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<p>Public Safety departments across the country are reinforcing their facilities to better support their populations. Driven by migrating citizens, rising crime rates, and a need for advanced security solutions in various industries and communities, the global public safety and security market is expected to grow approximately 7.2% by 2028 – according to the Market Research Network.</p>
<p>Based on information gathered from those we’ve interacted with at tradeshows, site visits, and in everyday interactions, these projections will appear to hold true within the North American market. In the information presented below, we’ll share the insight we gained from attending industry tradeshows and meeting with public safety professionals, as well as ways that our innovative storage solutions and design experience can help address their growing needs.</p>
<h3>Fighting Fire With Storage</h3>
<p>Our first stop on the tradeshow trail was at the <a href="https://www.fhstationdesign.com/" target="_blank">Station Design Conference</a> in St. Louis, Missouri. This year’s show welcomed 66 exhibitors, all dedicated to bringing the latest and greatest public safety solutions to the more than 600 attendees on hand.</p>
<p>While interacting with attendees, we uncovered that most – approximately 75% – were associated with a fire department, and that finding effective storage solutions for their wide array of personal and professional gear is an ongoing need and challenge. Furthermore, many of these individuals stated they will have projects that will either come to completion or be well on their way there in the next 2-3 years.</p>
<h2>Guns, Tack, Lockers – Our Version of GTL in Jersey</h2>
<p>More than 6,700 attendees made the trip to Atlantic City for this year’s <a href="https://www.police-security.com/" target="_blank">Police Security Expo</a> seeking out the latest and greatest advancements in public safety. Spacesaver was among the 400-plus exhibitors, many of which reported a heavy focus on new construction from their on-site communications.</p>
<p>Most attendees we spoke to have a project either in mind or in the works that they were looking for support on. A strong majority of the new developments seemed to be occurring in the Tri-State region – which was not a surprise based on the show’s east coast location. Beyond the focus on new construction, some attendees expressed a need for more comprehensive evidence storage and gun locker options.</p>
<h3>If You Design It, They May Stay</h3>
<p>Retention has become the biggest factor driving upgrades/additions for police departments across the nation. Stations are investing an increasing amount of funds and resources into hiring and training new officers and are adding varying accommodations including customized duty lockers to keep them within their department.</p>
<p>Here are three of the leading trends we are seeing in the market, all of which we believe will continue throughout the remainder of the year:</p>
<ul>
<li>Facilitating proper storage of and access to new technology will set departments apart from competing options</li>
<li>Police station design experts will favor turnkey, all-encompassing solutions intended to optimize available floor space and streamline processes</li>
<li>Joint facilities between police and fire departments will be the preferred option for city planners, in that they allow all public services to be housed under one roof and create a more welcoming environment for community members to utilize these valuable assets</li>
</ul>

An Arresting Report On Public Safety

Spacesaver provides a twenty on the progress of the market.

