Police Department Inspection and Audit Services

Onsite Consultation

The service we provide will be tailored to address specific concerns of your agency and can include: Snapshot of deficiencies with an action plan to address common errors.

Recommendations to maximize outcomes of a formal evidence audit such as:

• Organization of the property room
• Proper storage methods
• Updates to policy and procedure
• Adherence to chain of custody and documentation.

Preview of how an audit is conducted.

Pre-audit assessment: Ideal for the agency that has not adhered to a formalized audit process, which includes a report outlining a custom action plan that gives the agency a step-by-step plan to prepare for an audit and purging of property

Evidence Audits

Why are evidence audits necessary? To insulate a newly appointed chief from pre-existing deficiencies in the property evidence room.

• To protect both outgoing and incoming personnel from potential allegations of theft, fraud or mismanagement of evidence.
• To satisfy the public's expectation of transparency in the property evidence function.
• States throughout New England are implementing laws that require police agencies to conduct yearly audits.
• When should an evidence audit be performed? Within 90 days of a change in leadership at the top of a law enforcement organization.
• Immediately after any change in personnel responsible for the property evidence function.
• Annually Policy Development Analysis of current policies and procedures. Evaluate property evidence and personnel's adherence to the agency's policies and procedures. Recommendations to elevate policies and practices to current professional standards. Evidence Room Organization as part of the audit process, we assess several areas that address evidence room organization to include:
• Layout of an agency's property evidence room in order to maximize space.
• Security and handling of high risk items; e.g. money, guns, drugs, jewelry.
  Potential hazards to personnel security of the premises. Integrity
  of evidence handling processes.

All evidence rooms must have key elements to function properly. Regardless of
an agency's size or space constraints, the resources available to an agency
may be utilized in an efficient manner.