Evidence Technician

Harris County; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences seeks an entry-level Evidence Technician to receive, store, and distribute evidence to crime laboratory disciplines while preserving chain of custody and ensuring legal validity.

Duties include verifying submissions, logging cases, inventorying evidence, and following safety and QA protocols. Must pass background and drug screening; requires associate degree and certifications within 2 years; work Mon-Fri, in-office.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or 60 college credits in forensic-related fields.
• Certification within 2 years: TAPEIT or IAPE.
• Valid Texas Driver’s License required.

Responsibilities

• Receive evidence from agencies, preserving chain of custody.
• Verify submission documentation, log receipts, and assign case numbers.
• Inventory and audit stored evidence, follow safety and QA protocols.

Skills

Attention to detail

Written & oral skills

Independent work

Time management

Microsoft Office

Education

Associate degree (Forensic)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Mission

The Mission of the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences is to provide medical examiners and crime laboratory services of the highest quality in an unbiased manner with uncompromised integrity.

Vision

To provide consistent, quality death investigation and laboratory analysis for the benefit of the entire community.

To create a technological strongpoint for legal agencies to facilitate justice in criminal and civil proceedings.

To establish an academic environment for training in the field of Forensic Science.

Brief Evidence Technician description

The Evidence Technician is an entry-level position which receives, stores, and distributes evidence to crime laboratory disciplines, while preserving the chain of custody of evidence and maintaining the integrity of the evidence so that it can be recognized as legally valid if utilized in court.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Receives evidence from law enforcement, criminal justice agencies, and medical examiner services staff, and releases / submits evidence to crime laboratory disciplines using approved protocols to preserve chain of custody


• Verifies evidence submission documentation and packaging is correct and secure, logs receipt of evidence into an internal database and produces case numbers, scans and uploads forms into the case management system


• Inventories and audits stored evidence to maintain evidence integrity and security


• Follows all safety procedures, standard operating procedures, and quality assurance / quality control protocols

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

If you need special services or accommodations, please call [phone] or email [e-mail].

This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Education

• Associate degree (or 60 college credits) in Forensic Science, Chemistry, Biology, or related field

Certifications / Licensure

• Texas Association of Property and Evidence Inventory Technicians (TAPEIT) or the International Association of Property and Evidence (IAPE) certification is required within 2 years of employment


• Maintain a valid Texas Driver’s License and maintain ability to safely operate a motor vehicle

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Attention to detail


• Strong written and oral communication skills with effective organization and time management skills


• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, prioritizing and handling multiple tasks simultaneously


• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office

Additional Requirements

• Must pass criminal background check and drug / alcohol screening (prior to and randomly during employment)

NOTE

Qualifying education, experience, knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Experience

• Experience involving receipt and handling of evidence

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work

• Full-time | 40 hours per week


• Monday – Friday, in-office


• Weekends and evening shifts may be necessary


• Must be available to work during severe weather events or other emergencies if needed


• Holidays, weekends, and evening shifts may be necessary

Work Environment

• Office/laboratory setting

Physical Demands

• Requires physical strength to lift up to 50 pounds in the routine performance of duties


• Must be able to sit or stand for long periods of time. Bending and climbing ladders may be necessary

Possible Exposures

• Possible exposure to dangerous chemicals


• May come in contact with blood and/or bloodborne pathogens


• Possible exposure to unpleasant odors

Reporting Relationships

• Reports to: Manager, Evidence Intake

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.