<p>“Defending truth is not something one does out of a sense of duty or to allay guilt complexes, but is a reward in itself.” This quote from Simone de Beauvior – a French writer who worked tirelessly to ensure that all people be treated as equals and that laws, customs, and education were altered to reflect this idea – is a fitting representation of the value of proper evidence storage. From the tools, systems, and processes featured within evidence rooms to the individuals who utilize them, the collective goal is to preserve and protect the truth each piece of evidence holds until it is called upon.</p>
<p>The experts at Spacesaver’s headquarters in Fort Atkinson, WI, and its network of local consultants throughout the country know that even the smallest discrepancy can have a huge impact on the result of an investigation. Because of this, we take the time to ensure that your evidence room and its supporting solutions are designed, manufactured, and maintained to the exact specifications necessary for the items entrusted in your care.</p>
In our previous evidence series blogs, we covered the evolution of evidence and how intake and temporary storage solutions play a vital role in the legal process. In this edition, we will focus on the systems that technicians rely on to help maintain the chain of custody and integrity of processed evidence and property recovered from crime scenes.
<h2>Prepared for All Possibilities</h2>
<p>As we learned in the last installment, evidence can come in many shapes, sizes, and forms that require a variety of storage solutions with specific functionality. While many of these solutions work for these items in the short-term, new evidence continues to arrive, forcing technicians to employ systems that can provide longer-term preservation. Let’s take a look at a few the solutions Spacesaver offers for evidence rooms and how they play a pivotal role in processing justice.</p>
<h3>Getting Your Stories Straight</h3>
<p>Your department puts a great deal of effort into the creation and administration of processes that focus on the flawless handling of evidence. That said, our experts are dedicated to providing systems designed and manufactured in the USA to meet, if not exceed, these standards no matter what floor your evidence room may be located on or how it is arranged.</p>
<p>Starting with a no-cost, on-site assessment of your current space and future needs, our local consultants can create a storage configuration that maximizes your available space and operational efficiency. From there, our certified installers will set up your systems to exact specifications required and support them throughout their useful life. </p>
<h3>Creating a Room with a View</h3>
<p>There are two sides to every story. A phrase that certainly rings true in the case of Spacesaver’s Pass-Thru Evidence Lockers. On one side, you have an officer or public safety official looking to enter evidence they’ve secured for processing into an assigned locker. On the other side, a trained and certified evidence technician ready to receive, process, and store these items until they are ready for use.</p>
<p>One key difference between the two participants is that the technician’s full-size rear door allows them access to efficiently remove all stored items and quickly reset the locker openings for continued use. With this resolute and secured access, this individual can apply all the time and care necessary to ensure each item is as protected as it is accessible.</p>
<h3>Amplifying Your Audit Process</h3>
<p>The flow of items into an evidence room tends to be neither constant nor consistent. Depending on the events of the day and court docket, technicians may see an influx or outflow of pieces and need to be able to address and account for each specific event.</p>
<p>Spacesaver’s High-Density Mobile Systems help evidence storage technicians maximize capacity, increase access, and preserve the integrity of highly sensitive stored materials. Utilizing specialized shelving, drawers, and lockers, technicians are able to secure evidence of all forms in less space, saving space for future items. One additional benefit of the systems is their ability to expedite the audit process by offering a clear and accessible path to desired pieces.</p>
<h3>Keeping Supplies Close at Hand</h3>
<p>While much of the attention is put on the pieces associated with cases in process, in order to effectively categorize materials, evidence managers must maintain an adequate supply of boxes, tape, and other packaging supplies that are crucial to maintaining the chain of custody.</p>
<p>In order to ensure that the departments never run out of these often overlooked but always needed supplies, Spacesaver offers a range of static and mobile storage systems ranging from 4-Post and Case-Type Shelving, Flexible Shelving units to FrameWRX® bin storage, each designed to promote accountability and access for these vital supporting items.</p>
<h2>Confirming Litigation</h2>
<p>Spacesaver has been helping departments save space, improve security, and preserve justice for almost 50 years. Contact us to learn more about our evidence lockers and other secure storage solutions, and to get a quote from your local Spacesaver consultant.</p>

Room For Eliminating Interpretation

Spacesaver provides strong evidence for air-tight effects.

<p><i>“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”</i> This quote from the second President of the United States, John Adams, outlines the vital role evidence collection plays in determining fault within criminal cases. Without indisputable scientific evidence, critical pieces of an incident’s story can be omitted, presenting an incomplete picture of what truly occurred during the moment in question.</p>
<p>Spacesaver knows the value of evidence collection and storage and reflects that value in the evidence storage systems we manufacture at our headquarters in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Monitored and tracked from the moment it is collected, the integrity of each piece of evidence must be preserved and this fact is a leading consideration in every system and component we deliver.</p>
<p>In our previous evidence blog, we covered the origins of evidence storage. In the examples listed below, we will focus on solutions designed to support the initial stage of evidence storage, which occurs at intake and leads up to its use in the judicial process.</p>
<h2>A Fit for Each Case</h2>
<p>When bringing a suspect in for processing, officers will search their person and possessions to identify and categorize private and personal items. Some of these items, are determined to be relevant to a potential case and must be preserved in their exact condition for processing. And, as they may range in state and value, several storage options must be at the ready for use by officers. Let’s take a look at a few of these different intake and temporary/short-term storage solutions.</p>
<h4>Refrigerated Evidence Locker</h4>
<p>Specifically engineered for storing perishable items that must remain within a consistent temperature range, our large and small sized refrigerated evidence lockers are ideal for short-term and long-term use, and can be integrated into existing evidence locker banks.</p>
<h4>Narcotics Evidence Locker</h4>
<p>Spacesaver’s Narcotics Evidence Locker is designed to provide extra security for a police department’s drug evidence collection and storage needs. In addition, it can be connected with its HVAC system to reduce odor, improve air quality, and protect technicians from safety hazards.</p>
<h4>Weapons Evidence Locker</h4>
<p>Spacesaver’s Weapons Evidence Locker combines all the essential weapons storage features your police department needs with the double-security standards required by the industry. Providing all of this, in a more space- and cost-efficient solution.</p>
<h2>Local Solutions for Your Community</h2>
<p>No matter what shape, size, or form your evidence presents itself in, Spacesaver has the expertise and solutions to preserve it and the safety of your community. Supported by an extensive network of expert local consultants and installers, our evidence storage systems keep the chain of custody secure from intake and beyond.</p>
<h3>Securing the Burden of Proof</h3>
<p>Spacesaver has been helping departments save space, improve security, and preserve justice for almost 50 years. Contact us to learn more about our evidence lockers and other secure storage solutions, and to get a quote from your local Spacesaver consultant.</p>

