700-01 Property and Evidence Control Regulations Flashcards
Chain of Custody.
A list of each person who has care or custody of property from the time it is taken into custody until it is offered into evidence in court, returned to the rightful owner or caretaker, or disposed of.
Digital Forensics Unit (DFU).
A unit of the Houston Forensic Science Center that is responsible for forensic examination of certain types of digital evidence, most commonly on computers and cellular telephones.
Evidence Management System (EMS).
The computerized system or its successor system utilized by the HPD Property Division to track and manage all property and evidence submitted for storage.
Hazardous Material (HAZMAT).
Any item or agent (biological, chemical, radiological, and/or physical) that has the potential to cause harm to humans, animals, or the environment, either by itself or through interaction with other factors.
Lock Box.
An approved, secure device that stores property or evidence. Procedures and notifications for the use and submission of property or evidence by means of a lock box shall be the responsibility of the authorizing division.
Narcotics Operations Control Center (NOCC).
An entity of the Narcotics Division that is responsible for the quality control of intake of narcotics, evidence submission, and subsequent controlled transfer of the evidence to the Narcotics Evidence Receiving Unit.
National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).
A unit of the Property Division responsible for the entry of fired shell casings into a national database managed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Primary Division.
The authorizing division responsible for investigating the most serious offense involved in a criminal investigation. When multiple offenses occur that are of equal offense classification according to the Texas Penal Code, the primary division shall be determined by which offense occurred first.
Property Acquired By Illegal Means.
Any property for which the identity of the owner cannot be determined and probable cause exists to believe the property was acquired by theft or by another manner that makes its acquisition an offense.
Stolen Property.
Any property stolen or alleged to have been stolen.
Vehicle Impound Lot (VIL).
A lot, controlled by the Auto Theft Division, authorized for the storage of vehicles needing follow-up investigations.
When employees or divisions accept responsibility for property and/or controlled substances, they become the responsible party until _____.
Employees may transfer responsibility for property to another employee or division; however, they must indicate the transfer by _____
Each time property is transferred from one person or location to another, it shall be documented in an original incident or supplement report. The report shall include the reason for the transfer and the name of the person accepting responsibility for the property. When property is transferred to another division, the ____ shall be included.
1) the property is returned to the owner or lawfully disposed of or responsibility is transferred
2) supplementing the original incident report.
3) name of the supervisor authorizing the transfer
REPORTS AND FORMS
Original Incident Report
Any employee who originally takes custody of property is responsible for ____ as appropriate.
making an original incident or supplement report
Supplement Report
When property or evidence is _____ the employee handling the property shall make a supplement to the original incident report and include the applicable information listed in the above subsection and complete associated forms.
added to a case, logged in or out for further investigation or court,transferred, or disposed of,
HOLD AND REQUEST AUTHORIZATION PROCEDURES FOR PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE
Before property is placed in a property storage facility, the employee must receive property hold authorization from the _____. The name, employee number, and division of the person authorizing the property hold shall be recorded in the incident report and the ____
The name, employee number, and division of the person authorizing a hold does not need to be on the Narcotics submission form if ____. This information is needed if there is other property submitted in connection with a controlled substance that will need to be transferred to the Property Division after the controlled substance
is removed (e.g., suitcase, ice chest).
1) responsible division or unit
2) Evidence Management System (EMS).
3) all that is being submitted is a controlled substance
HOLD AND REQUEST AUTHORIZATION PROCEDURES FOR PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE
When incidents are investigated by several divisions, employees shall obtain hold authorizations from ____. Employees tagging property shall determine what property information the responsible division requires.
Primary and secondary divisions (if applicable) shall always give hold authorization for ____
1) each responsible division
2) prohibited weapons and controlled substances.
HOLD AND REQUEST AUTHORIZATION PROCEDURES FOR PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE
Hold authorizations are not required for the following:
a. ____ taken by employees.
b. ____ produced by employees.
c. Lifted latent prints and items of evidence submitted for ____.
d. ____.
e. Other property created by _____ (e.g., ballistic testing material and plaster castings).
1) Photographs
2) Documents
3) latent processing
4) Sexual assault kits
5) employees or Houston Forensic Science Center (HFSC) personnel
HOLD AND REQUEST AUTHORIZATION PROCEDURES FOR PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE
Each division that accepts a hold for property and/or controlled substances are responsible for the _____ and employees shall document in an original incident or supplement report the property disposition including any ____
1) disposition of that property
2) transfer of responsibility to another division.
Special Holds
A “Special Hold” may be requested by HPD’s ____ or ____, or the ____. Special Hold requests must be forwarded to the ____ of the Property Division.
Special Holds may be released only upon ____, from the original office that requested the Special Hold.
1) Internal Affairs Division
2) Office of Legal Services
3) City of Houston Legal Department
4) administrative lieutenant
5) receipt of written notification, including email
Request by Others to View Evidentiary Property
The ____shall facilitate all requests and court orders to view and/or photograph evidentiary property tagged in a property storage facility.
When assistant district attorneys or investigators want to view evidentiary property, they must present ____ to the property storage facility personnel.
1) primary division
2) appropriate identification and authorization
Temporary Check Out of Evidentiary Property
Property may be temporarily removed from a property storage facility for no more than ____ without the approval of the authorizing division’s commander and only for the following reasons:
a. ____ appearance
b. Further _____
c. Submission for ____
d. Out to ____
1) 14 calendar days
2) Court
3) investigation
4) analysis
5) other agency
Temporary Check Out of Evidentiary Property
Property temporarily released from a property storage facility to an authorizing division becomes
that division’s responsibility. If it is known that evidence will not be returned within ____ days (e.g., evidence being sent to an outside lab), employees must obtain written approval from the ____ before checking out the property.
1) 14 calendar
2) authorizing division’s commander
Shipping Evidentiary Property
____ shall be responsible for packaging, shipping, receiving, and sending all evidentiary property. An employee initiating the shipment or receipt of property that will be used as evidence in an investigation shall complete a supplement to the original incident report detailing the ____.
1) Property Division personnel
2) reason for shipping such property.
Created Property
Items created by the department for the sole purpose of being used as evidence (e.g., DWI and
crime scene videotapes or test fires) to enhance an investigation and that may be needed for
future identification shall be stored in ____
All digital photographs taken by employees and that document a crime scene or possible criminal
investigation shall be uploaded to the ____. Digital photographs shall be uploaded using designated kiosks or via the system’s web software accessed through the department’s Intranet Portal.
1) a property storage facility.
2) Digital Crime Scene database