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FOCUS The Modern Police Evidence Room Betsy McNutt of Sun Ridge Systems advised they routinely provide RMS for the evidence / property room, which is integrated into the rest of the system. Their RMS system covers all the department���s record management functions including the evidence room and as such is a complete system. The evidence function is an integral part with many information management systems and might be a consideration when reviewing systems. Porter Lee���s Crime Fighter BEAST tracks evidence and facilitates evidence transfer to a forensic laboratory for analysis, promotes property control, and allows for extensive reporting capabilities. Russell Carrell from Porter Lee said they not only supply the evidence component of records management, but they work Officer Sean Gibson, Skokie (Ill.) PD uses the pass-through evidence lockers with departments to interface with their from Space Saver to deposit evidence, which will be collected by evidence RMS and CAD. technicians on the opposite side. (Photo courtesy of Bradford Systems) Carrell said departments with RMS with modules including evidence often prefer to use the Crime Fighter BEAST from Porter Lee because it is a much more robust program with more functionality. Porter Lee will work with ��� Evidence and property should be separated, but drugs, weapons and valuables them to integrate the department���s RMS need extra security. or CAD with The Beast and the informa��� Everything should be inventoried with a program that ��ags when disposal tion from the other program will popucan be made. late the Crime Fighter BEAST. ��� Proper training is essential and certi��cation recommended. Spillman Technologies��� RMS custom��� Biological evidence must be properly maintained and destroyed only when state ers can use the integrated evidence manand future national standards allow. agement module to manage changes in ��� Every evidence room should be governed by a written policy and the location and status of evidence items procedural manual. and this ability to track an item from ��� Key or access cards should control access with logs to document entries. the time it arrives at the agency until its ��� Surveillance cameras/video should be operated on a 24-hour basis. release or disposal provides a complete chain of custody and links new evidence to records already stored in the system. Carbondale PD has a Property Management policy and acSpillman���s evidence barcode & audit Intercess is limited to Evidence Technician Steve Michaels, Crime face allows agencies to track evidence items by attaching barScene Specialists Dee Cross and Jeff Buritsch and Sgt. Dun- codes that contain the agency���s name, incident number, and ning, the supervisor. Accessing the room requires a proximity evidence type. card and keypad code and they have a supervisor available Alan Biddle, Director of Development for SungardPS reported after hours. The room is video monitored by dispatch 24/7. their evidence module has a strong inventory function and state Michaels said their Evidence Tech training is at least a 40- rules usually apply to what can be cleared from evidence. The hour class and he has completed the course twice, once at module can run reports to determine when items can be legally Northwestern University and once given by the International destroyed or other disposal made. He reported an inventory ocAssociation for Property and Evidence. curs about 50 percent of the time when they install a new system. EVIDENCE ROOM PROTOCOLS Software & Evidence Management Systems There are many evidence management systems. Some are integrated into the complete RMS for the department. Some departments have a separate evidence management system that interfaces with their RMS program. 52 LAW and ORDER I February 2013 Kathy Marks has been a child abuse investigator for 30 years. She teaches classes regarding domestic terrorism and is a previous contributor to LAW and ORDER Magazine. She can be reached at kathymarks53@aol.com. LaO Post your comments on this story by visiting www.lawandordermag.com