Physical Evidence Technician

Duties

This is the basic level where incumbents perform routine clerical and semi-technical work, in a training status, involving the receipt, routing, storage and disposition of physical evidence, preparation of laboratory reports, and maintenance of laboratory files.

Major Work Duties

• Receives physical evidence; logs information into computerized laboratory information management system (LIMS); routes evidence to appropriate unit; prepares evidence for return to submitting agencies once analysis is completed. Transfer evidence to other evidence facilities, when needed.
• Maintains chain of custody of evidence while items are in individual’s possession; maintains orderliness of work areas and evidence property rooms.
• Receives and logs subpoenas for Criminalistics employees; receives and properly routs telephone calls from attorneys and law enforcement agencies; performs clerical tasks such as faxing/mailing laboratory reports, when necessary.
• Performs administrative tasks associated with Northeast Regional Lab (NERL) including answering incoming calls to NERL, receives and routes visitors, maintaining visitor logs.
• Receives controlled substances/contraband for authorized destruction.

Typical Functions

• Receive criminal case physical evidence examining it for proper seal, packaging, and labeling and checking for completeness of forms; logs evidence into the forensic laboratory computerized case management system using necessary data input codes and other information; routes evidence to proper laboratory units; logs evidence in and out of the property rooms, maintaining the accountability of the evidence from initial receipt to final disposition with complete written and electronic documentation; prepares receipts and pulls evidence to be released to submitting agencies.
• Maintains custody of criminal evidence in an orderly, safe and secure manner, meeting laboratory policy and safety guidelines.
• Retrieves, documents and sorts evidence for destruction.
• Testifies in court as required regarding chain of custody of evidence.
• Compiles and types criminalistic analytical reports from analyst's notes, drafts and submittal forms.
• Processes and logs subpoenas for the analysts; identifies the laboratory case number and names of all analysts on a case; notifies law enforcement agencies by letter or phone when conflicts occur.
• Performs routine clerical work such as mail activities, typing letters and memos, photocopying, faxing, filing; maintain required paperwork and assist in special projects as assigned.
• Serves as receptionist or relief as required; answers phones, takes messages; receives and routes visitors and law enforcement officers.
• Prepares contraband for legal destruction.
• Receives, routes and secures for destruction surrendered out-of-date pharmaceuticals from health care facilities and pharmacies; verifies inventory counts for accuracy, completes and returns the inventory forms; maintains required logs and related documentation.
• Operates, maintains and cleans incinerators used for drug destruction.
• Transports evidence between OSBI laboratories; returns evidence by personal delivery to submitting law enforcement agencies.

 Earn a Degree in Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Science, or Computer Forensics

Requirements

Education and Experience

• Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of one year of clerical experience involving typing or keyboarding; or an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting the completion of thirty semester hours from an accredited college or university for the required experience.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Competencies

• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of routine recordkeeping; of proper English usage; of report writing; of proper inventory techniques and procedures; of proper office and telephone decorum. Skill is required to type accurately from plain copy at a rate of forty words per minute. Ability is required to perform clerical office tasks in organizing files; to handle and move physical items such as envelopes and boxes; to follow oral and written instructions; to handle confidential work with tact and discretion; and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Special Requirements

• Applicants must be willing and able to fulfill all job related travel normally associated with this position. Some agencies may have determined positions in this job family to be safety sensitive as defined by 63 O.S § 427.8.
• Successful applicants must be willing to submit to a drug screen, polygraph examination, psychological evaluation (commissioned positions only), and a thorough background investigation. Certain events automatically disqualify an applicant, such as, felony conviction; admission of an undetected crime that, if known, would have been a felony charge; failure to pay federal or state income tax; positive confirmed drug urine test; illegal use of a controlled substance within certain time frames.

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