Evidence Technician

POSITION SUMMARY

An employee in this position is responsible for the maintenance and control of the evidence storage room and impound lot in the Office of the Sheriff for Harnett County. This includes: receiving, logging, preserving, safeguarding, and storing of evidence received from Detectives and Deputy Sheriff’s in the course of a criminal investigation; checking evidence out of the evidence room to Detectives and court officials; returning evidence to owners; maintaining vehicles in the impound lot; and destroying evidence in accordance with North Carolina Statutes.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Receives, logs, and maintains evidence maintaining the chain-of-custody.
• Receives, reviews, catalogs, labels, tags, marks, packages, documents, and store submitted property and evidence.
• Ensures hazardous materials in evidence are appropriately handled, identified, contained, stored, transported, tested, and disposed of according to law.
• Testifies in court as required by subpoena.
• Ensures all property and evidence, to include storage area, meets industry standards.
• Releases evidence no longer needed to owners according to North Carolina Statutes.
• Captures disposal of unclaimed property, narcotics, weapons, explosives, and hazardous materials as required by Department policy and state/federal law; maintains a record of all cases that have been previously disposed of.
• Obtains destruction orders and destroys evidence that is no longer needed according to North Carolina Statutes.
• Researches cases and prepares court orders for all evidence/property of cases that have been disposed of and delivered to the District Attorney’s office; accesses computer information regarding case dispositions and other related information involving the proper disposition of property and evidence.
• Delivers seized money to the Finance Department when applicable.
• Receives, logs, and maintains vehicles in the impound lot.
• Handles a variety of evidence including guns, drugs, and bodily fluids while maintaining the integrity of the evidence.
• Transports evidence to the State Bureau of Investigation laboratory for processing and maintains records of such transport.
• Testifies in court as required by subpoena; attends court hearings when requested by the judge in DVPO cases.
• Prepares and processes paperwork for items to be sold at auction and coordinates with the Finance Office.
• Coordinates with the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles on vehicles with altered vin numbers for the purpose of obtaining new vin numbers; jump starts cars as needed.
• Completes criminal record searches of individuals to determine if they are eligible to possess a firearm; completes firearm traces through the national system to determine purchaser of the firearm; assists in locating the owner of property/evidence; and reviews incident and arrest reports.
• Provides a brief overview of the daily routine, duties, and responsibilities of this position to the public during tours.
• Provides high quality customer service; answers telephone calls and instructs callers of appropriate steps that need to be taken to retrieve their property and evidence; and directs callers to the appropriate department or employee.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A high school diploma or equivalent;
• No experience required but some experience in collecting, packaging, and preserving evidence desired;
• Or equivalent education and/or experience; and
• Possession of a valid North Carolina driver's license.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES

• Knowledge of the laws related to the storage and destruction of evidence.
• Knowledge of the proper handling of different types of evidence in order to maintain it in a usable state and to maintain the chain-of-custody.
• Knowledge of mechanical elements of a vehicle.
• Knowledge of basic firearm safety and operations.
• Knowledge of blood borne pathogens and hazardous materials.
• Skill in communicating, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain accurate records of evidence from its receipt to its disposal.
• Ability to organize received evidence so that it can be located and retrieved quickly.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The employee is subject to hazards associated with law enforcement including working in both inside and outside environments and exposure to various hazards such as various atmospheric conditions, noise, vibration, and physical conditions. The employee is also subject to OSHA Standards on blood borne pathogens and may be required to work in close quarters.

HARNETT COUNTY TAKES PRIDE IN OFFERING AN EXCELLENT BENEFIT PACKAGE INCLUDING HEALTH, DENTAL, VISION AND LIFE INSURANCE, MEMBERSHIP IN THE NORTH CAROLINA LOCAL GOVERNMENT RETIREMENT, FREE HEALTH CLINIC FOR EMPLOYEES AND ANYONE IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD AND OTHER BENEFITS. TO SEE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BENEFITS OFFERED BY HARNETT COUNTY, CLICK HERE.