How to Store Different Types of Evidence

Unwavering evidence preservation with Spacesaver’s storage solutions.

<h2>A Need for Proportionate Patrolling</h2>
<p>Driven by its diversity and the strength of its industries, the Dallas-Fort Worth area has experienced year-over-year population growth. An unfortunate result of this increase in residents is a proportionate rise in the number of crimes that are committed, which the city of Garland – a northeast suburb of Dallas – was distinctly noticing. So, in order to appropriately uphold the health and safety of this growing community, police precincts and officers were added to the city’s public services.</p>
<p>As these additional officers began to enforce rules and regulations within Garland, city officials noticed that though the percentage of crimes per capita was diminishing, collected evidence was piling up in the city’s limited evidence storage space. It was clear that a more substantial solution was needed to handle the caseload not only of cases currently in process, but of those to come.</p>
<h3>Investigating All Possible Solutions</h3>
<p>Backed with funding from a bond program, city planners sought out in late 2019 to explore design solutions for their projected warehouse that would be dedicated solely to evidence storage. To identify “must haves” for the new facility, they visited several existing evidence storage buildings. Through these trips, planners identified key design components that would help guide the building process and set parameters for the facility.</p>
<p>One of the facilities they visited featured Spacesaver’s lineup of public safety solutions, whose features aligned perfectly with their goal to improve evidence processing, provide space to meet new storage and handling standards, boost efficiency, and introduce effective evidence-handling controls. From this tour, officials were confident they had found a partner to help them design, build, outfit, and maintain solutions for their new facility. Solutions that – based on Spacesaver’s reputation of providing quality public safety systems – would provide climate-controlled storage and allow for complete knowledge of and access to stored materials, with additional room to support emerging digital evidence storage requirements.</p>
<h3>Reinforcing The Storage Squad</h3>
<p>The Garland Police Property Facility (completed in August of 2022) encompasses approximately 18,000 SF of space, which is almost twice as large as their former property and evidence building. Because Spacesaver was brought in during the initial stages of the two-year design and build process, we were able to work in concert with the general contractor and architect to ensure each unique storage space was designed to offer maximum capacity and functionality for years to come.</p>
<p>Due to the varying shapes, sizes, and physical forms of the evidence, a wide array of Spacesaver storage solutions were employed to safely and securely house the collected evidence. For larger and longer-term items, the warehouse uses our ActivRAC high-density mobile shelving (HDMS) systems that are mounted on recessed rails; a process that was made easier because of our ability to provide insight in the planning stage.</p>
<p>Knowing that the most important consideration with evidence storage is preserving the chain of custody, we provided several evidence locker solutions to accommodate their needs.</p>
<ul>
<li>Our Pass-Thru lockers allow officers to deposit evidence on one side of the wall, where it is held secure until a technician on the other side of the wall is ready to process it..</li>
<li>Similarly, our Non-Pass-Thru lockers are used to store evidence that needs to be secured but can easily be accessed to be used in court or returned to its rightful owner..</li>
<li>For evidence whose temperature needs to be regulated to be preserved in the exact state it was collected, we installed refrigerated evidence lockers in the facility..</li>
<li>As some pieces of evidence – drugs, weapons, high-value items – brought into the facility would require an extra layer of securing and transparency, our ControLoc® mechanism was added to select doors, limiting access to authorized personnel with assigned codes.</li>
</ul>
<p>In the end, the new facility will serve as a valuable resource to both the police department and the community as a whole. Not only will it allow for increased capacity and efficiency in storing current and future evidence, but it will be able to accommodate advancement in the technology and processes they use to serve their community.</p>
<h5>Unaffected Evidence Storage</h5>
<p>Spacesaver has been providing trusted solutions for police departments to save space, improve security, and preserve justice for almost 50 years. Contact us to learn more about our evidence storage solutions, and the value a no-obligation, on-site assessment from your local Spacesaver consultant can bring to your community.</p>

Compiling Evidence for a Safe Community

Spacesaver’s evidence storage solutions preserve law and order.

