When we go into an agency to assess their forensic capabilities there are numerous areas that need to be addressed. However, several are critical. Those areas include: system of evidence and crime scene processing, forensic personnel, forensic training, forensic equipment and evidence storage facilities. Improving an agency's forensic effectiveness can vary greatly. Some just need help with better organizational methods, some may need a major overhaul and some may need to start over from scratch.

Assessing Agency Evidence Storage Areas

Improving an agency's evidence storage area can vary tremendously. Often, small and medium size agencies are restricted by budget constraints. However, in today's CSI environment, the public and courts are very intolerant of ineffective evidence storage areas. Some of the critical issues involving evidence rooms are: security methods, access control, documentation and packaging, refrigeration, climate control and inventory. Regardless of storage area size, whether a closet or a warehouse, they each share the same basic requirements.

Example:
Charlottesville Virginia Police Department's before and after views of the evidence storage area (click on the photos for a larger view).