Evidence Technician

**POSITION SUMMARY:** An employee in this position is responsible for the maintenance and control of the evidence storage room and impound lot in the Office of the Sheriff for Harnett County. This includes: receiving, logging, preserving, safeguarding, and storing of evidence received from Detectives and Deputy Sheriff’s in the course of a criminal investigation; checking evidence out of the evidence room to Detectives and court officials; returning evidence to owners; maintaining vehicles in the impound lot; and destroying evidence in accordance with North Carolina Statutes. **Hiring Range: $40,459.00-$66,756.00** **ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:** - Receives, logs, and maintains evidence maintaining the chain-of-custody. - Receives, reviews, catalogs, labels, tags, marks, packages, documents, and store submitted property and evidence. - Ensures hazardous materials in evidence are appropriately handled, identified, contained, stored, transported, tested, and disposed of according to law. - Testifies in court as required by subpoena. - Ensures all property and evidence, to include storage area, meets industry standards. - Releases evidence no longer needed to owners according to North Carolina Statutes. - Coordinates the disposal of unclaimed property, narcotics, weapons, explosives, and hazardous materials as required by Department policy and state/federal law; maintains a record of all cases that have been previously disposed of. - Obtains destruction orders and destroys evidence that is no longer needed according to North Carolina Statutes. - Researches cases and prepares court orders for all evidence/property of cases that have been disposed of and delivered to the District Attorney’s office; accesses computer information regarding case dispositions and other related information involving the proper disposition of property and evidence. - Delivers seized money to the Finance Department when applicable. - Receives, logs, and maintains vehicles in the impound lot. - Handles a variety of evidence including guns, drugs, and bodily fluids while maintaining the integrity of the evidence. - Transports evidence to the State Bureau of Investigation laboratory for processing and maintains records of such transport. - Testifies in court as required by subpoena; attends court hearings when requested by the judge in DVPO cases. - Prepares and processes paperwork for items to be sold at auction and coordinates with the Finance Office. - Coordinates with the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles on vehicles with altered vin numbers for the purpose of obtaining new vin numbers; jump starts cars as needed. - Completes criminal record searches of individuals to determine if they are eligible to possess a firearm; completes firearm traces through the national system to determine purchaser of the firearm; assists in locating the owner of property/evidence; and reviews incident and arrest reports. - Provides a brief overview of the daily routine, duties, and responsibilities of this position to the public during tours. - Provides high quality customer service; answers telephone calls and instructs callers of appropriate steps that need to be taken to retrieve their property and evidence; and directs callers to the appropriate department or employee - Performs other related duties as assigned. **MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:** - High school diploma or equivalent; - No experience required but some experience in collecting, packaging, and preserving evidence desired; - Or equivalent education and/or experience; and - Possession of a valid North Carolina driver's license. **KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:** - Knowledge of the laws related to the storage and destruction of evidence. - Knowledge of the proper handling of different types of evidence in order to maintain it in a usable state and to maintain the chain-of-custody. - Knowledge of mechanical elements of a vehicle. - Knowledge of basic firearm safety and operations.…