<p>“A hundred suspicions don’t make a proof.” – Fyodor Dostoevsky. A fitting excerpt from Crime and Punishment referencing the inherent instability of human nature, and how its validity is no match for that of substantiated physical evidence.</p>
<p>Though this literary work was published in 1866, the statement still holds true in today’s judicial system. Physical evidence is key in determining how a crime was committed, who was involved in the crime, and, most importantly, who wasn’t. By maintaining an undisputed chain of evidence from crime scene collection to entry into the court’s record, the letter of the law is clearly visible for all participants in determining the innocence or guilt of each defendant. Let’s take a look at the evolution of evidence storage systems over the years, as well as the many forms of evidence collected by officers of the law.</p>
<h3>The Origin of Evidence Collection</h3>
<p>According to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/" target="_blank">Britannica.com</a>, the first police crime lab was established in 1910 in Lyon, France and was based on Edmond Locard’s theory that it is impossible to escape a crime scene without leaving some form of evidence. Knowing the value physical evidence would hold in identifying and prosecuting the perpetrator of the crime, the concept of maintaining a secure chain of evidence was established.</p>
<p>Early evidence storage systems consisted of boxes and/or bags made of varied materials that housed the entirety of data collected at the scene in one receptacle. As technology and research progressed, we learned that not all evidence is equal and should be handled on a piece-by-piece basis.</p>
<p>Today’s <a href=/products/lockers/evidence-locker">evidence storage systems</a> are designed to accommodate the state of matter and sensitivity of each piece of evidence. From temperature control to weapons safety, the optimal preservation of these vital supporting materials can mean the difference between guilt and innocence. Let’s take a closer look at the types of evidence officers  encounter when on the job.</p>
<h3>Evidence In All Shapes, Sizes, and Forms</h3>
<p>There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all punishment. Each infraction carries its own set of criteria used to determine the severity of the penalty, much of which is determined by the evidence that accompanies the arresting officer’s account of the situation. This evidence could display as a weapon, a narcotic, a fluid, or even a method of digital communication in quantities and dimensions that run the gamut. And much like the resulting punishment, the method of storage used to secure these materials is unique to each occurrence.</p>
<p>As previously mentioned, maintaining a secure chain of custody is of utmost importance to uphold a fair and equitable justice system. Once a piece of evidence is “bagged and tagged” and put into the system, it must remain secure until retrieved by the proper personnel for processing or utilization in a court of law. Depending on the case, this time period can range from hours to years, necessitating <a href="/public-safety/">storage systems that can facilitate both access and capacity</a>.</p>
<p>Including a diverse mix of storage solutions in your evidence storage facilities, will allow your department to be prepared for most scenarios. Whether it’s creating space for an ever-increasing amount of evidence through high-density mobile shelving, limiting access with keypad locks, or preserving perishable materials with temperature sensitive options, you can ensure the integrity of your evidence is upheld from discovery to decision.</p>

It’s Evidentiary My Dear Officer | Evidence Storage in Public Safety

Spacesaver breaks down the types and progression of evidence storage solutions.

<p>Police departments and other law enforcement agencies use evidence lockers to keep evidence secure as it’s transferred from the responding officer to storage and eventually to the courtroom. But evidence lockers aren’t only for law enforcement facilities — businesses and hospitals use them, too.</p>
<p>With a variety of functional and aesthetic options, evidence lockers in data centers and other locations provide a secure way to transfer custody of hard drives, evidence, and other sensitive or confidential materials.</p>

 <h3>Evidence lockers provide end-to-end security anywhere it’s needed.</h3>
 
 <h3>Security Lockers in Businesses</h3>
<p>The colorful “pass-through” lockers featured here were recently installed at a data center. The lockers feature multiple doors on the front to keep hard drives organized and secure. A large mesh door on the back gives technicians convenient access to all the compartments.</p>

<h3>ER Evidence Lockers</h3>
<p>Hospitals also use evidence lockers, and they’re typically installed in or near the Emergency Department. Healthcare staff use the lockers to secure injured victims’ clothing and other evidence until police officers arrive to retrieve the items. Refrigerated evidence compartments are a popular option for storing biological evidence. <a href="/hospital-evidence-lockers/">Read more about evidence lockers in hospitals</a>.</p>

<h3>Customize Evidence Lockers</h3>
<p>As with all Spacesaver products, <a href="/products/evidence-storage/evidence-lockers/">evidence lockers</a> are available in standard or custom colors and a variety of color combinations. They’re available in “pass-through” or “non-pass-through” options and offer dozens of door sizes and configurations.</p>

<p>No matter the location or the look, Spacesaver’s evidence lockers help maintain the security and integrity of any sensitive materials you might need to store. <a href="/contact-us">Contact us to learn more</a> or to get connected to your local Spacesaver consultant, who can assess your space and explain your options for free.</p>



Evidence Lockers in Data Centers, Hospitals, and Businesses

End-to-end security solutions for hard drives and other sensitive materials.

