|
work areas should be provided with an integral sink. The custodians / technicians will finalize the case identification for the articles
<br />and prepare them for storage, On many occasions, the evidence will need to be further examined by the technicians or crime scene
<br />analysts. This requires very specialized lab areas with particular concern to handling of hazardous and bio-hazardous materials, A
<br />vehicle evidence bay is often located adjacent to a vehicle sallyport area of the facility, The vehicle evidence bays must follow the
<br />same regulatory guidelines as other areas associated with the storage and processing of articles of property and evidence, The bays
<br />are typically sized a minimum of 20-feet-wide to accommodate personnel access on both sides of a vehicle with the doors open, They
<br />are outfitted with such components as epoxy quartz chemical -resistant flooring surfaces, floor drains tied into an oil -water separator,
<br />pull -down electrical reels and low -velocity air distribution systems. Dual means of access control devices to monitor who has accessed
<br />these areas, and CCTV systems (closed circuit television cameras) used to record in color/digital format anyone occupying these
<br />spaces, are also included, High performance artificial lighting must be provided.
<br />(3) Holding/Storage: The storage of property and evidence is as critical as the processing, Locating the articles relies on the accurate
<br />identification and recording of the pertinent case information associated with each article, The storage of the various types of articles
<br />is often segregated into the following definitions: bulk evidence, cash / valuables, narcotics, weapons, cold -case files, capital case files,
<br />DNA evidence, etc, All holding areas must be equipped with dual -recording access control devices to meet law enforcement (CALEA)
<br />Accreditation standards. Likewise, any visitor to these areas must have their personal identification checked and verified, their times
<br />documented when entering and leaving, and signed by a witness, typically the custodian/technician working this area, High density
<br />storage systems are often utilized to maximize the use of these areas, High volume ceilings shall be provided to accommodate the
<br />storage systems,
<br />(4) Support Infrastructure: The property and evidence areas of any law enforcement agency pose one of the highest areas of potential
<br />liability for that agency, The entire compound of the area must be contained within a security perimeter constructed out of tamper-
<br />proof (solid concrete walls) and ceilings, or of similarly secured construction, The area is provided air conditioning systems designed
<br />for 100% exhaust and 100% make-up fresh air to ensure that none of the air from these areas is recycled into the main facility due to
<br />the concern of airborne pathogens that may be contained within the articles being stored or processed, Any HVAC ductwork which
<br />breaches the perimeter of this area that is larger than 6 inches in diameter should be installed with No, 5 steel reinforcing bars (5/8"
<br />diameter) at 4 inches on center and embedded into the concrete at both ends no less than four inches on each side, The accessibility
<br />to the area is regimentally documented at both entering and exiting by all individuals, This is easily accommodated through the use
<br />of sophisticated dual -recording access control devices as previously noted. A variety of technology is available such as fob readers,
<br />proximity cards, key pads, biometric readers, or a combination thereof. Strict adherence to these protocols and the accreditation
<br />standards will confirm an agency maintains the sanctity of custody, Our team will ensure that these four critical components are
<br />properly planned for and designed,
<br />CALEA / CFA I CPTED STANDARDS I CALEA accreditation is recognized asa means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism
<br />in many law enforcement agencies and their facilities. Several states have followed CALEA and established an accreditation commission.
<br />Generally, the goals of accreditation and the process follow the National Accreditation Program model, The Commission for Florida
<br />Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) was formed through the combined efforts of several law enforcement agencies in Florida
<br />for the purpose of providing member agencies a network of Law Enforcement professionals encouraging communication, mutual
<br />cooperation, support, and sharing of resources. CFA provides all members with current relative information pertaining to National and
<br />State Accreditation, Although the aim of an accreditation program is to enhance the entire spectrum of professional law enforcement
<br />services, the facilities available to an agency have a significant impact on success, and more importantly, protects the municipal entity
<br />from potentially frivolous litigation. An agency requires adequate and appropriate space for personnel to conduct their work, Certain
<br />areas of the facility are assessed and continually undergo scrutiny of how it protects the interests of the department, its personnel, and
<br />the citizens coming into contact within the facility. Areas which may be evaluated include the records unit, training, patrol, property
<br />and evidence, vehicle sally port and detention, hazardous materials storage, criminal investigations, intake and holding, and dispatch,
<br />Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is defined as a multi -disciplinary approach to deterring criminal behavior
<br />through environmental design. CPTED strategies rely upon the ability to influence offender decisions that precede criminal acts by
<br />affecting the built, social, and administrative environment, Our team's Principal in Charge, Ian Reeves, AIA, IALEP, ICA, has undergone
<br />significant training and is an expert in both CPTED and CALEA design standards; ADG is often contracted specifically because of his
<br />knowledge and experience with facility design that meets or exceeds accreditation requirements standards, Subsequently, he was
<br />12
<br />
|