with all at the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department this week. R.I.P. Deputy Paris.

Thankful for DNA Evidence

This Thanksgiving, four young men in Illinois have something big to be thankful for: their freedom. On November 16, a Chicago judge overturned the convictions set when the men were teens. They’ve spent years in prison, and DNA proves they didn’t commit the crime.

Since 1989, there have been 280 post-conviction DNA exonerations in the United States. Nine of these were in California. Decades upon decades of lives have been lost based on various faults, including improperly handled or identified evidence: the second-greatest contributor to wrongful convictions.

Those of us handling property and evidence for our departments or institutions can help to end this madness by following all protocol and taking our jobs with seriousness, professionalism, and precaution. Together we can contribute to end this tragic cycle. For more information, read the in-depth overview on the Innocence Project website.