GENERAL ORDERS LINCOLN POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: SUPPORT SERVICES
TITLE: FORENSIC UNIT
EFFECTIVE DATE: JUNE 1, 2025
REVISION DATE:
ACCREDITATION: ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE (AACOP)
APPROVAL: CHIEF DARREN E. BRITTON
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FORENSIC UNIT
802.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy provides guidelines for the proper processing, storage, security and disposition of evidence and other property. This policy also provides for the protection of the chain of custody and identifies those persons authorized to remove and/or destroy property.
802.1.1 DEFINITIONS
Definitions related to this policy include:
CID - The Lincoln Police Department Criminal Investigations Division.
I/O REPORT - A Incident/offense report made in the RMS.
RMS - The report management system used by the department to make incident/offense and arrest reports.
PROPERTY - All articles placed in secure storage within the Forensic Unit, including the following:
EVIDENCE - Items taken or recovered in the course of an investigation that may be used in the prosecution of a case, including photographs and latent fingerprints.
FOUND PROPERTY - Items found by members of the Department or the public that have no apparent evidentiary value and where the owner cannot be readily identified or contacted.
SAFEKEEPING - Items received by the Department for safekeeping, such as a firearm, and items taken for safekeeping under the authority of law.
802.2 POLICY
It is the policy of the Lincoln Police Department to process and store all property in a manner that will protect it from loss, damage or contamination, while maintaining documentation that tracks the chain of custody, the location of property and its disposition.
802.3 FORENSIC UNIT SECURITY
The Forensic Unit shall maintain secure storage and control of all property in the custody of this department. The forensic investigator(s) shall be appointed by and will be directly responsible to the Chief of Police of his or her designee. The forensic investigator(s) is/are responsible for the security and shall be held accountable for all evidentiary property in the Forensic Unit. Any property having no evidentiary value shall be stored in a secure location, upon the police department premises, as determined by the Chief of Police.
802.3.1 REFUSAL OF PROPERTY
The forensic investigator(s) has/have the obligation to refuse any piece of property that is hazardous or that has not been properly documented or packaged. Should the forensic investigator(s) refuse an item of property, he/she shall maintain secure custody of the item in a temporary property locker or other safe location and inform the submitting member's supervisor of the reason for refusal and the action required for acceptance into the Forensic Unit.
802.3.2 ACCESS
Only authorized members assigned to the Forensic Unit shall have access to property storage areas. Any individual who needs to enter a property storage area (e.g., maintenance or repair contractors) must be approved by the Chief of Police of his or her designee or the authorized designee and accompanied by the forensic investigator(s).
802.4 PROPERTY HANDLING
The member who first comes into possession of any property is generally responsible for the care, custody and control of such property until it is transferred to the forensic investigator(s) and/or processed and placed in a temporary property locker or storage area. Care shall be taken to maintain the chain of custody for all items of evidence.
802.4.1 PROCESSING AND PACKAGING
All property must be entered into RMS, under the Evidence/Stored Property section, by the responsible member prior to the member ending his/her tour of duty, unless otherwise approved by a supervisor. Members shall process and package property as follows:
(a) An RMS Evidence/Stored Property entry shall be completed describing each item. List all known information, including:
The serial number.
The owner's name.
The finder's name.
Other identifying information or markings.
(b) Each item shall be marked with the member's initials and the date processed using a method that will not damage, deface, degrade or devalue the item. Items too small or too delicate to mark should be individually packaged and labeled and the package marked with the member's initials and date.
(c) Property shall be packaged in a container suitable for its size.
(d) All property shall have an Evidence/Stored property barcode label affixed to the exterior of the packing or container in which the property is stored.
(e) The case number shall be legibly notated/written on the property tag and the container.
(f) A barcode label shall be placed on each item of property submitted directly to the forensic investigator(s) or placed in a temporary property locker. Items too large to fit in a temporary property locker may be placed in a designated storage area that can be secured from unauthorized entry.
802.4.2 EXCEPTIONAL PROCESSING
The following items require special consideration and shall be processed as follows unless special conditions dictate a reasonable deviation:
Bicycles - Bicycles and bicycle frames shall have a barcode label securely attached and should be placed in the bicycle storage area.
Biological and related items - Evidence that may contain biological samples shall be indicated as such on the items' exterior packaging by affixing a Bio-Hazard adhesive label to the packaging near, but not touching, the barcode label.
Property stained with bodily fluids, such as blood or semen, shall be air-dried in a secure location (e.g., locked drying cabinet) prior to processing.
Items of evidence collected from a crime scene that may require specific storage requirements pursuant to laboratory processing shall have such storage requirements clearly indicated on the property form.
Items that are potential biohazards shall be appropriately packaged and marked "Biohazard" to reduce the risk of exposure or contamination.
