A recent audit of the Department of Public Safety Evidence Controls found inadequate control and accountability over the receipt and storage of evidence.

In its audit, OPA found that:

1. the Evidence Custodian did not always receive evidence in a timely manner and, in some instances, it could not be determined when evidence was received;
2. obtaining officers did not always comply with DPS procedures for documenting evidence;
3. DPS did not have a uniform method for temporarily storing/securing evidence prior to transferring/relinquishing it to the Evidence Custodian;
4. DPS improperly handled and disposed of drug evidence related to an incident that occurred in June 2004 during OPA’s audit fieldwork;
5. DPS evidence storage facility was structurally inadequate to prevent unauthorized entry;
6. DPS lacked an organized system for segregating and storing evidence; and
7. the Evidence Custodian performed incompatible duties. As a result, DPS weakened its accountability over in-custody evidence and increased the risk of possible destruction, theft, loss, and/or misuse of such evidence.

OPA was also concerned that the integrity of evidence may have been diminished, potentially compromising the investigative and criminal proceedings requiring such evidence.

DPS concurred with most of the audit findings and will conduct various assessments to remedy the weaknesses identified in the audit report.

View/download copy of the report.