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Property and Evidence Video Class
(Full Management Cass, Audits and Inventory or Security)
and receive a free copy of
Property and Evidence By The Book
Download Online - with purchase
a $29 Value PURCHASE WILL PROVIDE LINK TO DOWNLOAD PAGE
Valid through 12/31/13
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Ask Joe!
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Each month, IAPE's primary instructor, Joe Latta, answers one of your questions. Consider writing us if you have a question that needs an answer. We would love to hear from you. To submit a question for Joe to answer here, use our Contact Us page.
Question:
Dear Joe:
I was a recent participant in your class held in Polk County Florida. I had asked you a question in regards to placing evidence in Space Bags and vacuum sealing them. I wanted to know if that would compromise the evidence placed in the bag suc h as
drugs or maybe a sweatshirt with DNA.
Keep in mind, I work at the Clerk of Courts, so I get the evidence after it has already been tested and submitted in the trial. My job is to preserve it and keep it until the sentence is concluded in case of appeal. I would appreciate any information you can give me on the matter.
Thank you very much
Shannon In Florida
Answer
Dear Shannon in Florida,
As you may recall from an earlier newsletter, I had the opportunity to work on a two year project with NIJ and NIST in the development of The Biological Evidence Preservation Handbook - Best Practices for Evidence Handler. With the contacts that I made with this project I sent your inquiry to three folks from the scientific community and I have included their responses.
"regarding packaging of biological evidence in plastic with vacuum sealing - No Go
! Virtually all drug evidence (botanicas) of all description and even powders) should not be retained in this way either because of their water content and thus the opportunity for degradation (mold, liquefaction, etc)."
"I wouldn't - even though the lab may have already tested it, the defense could at some point request to conduct their own test and they could then challenge the integrity of the evidence".
"I suspect the use of plastic and vacuum sealing is for space considerations. The evidence may still require additional testing when appeals are brought forth at a future date therefore from our working group discussions, this evidence should be packaged in paper bags".
"Vacuum sealing and plastic containers is not condoned".
"Since our group was focused on biological evidence, the drug packaging would only fall into our auspice if biological material is suspected on the original wrapping".
As you can see the scientific world has some very convincing arguments for not using Space Bags. However, the question was related to DNA and possible later testing. Do we have evidence in our property rooms where DNA may not be an issue and possibly the bags could be an option. For example you are retaining a large quantify of a transients clothing, while they are serving time in jail.
Regards,
Joe Latta
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YOU DON'T WANT THIS HEADLINE
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DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET ALL BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE TESTED - ESPECIALLY SEXUAL KITS!
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News Story of the Month
Cleveland's police chief explains backlog in DNA testing involving rape kits
CLEVELAND - Cleveland's police chief appeared before the Public Safety Committee of Cleveland City Council Wednesday to explain how thousands of rape kits containing DNA evidence went untested for years.
Rape kits are obtained from victims of sexual assaults and can contain vital DNA evidence that can help link rape suspects to sexual assaults.
Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath defended his department's handling of rape kits saying, "DNA testing was not even the norm in Ohio until 2002."
An exclusive 5 On Your Side investigation last February revealed that Cleveland was among other cities across Ohio that stored rape kits on police department shelves for years without testing.
Since then, Cleveland has submitted 2,164 rape kits for testing that have resulted in 61 indictments by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office.
McGrath told the committee that, in January 2010, he directed that all rape kits be submitted for testing to a state crime lab.
McGrath said that led to a backlog of testing until a new sexual assault initiative was launched by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.
"So, in 2012, when Attorney General Mike DeWine came on board, he was made aware of this and he took the necessary measures to insure that he had the equipment and the staffing to test these particular kits," said McGrath.
McGrath said he has also dedicated four police detectives to a special cold-case unit operated by the prosecutor's office.
Cleveland police estimate another 1,836 rape kits will ultimately be sent for testing. A must watch video
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PropertyRoom.com
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IAPE SPONSORS
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IAPE continues its relationships with valuable and unique resources for our profession. Each month we will introduce you to companies who offer products and services to improve evidence handling, processes and best practices.
PropertyRoom.com works with law enforcement, local and state governments nationwide to provide full-service auction outsourcing for seized, found, stolen, recovered and surplus items. The company's founders, strategic team and advisory board have a combined 100+ years of law enforcement experience, enabling them to best anticipate and respond to the needs of their agency partners.
PropertyRoom.com will pick-up, test, clean, appraise, photograph and write winning descriptions of law enforcement property before listing on their online auctions. They will handle the packing, shipping, reporting, auditing and reconciliation review and send checks to municipalities monthly.
They can now help you auction cars and other fleet assets as well.
Visit them now PropertyRoom.com
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Property & Evidence By the Book
2nd edition
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 The only book of its kind. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Managing a Property and Evidence Room ORDER NOWSpecial Prices For Members! |
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Property & Evidence FORMS By the Book
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 Over 25 property room forms that can be modified by you, the property room professionals! PROPERTY AND EVIDENCEFORMS BY THE BOOK are completely modifiable in Microsoft Word. The forms are also saved in a PDF format that provides the user the ability to fill in the boxes and use immediately
Special Prices For Members !
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Photo of the Month
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Bikes In Restroom - Bad!
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Photo of the Month
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Bikes - Good!
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BE ON THE LOOK OUT  2014 MEMBERSHIP Dues will remain the same at $50
First notice will be emailed by
Mid December
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Become Accredited!
All new for 2013
IAPE Property & Evidence Room Accreditation
Increase your value!
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2013 - 2014 Class Schedule
In 2013 more than 1/2 of the classes were Sold Out!
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Burbank, CA
December 3 - 4, 2013
(sold out)
Fort Collins, CO
December 9 - 10 , 2013
(5 seats left)
Classes being Scheduled
2014 Classes Las Vegas, NV
February 24 - 25, 2014
Richmond, VA
March 12 - 13, 2014 Limited Space
Ocean View, DE
March 26 - 27 2014 Limited Space
Plainfield, IN
April 8 - 9, 2014 Fort Worth, TX
April 23 - 24, 2014 (corrected date) Nashville, Tn April 30 - May 1, 2014
Allegheny Co, PA May 14 - 15, 2014 Miami, FL
May 21 - 22, 2014 Springfield, IL
June 18 - 19, 2014, June 25 - 26, 2014 Overland Park, KS
July 15 - 16, 2014 Madison, WI
July 29 - 30, 2014 South San Francisco
August 5 - 6, 2014 Meridian, OH August 19 - 20, 2014Anchorage, AL
Summer, 2014 Columbia, SC
September 9 - 10, 2014 West Des Moines, IA
September 24 - 25 2014
Minneapolis, MN October 1 - 2, 2014
Sanford, ME
October 7 - 8, 2014
Portland, OR
November 4 - 5, 2014
Burbank, CA
December 2014 TBA and
Much More Coming
Call for details on sponsoring a class! Can't Travel?
 IAPE also offers online training! * Save on lodging
* Save on meals
* Save on gas
Click to find out more about our acclaimed property and evidence management training classes
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Visit our Sponsor
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Where in the World
is Joe Today?
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 | | Click the button to find out where Joe is traveling and keep up to date with current happenings! |
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View our eNews Archive
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Got a Job?
Need a Job?
IAPE is delighted to announce that we have a new job site for posting a job announcement or checking possible job opportunities.
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View past issues of Evidence Log Magazine
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Become Accredited!
All new for 2013
IAPE Property & Evidence Room Accreditation
Increase your value!
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