Cash - Cash shall be counted in the presence of another member. The cash shall be placed in a property envelope and initialed by both members. A supervisor shall be contacted for cash in excess of $1,000. The supervisor shall witness the count, initial and date the envelope, and specify any additional security procedures that may be necessary. If trace evidence is suspected, the cash shall be packaged separately from none suspected cash and the "type" of trace evidence suspected shall be noted.
Explosives and fireworks - Explosives will not be retained in the police facility. Fireworks that are considered stable and safe, as well as road flares or similar signaling devices, may be stored in proper containers in an area designated for storage of flammable materials.
The forensic investigator(s) is/are responsible for transporting to the fire department, on a regular basis, any fireworks or signaling devices that are not retained as evidence.
Firearms and other weapons - Firearms shall be unloaded and packaged separately from ammunition. Knife boxes shall be used to package knives. Firearms shall be unloaded and the magazine, if applicable, removed from the magazine well. All firearms shall be packaged in a firearms evidence box. No object shall be inserted through the bore or barrel of the firearm.
Sharps - Syringe tubes should be used to package syringes and needles of evidentiary value. Any other syringe shall be disposed of in the Sharps containers located in the Patrol Division.
All property shall be entered into the Evidence/Stored Property section of RMS and an Evidence/Stored Property disposition generated. This document must be signed by the releasing officer/investigator, and submitted to "Records" at the Lincoln Police Department.
802.4.3 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AND DANGEROUS DRUGS
(a) Controlled substances and dangerous drugs shall not be packaged with other property, but shall be packaged separately with a separate barcode label affixed to the exterior of the packaging.
(b) The member processing controlled substances and dangerous drugs shall retain such property in his/her possession until it is packaged, tagged, and placed in the designated controlled substances and dangerous drugs locker.
(c) Prior to packaging and if the quantity allows, a presumptive test should be made on all suspected controlled substances. If conducted, the result of the test shall be included in the RMS I/O report.
The member shall package controlled substances and dangerous drugs as follows:
(a) Maintain the property in the container in which it was seized and place it in a property envelope of appropriate size.
(b) Seal and initial the property envelope.
(d) Marijuana with any perceptible moisture content shall be loosely packaged in a paper evidence container(s) that allows for drying or shall be dried prior to storage.
802.5 PROPERTY CONTROL
The forensic investigator(s) temporarily relinquishing custody of property to another person shall record, via RMS his/her signature, the date and time the property was released, the name and signature of the person accepting custody of the property and the reason for release.
Any member receiving property shall be responsible for such property until it is returned to the Forensic Unit or released to another authorized person or entity.
The return of the property to the Forensic Unit should be recorded, via RMS chain of custody, indicating the date, the time, the name and the signature of the person who returned the property and the name and signature of the person to whom the property was returned.
802.5.1 EVIDENCE
Every time evidence is released or received, an appropriate entry, via RMS, shall be completed to maintain the chain of custody. No evidence is to be released without first receiving authorization from the Criminal Investigations supervisor and/or the assigned investigator/case agent.
The temporary release of evidence to members for investigative purposes or for court proceedings shall be via RMS, notating the date, time, and to whom it was released. Requests for items of evidence needed for court proceedings shall be submitted to the forensic investigator(s) at least two days prior to the court date.
Requests for laboratory analysis shall be completed on the appropriate lab form and submitted to the forensic investigator(s). This request may be submitted any time after the property has been processed.
802.5.2 TRANSFER OF EVIDENCE TO CRIME LABORATORY
The forensic investigator(s) releasing/transporting items of evidence for laboratory analysis must complete the required information, via RMS. The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences (AFDS) forms generated, via the ADFS website portal, shall be completed with a copy retained by the Forensic Unit.
802.5.3 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AND DANGEROUS DRUGS
The Forensic Unit of the Criminal Investigations, will be responsible for the storage, control, and destruction of all controlled substances and dangerous drugs entering into the custody of this department.
802.5.4 UNCLAIMED MONEY
The forensic investigator(s) may be requested to submit an annual report, or more frequently as directed, regarding any currency that is presumed to have been abandoned, via the chain of command to the Chief of Police.
802.6 RELEASE OF PROPERTY
The Criminal Investigations shall authorize the release of all property within the custody/secured evidence vault of the Department.
Release of property shall be made upon receipt of an authorized, RMS property release form, listing the name and address of the person to whom the property is to be released. The RMS property release form shall be signed by the authorizing supervisor or investigator and must conform to the items listed, via RMS or must specify the specific items to be released. Release of all property shall be documented via RMS.
Firearms should only be released upon presentation of valid identification and after the forensic investigator has run a criminal history on the recipient/owner to confirm legal receipt/possession of the firearm to be relinquished.
