PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE CUSTODIAN

Clear Creek County, Colorado; South Carolina; On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Clear Creek County is seeking a Property and Evidence Custodian to manage and safeguard evidence and property under strict chain-of-custody requirements. You will document, preserve, and release items in accordance with state laws and sheriff's office policies.

The role involves potential crime-scene assistance, detailed record-keeping, and liaison duties with courts and agencies. Strong attention to detail and confidentiality are essential for success in this position.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• IAPE certification within the first year of employment.
• CAPET training within the first year of employment.
• Ability to handle routine tasks with general supervision.
• Experience with office practices is required.

Responsibilities

• Adhere to all County and Departmental policies, procedures, and laws related to management of the area.
• Maintain the integrity of all property and evidence, securing it from loss, theft, and contamination.
• Maintain Chain of Custody by logging all actions related to property and evidence.
• Assist in collecting, processing, packaging, and preserving evidence at crime scenes as directed.
• Keep records at crime scenes (photo logs, evidence logs, scene entries, etc.).
• Ensure legal and timely release and disposal of evidence and property, including narcotics, explosives, hazardous materials, and weapons.
• Organize temporary release and return of property for court, crime lab analysis, and investigative use; transfer items to agencies (e.g., CCIC).
• Act as liaison between the Sheriff's Office and other agencies; testify in court regarding chain of custody as needed.
• Provide copies of evidence to the DA's Office (CDs, DVDs, audio/video tapes, photos, etc.).
• Assist the Sheriff, Captains, Lieutenant, and Sergeants with CCIC terminal duties and administrative tasks as needed.

Skills

Chain of custody procedures

Criminal justice knowledge

Record keeping

Data entry

Effective communication

Education

High School diploma

IAPE certification within 1 year

CAPET training within 1 year

Tools

Case management systems

CCIC terminal duties

Job description

JOB SUMMARY:

Under the limited supervision of the Detective Sergeant of Investigations and the Captain of Special Services, this position is responsible for receiving, storing, releasing, and maintaining security of evidence and property for safekeeping. To safeguard and preserve the integrity of all evidence and a chain of custody by State Laws, County Ordinances, and the sheriff's Office policies and procedures. May assist in collecting and preserving evidence at crime scenes in support of the investigating detectives. This includes but is not limited to writing detailed reports and establishing and maintaining records to ensure proper chain of custody of physical evidence. Performs other duties as assigned.

PRINCIPAL JOB DUTIES:

• Adhere to all County and Departmental policies, procedures, and all laws and regulations as they pertain to the management of the assigned area.
• Maintains the integrity of all property and evidence. Keeping it secure from loss, theft, and contamination ensures it can be located promptly.
• Maintains "Chain of Custody" by logging all actions associated with the property and evidence.
• May assist in collecting, processing, packaging, and preserving evidence at crime scenes as directed by investigating detectives.
• Keeps records at crime scenes, including, but not limited to, photo logs, evidence logs, crime scene entry logs, and any other documentation needed at the scene.
• Ensures the release and disposal of evidence and property in a legal and timely manner, including but not limited to the disposal of narcotics, explosives, hazardous materials, and weapons.
• Responsible for organizing and documenting temporary release and return of property and evidence for court, crime lab analysis, and investigative use, including personally transferring property and evidence to various agencies such as CBI.
• Acts as a liaison between the Sheriff's Office and other agencies, including other law enforcement, courts, and attorneys, as needed in the judicial process, including testifying in court cases relevant to the "Chain of Custody."
• Responsible for providing all copies of evidence to the DA's Office, including but not limited to CDs, DVDs, audio and video tapes, and copies of photographs and any other media as needed for discovery.
• Assists the Sheriff, Captains, Lieutenant, and Sergeants, including CCIC terminal duties, and any administrative duties, on an as-needed basis.

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS:

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE / EDUCATION

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Within the first year of employment, attend and become IAPE (International Association of Property and Evidence) certified in a related property and evidence course(s).
• Within the first year of employment, attend the 40-hour CAPET (Colorado Association Property and Evidence Technicians) training.
• Requires knowledge and ability to handle routine and special tasks with general assistance in the full range of job duties.
• Must be experienced in office practices.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Knowledge of principles of criminal justice and ability to learn property and evidence operations procedures.
• Skill in developing and implementing new strategies and procedures. Skill in using computers, specifically in a PC, Windows-based operating environment. Knowledge of computerized information systems used in law enforcement applications.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to investigate and analyze information to draw conclusions and solve problems.
• Ability to develop, plan, and implement goals. Must be skilled in data entry and typing, dealing with the general public, and recognizing and maintaining confidential information.
• Must be able to work under pressure of deadlines and maintain calm in stressful situations.
• Must be able to deal with defiant, disruptive, or injudicious subjects.
• Ability to multi-task. Must be able to read, write, and speak the English language.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must pass a background check and have a clear police record.
• Conviction Record: Have no felony convictions.
• Must have a working telephone – can be either cell or home phone.
• Must have a valid Colorado Driver's License
• Required legal authorization to work -
• United States citizenship or legal authorization to work in the United States

SUPERVISORY:

There are no supervisory duties related to this position.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Must be able to perform the following physical activities: standing, walking, sitting, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling. Must be physically able to lift to 40 pounds. Must reach overhead and bend down to retrieve items and documents from various locations. Must be able to climb ladders and step stools. Hearing voice conversation is essential to safe and effective job performance—clear vision at 20 inches or less and up to 20 feet or more. WORK ENVIRONMENT Work is performed in an office environment and at crime scenes, possibly anywhere in the county. These environments may involve contact with inmates, arrestees, and other subjects of similar nature. Hazardous circumstances are possible due to the risk of transmitted biohazards and the possibility of disturbances that threaten life or cause bodily harm. Basic interaction includes hand-to-hand exchanges of documents and other items and face-to-face verbal communication. SHA WARNING: This position has been determined to be a HIGH exposure risk to biohazards associated with blood-borne pathogens HIV (aids), HBV (hepatitis B) virus, and air-borne transmissions of TB (tuberculosis). Exposure to a biohazard may result in severe illness or death. Vaccination may be required to prevent or treat exposures to biohazards.

POSSIBLE HEALTH RISKS SPECIFIC TO THIS POSITION

N/A

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of requirements, duties and responsibilities. Clear Creek County provides reasonable job-related accommodations for disabled persons.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of requirements, duties and responsibilities. Clear Creek County provides reasonable job-related accommodations for disabled persons.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c).