Last week, we posted an evidence management article that began with these three sentences…
“In law enforcement, there’s often a significant gap in understanding between the front-line officers and the evidence management department. Many officers view evidence management as a straightforward process—simply tagging items and placing them on a shelf. However, the reality is far more complex and integral to the justice system.”
Since we posted that article, we’ve received a number of casual comments that took us by surprise… “I didn’t realize that evidence moved.” “What do you mean? Where does it go?” “Why would evidence need to move?”
Given the time or a modicum of interest, we’re sure that people within the law enforcement community could come up with a few answers. But the comments seemed to be the tip of an iceberg to a deeper question no one seemed willing to ask… What do evidence custodians actually do all day?
There’s a reason no one was willing to ask the deeper question; it feels dismissive at best and insulting at worst.
But it’s a valid question. How can police officers, law enforcement leaders, or Police Chiefs know what evidence custodians do when custodians are locked in a facility that no one can access… or simply don’t feel compelled to? It would be easy to imagine evidence managers sitting at a dusty desk all day with nothing to do but play solitaire, eat jelly donuts, and drink stale coffee until their shift is finally over, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Today, let’s answer the surface question about evidence movement before we explore the deeper topic of what evidence custodians do on a day-to-day basis in our next edition. So, why does evidence move, and where does it go?
Evidence Management On the Move
When people think of evidence in criminal investigations, they often imagine it sitting in a storage facility until it’s needed for trial. However, the reality is that evidence frequently moves between various crucial locations throughout the criminal justice process. Understanding this journey is vital for ensuring the integrity and accessibility of evidence.
And don’t forget, evidence doesn’t move itself, an evidence management custodian must facilitate all movement in a secure and traceable manner. Another consideration? A single criminal case could have thousands of pieces of evidence – all moving in different directions simultaneously. Here are the key destinations where evidence often travels:
Digital Forensics Labs
Purpose: Examination and Analysis
Evidence, especially in modern cases, often includes digital components like hard drives, mobile phones, and other electronic devices. These items are sent to digital forensics labs, where specialists use sophisticated tools and techniques to extract, analyze, and interpret digital data. This process is critical for uncovering hidden information, recovering deleted files, and identifying communication patterns that can be pivotal to the investigation.
Legal Teams
Purpose: Case Preparation
Both prosecution and defense legal teams require access to evidence for case preparation. This includes reviewing physical and digital evidence, preparing exhibits for trial, and formulating legal strategies. Evidence may be transported to law offices or reviewed in secure, designated areas within the storage facility. Legal teams scrutinize every piece of evidence to build their case, ensuring it supports their arguments and adheres to legal standards.
DNA Labs
Purpose: Biological Analysis
In cases involving biological evidence such as blood, hair, or other bodily fluids, evidence is sent to DNA labs for analysis. Forensic scientists conduct tests to match DNA samples with suspects or victims, providing critical links that can confirm or refute identities and involvement in the crime. The precision and reliability of DNA analysis make it a cornerstone in modern forensic science.
Detective Departments
Purpose: Ongoing Investigations
Detectives and investigative teams often need access to evidence throughout their ongoing investigations. This may involve re-examining physical evidence, conducting further tests, or following up on new leads that require additional scrutiny of the existing evidence. Evidence can move between the storage facility and detective departments multiple times as new information emerges and the investigation evolves.
Courtrooms
Purpose: Trial Presentation
The final and perhaps most critical destination for evidence is the courtroom. Here, evidence is presented to judges, juries, and other court officials as part of the trial process. This includes physical items, digital displays, forensic reports, and expert testimonies that interpret the evidence. Proper chain of custody and documentation are essential to ensure that evidence remains untampered and credible when presented in court.
Specialized Forensic Labs
Purpose: Specific Evidence Analysis
Certain types of evidence require specialized analysis that goes beyond the capabilities of standard forensic labs. This includes toxicology tests, ballistics analysis, and fingerprint examination. These specialized labs provide in-depth and focused analysis necessary for particular aspects of the investigation, ensuring every piece of evidence is thoroughly examined.