<p>Law enforcement personnel must be able to prove that evidence has been
    stored properly at all times, from the crime scene to the courtroom. Any
    doubt about how evidence was handled or stored can lead to criminals walking
    free and crimes going unpunished. Problems with storing long-term evidence
    can arise because some types of evidence must be stored for decades, or
    even forever. Evidence tends to accumulate over time, which leads to overcrowding,
    which leads to disorganization.</p>
<p>This sheriff’s office was storing evidence in a 1930s-era jail that was
    becoming more unsuitable every year. The facility was receiving about 20,000
    items annually and space was getting tight. The aging jail was also susceptible
    to flooding, which presented the risk of losing or damaging evidence. When
    the department received funding to design and build a new, state-of-the-art
    evidence storage facility, the design team called the local Spacesaver
    consultant to help make the most of the opportunity.</p>
    
    <h3>The Spacesaver consultant worked with the design team to optimize space, improve workflows, and lock down the chain of custody in the evidence warehouse.</h3>
    
    <p>Spacesaver <a href="/products/evidence-storage/evidence-lockers/">pass-through evidence lockers</a> keep
    evidence secure between drop-off and processing. <a href="/markets/public-safety-storage/new-construction-law-enforcement-facility/planning-long-term-evidence-storage/">Long-term evidence</a> is
    stored on a pair of custom 40-foot-long by 20-foot-high XTend High-Bay
    Mobile Storage Systems. These systems take full advantage of the facility’s
    vertical height, while also eliminating wasted aisle space. Aisles are
    opened at the point of need by press-button or remote control.</p>
<p>Staff use lifts when they need to store or retrieve evidence on higher
    shelves. Every aisle has Automated Guided Vehicle technology, or AGV, which
    allows the mechanical order pickers that move up and down the aisles to
    be operated with more precision and safety.</p>
<p>The end result is an end-to-end evidence storage and retrieval system
    that helps ensure that evidence is secure and justice is served.</p>
    
    <h3>Spacesaver products &amp; services used in this project</h3>

<ul>
    <li><a href="/products/high-density-mobile-shelving/off-site-archival-storage/">XTend® Mobile High-Bay Storage System</a>
    </li>
    <li><a href="/products/evidence-storage/evidence-lockers/">Pass-Through Evidence Lockers</a>
    </li>
    <li><a href="https://www.spacesaver.com/company-about-spacesaver/spacesaver-partners/#installmaintenance">Long-Term Maintenance</a>
    </li>
    <li><a href="https://www.spacesaver.com/company-about-spacesaver/spacesaver-partners/#spaceplanning">Complimentary Design Consultations</a>
    </li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.spacesaver.com/markets/public-safety-storage/long-term-evidence-storage/">Learn more about Spacesaver’s long-term evidence storage options</a>

Storing Long-term Evidence on High-bay Shelving

State-of-the art facility promotes best practices in evidence management.

<p>In some jurisdictions, evidence for homicides and other serious crimes
    must be kept indefinitely, even after the death of the accused. That means
    long-term evidence can accumulate over time and take up a great deal of
    space.</p>
<p>The Calgary Police Service was renting an evidence warehouse that held
    property and evidence for the entire city, which was growing rapidly. Although
    the department’s evidence systems were accredited, the warehouse was relatively
    distant from police headquarters — and that meant rent, fuel, and commuting
    time was adding up to a significant long-term cost.</p>
<p>The project planning team decided that a vacant lot adjacent to headquarters
    provided the ideal opportunity to create a centralized, purpose-built facility
    for property and evidence storage.</p>



<p>The lot had significant space restrictions, and there were concerns that
    even a new warehouse could not provide sufficient storage capacity. Because
    the department needed a lot of storage in a limited space, the planning
    team called in the local Spacesaver consultant, who showed them how Spacesaver
    technology could optimize the space. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.spacesaver.com/products/high-density-mobile-shelving/heavy-duty-mobile-racking/">ActivRAC® Mobilized Storage System</a> and
    <a
    href="https://www.spacesaver.com/products/high-density-mobile-shelving/off-site-archival-storage/">XTend® Mobile High-Bay Storage System</a>would allow them to use the vertical
        space in the evidence warehouse while also compacting aisles to maximize
        capacity.</p>
        