All reasonable attempts shall be made to identify the rightful owner of found property and items held for safekeeping.
Found property and property held for safekeeping shall be retained for a period of 30 days. During such period, Forensic Unit Investigators shall attempt to make reasonable efforts to identify and contact the rightful owner by telephone. The final disposition of all such property shall be fully documented via RMS.
A forensic investigator(s) shall release such property when the owner presents proper identification and an authorized property release form via RMS, has been received. The signature of the person receiving the property shall be recorded via RMS.
If the owner is not located after 30 days, the found property shall be considered abandoned. All abandoned or condemned property shall become the property of the City of Lincoln, which may ultimately be sold by the city following the appropriate laws governing such sales, or as authorized for use by the Chief of Police.
802.6.1 DISCREPANCIES
The Chief of Police of his or her designee shall be notified whenever an individual alleges that there is a shortage or discrepancy regarding his/her property, via the chain of command. The Criminal Investigations Supervisor will interview the individual making the claim of a shortage. The Criminal Investigations Supervisor shall ensure that a search for the alleged missing items is completed and shall attempt to prove or disprove the claim.
802.6.2 DISPUTED CLAIMS TO PROPERTY
Occasionally, more than one party may claim an interest in property being held by this department, and the legal rights of the parties cannot be clearly established. Such property shall not be released until one party has obtained a valid court order or establishes an undisputed right to the property.
All parties should be advised that their claims are civil. In extreme situations, legal counsel for this department should be contacted.
802.7 DESTRUCTION OR DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY
The Chief of Police of his or her designee shall ultimately approve the destruction or disposal of all property held by this department. All property not held for evidence in a pending criminal investigation or proceeding may, upon approval, be destroyed or disposed of in 30 days upon receipt of proper authorization from a Criminal Investigations Supervisor. The disposition of all property shall be entered via RMS.
The following types of property shall be destroyed or disposed of in the manner and at the time prescribed by law, unless a different disposition is ordered by a court:
Weapons or devices declared by law to be illegal to possess
Controlled substances or dangerous drugs declared by law to be illegal to possess without a legal prescription
802.7.1 BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE
Biological evidence related to a homicide shall be retained indefinitely and may only be destroyed with the written approval of the Chief of Police and the head of the applicable prosecutor's office.
Biological evidence shall be retained for a minimum period established by law or the expiration of any sentence imposed related to the evidence, whichever time period is greater. Following the retention period, notifications should be made by certified mail and should inform the recipient that the evidence will be destroyed after a date specified in the notice, unless a motion seeking an order to retain the sample is filed and served on this department within 90 days of the date of the notification. A record of all certified mail receipts shall be retained in the appropriate file. Any objection to, or motion regarding, the destruction of the biological evidence should be retained in the appropriate file and a copy forwarded to the Criminal Investigations Supervisor.
Biological evidence related to a homicide shall be retained indefinitely and may only be destroyed with the written approval of the Chief of Police and the head of the applicable prosecutor's office.
Biological evidence from an unsolved sexual assault should not be disposed of prior to expiration of the statute of limitations. Even after expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, the Criminal Investigations Supervisor should be consulted and the status of the statute of limitations shall be documented in the RMS I/O report.
A sexual assault evidence collection kit shall be retained for an additional 20 years beyond the minimum period established by law upon written request from a victim (Ala. Code § 15-23-121).
802.7.2 MARIJUANA
At the first sign of mold growth, stored marijuana shall be photographed showing the mold growth. As soon as practicable, the forensic investigator(s) shall make efforts to lawfully destroy the contaminated marijuana, in compliance with this policy. The forensic investigator(s) should consult with the member assigned to the case investigation for authorization to destroy the remaining marijuana, after taking representative samples, and should request assistance from the appropriate prosecutor in obtaining a court order for immediate destruction.
802.8 INSPECTION OF THE FORENSIC UNIT
The Criminal Investigations Supervisor shall ensure that periodic, unannounced inspections of the Forensic Unit operations and storage facilities are conducted to ensure adherence to appropriate policies and procedures. The Criminal Investigations Supervisor also shall ensure that an audit is conducted as directed by the Chief of Police.
Whenever there is a change of assignment for any member with authorized access to the Forensic Unit, an inventory of all property shall be conducted by a person who is not associated with the Forensic Unit or its function. This is to ensure that all property is accounted for and the records are correct.
These policies and operating procedures are not designed to cover every possible scenario or situation in society, but rather to define standard operating procedures for members of the Lincoln Police Department. These guidelines are subject to past, present and future judicial review. These guidelines can be amended and or repealed by the Chief of Police as necessary. The policies and procedures herein provided supersede all previous policies and orders.
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