Training Facilities
Purpose: Educational Use
Occasionally, decommissioned evidence or materials that are no longer needed for active investigations may be used in training facilities. Law enforcement agencies use these materials to train officers and forensic specialists, providing hands-on experience with real evidence to enhance their investigative skills.
Disposition
Purpose: Final Resolution
After a case concludes, the evidence must be properly disposed of, whether through return to the rightful owner, destruction, or archiving. This process, known as disposition, is crucial to avoid cluttering storage facilities with unnecessary items and to comply with legal requirements. Proper documentation and authorization are necessary to ensure the final resolution of evidence handling is conducted legally and ethically.
RELATED: Neglecting Dispositions is a Costly Liability
Ensuring the Integrity of Evidence
Given its journey through various critical stages, managing the movement of evidence is paramount. Evidence management software plays a crucial role in this process by:
- Tracking: Maintaining a detailed log of who accessed the evidence, when, and for what purpose. Of course, the best way of tracking evidence is with evidence management software that limits access to only approved users and provides real-time updates about movement, discovery, and new data. This software can automatically log entries and exits of evidence, track the chain of custody, and alert relevant personnel to any unauthorized access attempts. By ensuring that every interaction with the evidence is recorded and monitored, the software helps prevent mishandling and enhances accountability. This comprehensive tracking is essential for maintaining the integrity and credibility of the evidence throughout its lifecycle.
- Securing: Ensuring that evidence is transported securely to prevent loss, tampering, or contamination. This includes utilizing tamper-evident packaging, secure transportation methods, and stringent access controls. Each movement of the evidence must be meticulously documented, and only authorized personnel should handle evidence. Moreover, storage conditions must be controlled to prevent environmental damage, and security measures such as surveillance systems and restricted access areas should be implemented to safeguard evidence from unauthorized access or theft.
- Documenting: Providing a clear chain of custody that records every movement and handling of evidence to maintain its integrity and admissibility in court. Effective documentation is critical for tracking the entire lifecycle of evidence from the moment it is collected to its final disposition. This includes detailed logs of evidence transfer, condition reports, and access history. Evidence management software is indispensable in this process, offering automated tracking, secure digital logs, and real-time updates. This software ensures that all entries are timestamped and tamper-proof, reducing the risk of human error and enhancing the credibility of evidence records. By maintaining comprehensive and accurate documentation, legal teams can confidently present evidence in court, knowing that its integrity has been preserved.
To learn more about evidence management training classes, visit IAPE here.
In conclusion, the journey of evidence extends far beyond the confines of a storage facility, encompassing a dynamic and intricate path crucial to the justice system. From digital forensics labs to courtrooms, each movement and analysis phase is essential for maintaining the integrity and accessibility of evidence. Evidence custodians play a vital role in facilitating this process, ensuring secure and traceable handling of every piece of evidence. And, effective evidence management systems are essential to support this journey, ensuring that evidence remains secure, accessible, and reliable at every stage of the criminal justice process.
As we have seen, effective evidence management involves meticulous tracking, stringent security measures, and comprehensive documentation. These practices are not just bureaucratic formalities but fundamental components that uphold the credibility of the criminal justice system. The role of evidence custodians is anything but mundane; they are the guardians of justice, ensuring that evidence remains untampered and reliable from collection to final disposition.
In our next edition, we will delve deeper into the daily responsibilities and challenges of evidence custodians, shedding light on their indispensable contributions to law enforcement and the pursuit of justice. Understanding the full scope of their work is essential for appreciating the complexities and importance of evidence management in the criminal justice system.
If you would like to learn more about how FileOnQ can help you manage everything from your Enterprise Platform to a Data Backup and Recovery Solution and Evidence Management Software Solutions, visit FileOnQ here.