        <h2>INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY</h2>

<p>To ensure a secure chain of custody and streamline workflows, the department
    worked with Spacesaver to integrate these solutions:</p>

Long-term Evidence Storage - Public Safety Solutions

Dealing with Space Constraints

<p>The term “chain of custody” refers to the detailed documentation of evidence
    collection and handling. Maintaining a secure chain of custody is of vital
    importance because a criminal case can be disrupted by questions about
    the integrity of evidence. That’s why, when crime victims present at emergency
    rooms or other health care facilities, staff must be ready and able to
    collect evidence, document it, and store it – and that’s where hospital
    evidence lockers come in.</p>
    
    <p>Soon after construction was completed at the Milwaukee-area facility pictured
    here, the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) supervisor claimed a lockable
    storage closet near the emergency room as a convenient and secure place
    to locate necessities for her staff: Spacesaver hospital evidence storage
    lockers, a mobile cart used for exams and evidence collection, and other
    supplies. She and other specially trained SANE nurses are the only staff
    who have keys to the storage closet and the evidence lockers.</p>
<p>When caring for sexual assault victims, SANE nurses use state-supplied
    kits to collect evidence and package it for storage and analysis. They
    place blood samples in a refrigerated evidence locker compartment, while
    swabs are dried and placed in cardboard boxes and stored in non-refrigerated
    compartments. If clothing should be preserved as evidence, nurses bag it
    and place it in a compartment with the associated kit.</p>
    
    <p>If the victim opts to press charges within a week of the emergency room
    visit, police officers come to the facility and the SANE staff on duty
    release the evidence to the officers. If a victim has not pressed charges
    within a week, the SANE supervisor sends the evidence to the state crime
    lab.</p>
<p>Victims of other violent crimes are typically accompanied by police officers,
    who take direct possession of evidence at the hospital.</p>

Hospital Evidence Lockers

Keeping forensic evidence organized and secure near the ER.

<h3>The Situation</h3>
<p>Chances are your customers have some kind of locker system for officers
    to deposit packaged evidence to be processed and put into longer term storage
    elsewhere at your facility. But what do they do when your evidence technician
    notices a mistake in how an officer has labeled or packaged an item? Or
    what if an officer gets pulled away unexpectedly for an emergency and doesn’t
    have time to finish packaging and depositing evidence? Or a piece of evidence
    is being taken to court? These are some great questions to ask when helping
    a police department plan for evidence storage.</p>
<p>In many cases, police departments simply have padlocked lockers with separate
    keys or even just lockers marked with paper labels as “pass-back” lockers.
    Although these makeshift options work, it’s worth pointing out that they’re
    less than ideal for security, tracking the chain of custody, and ensuring
    nothing – including keys – gets lost in the process.</p>
    
    	<h3>The Solution In Action</h3>

<p>One great way around this tricky evidence pass-back situation is to use
    ControLoc® – a digital locking mechanism that allows officers to access
    lockers with personalized PIN codes or card scan. In a typical evidence
    storage system, an officer would enter their PIN, the available deposit
    lockers would light up green, and they’d deposit their evidence. But the
    system can be modified to accommodate pass-back evidence as well.</p>
<p>At Unified PD in Salt Lake City, we modified the ControLoc® software so
    evidence technicians could make temporary locker assignments to a specific
    officer. In this way, the evidence tech just has to place the item in a
    locker compartment, close it, and assign it to an officer in the software
    system. When that officer comes to pick up the pass-back item and enters
    their PIN code, they’re the only one who can access the compartment containing
    the item. Special crash lockers are identified with a magnet so that evidence
    can be dropped mid-processing for an officer to return to.</p>
    
    <p>Yes this system comes at a cost – but not only does it create a digital
    audit trail with time and date stamp of where items were and what officers
    could access them, but also allows evidence techs to see how many lockers
    are in use at any given time. That means they know when it’s time to go
    empty the lockers without having to guess or waste time.</p>
<p>This remote tracking can be especially useful for police departments with
    multiple offices or precincts that have a central evidence storage warehouse,
    because evidence pick-up from each precinct can be timed out based on remote
    tracking of how full the lockers are at any given time.</p>