About the Department
Section: Evidence Operations Unit – Bureau of Investigative Services/
Criminal Law Division
Class: Special Agent Trainee/I/II (Evidence Custodian)
Location: Harrisburg
Telework: Telework is not offered for this position.
Position Type: Full-time, Non-civil service, Union
Work Hours: 8:30 – 5:00
Salary Range: Special Agent Trainee: Starting salary of $59,316
Special Agent I: Starting salary of $67,119
Special Agent II: Starting salary of $75,924
Basic Function
The Evidence Operations Unit of the Bureau of Investigative Services has specially trained law enforcement agents whose critical function is to ensure that evidence is properly maintained from the point of seizure to permanent storage to trial or disposition.
The Evidence Custodian (EC) position requires that the applicant possess strong organizational and diligence skills and can achieve thoroughness and accuracy when accomplishing the Evidence Operations Unit tasks and expectations. This position involves supervision of the overall security and integrity of evidence within the Central Region until it is required for trial, facilitating the evidence’s movement, and arranging for the retention or disposition of evidence. The position also involves the overall management of the receipt, identification, and categorization of evidence for safekeeping in accordance with established Office of Attorney General (OAG) policies and procedures and applicable Commonwealth laws, statutes, and regulations.
Position Duties
- Trains and advises OAG personnel in evidence submission procedures, packaging requirements, laws, and case status
- Assists and coordinates with collateral duty Evidence Custodians, and other agents, in any necessary function related to evidence and property
- Manages the intake, security, inventory, audit, and inspection of evidence
- Oversees the chain of custody and disposition of seized or forfeited property and evidence
- Assists the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section with the review of the appraised value of evidence and with the determination of its storage, inventory, maintenance, liens, and final dispositions (remit, retain, transfer, destroy, or auction)
- Coordinates with pre-operational and logistical planning for enforcement operations requiring the proper collection of evidence and seizure of property
- Assists with on-scene collection, documentation, and storage of evidence recovered during search warrants
- Advises and coordinates storage requirements and locations for all types of seized property to include high-risk evidence, e.g., controlled substances, currency, firearms
- Coordinates the timely transportation for storage of high-risk property, including but not limited to, firearms and ammunition, currency and monetary instruments, narcotics, and general merchandise
- Maintains adequate supplies and equipment to facilitate all duties related to the Central Region of the Evidence Operations Unit
- Advises on special handling requirements of hazardous materials and any other evidence requiring special transportation
- Accountable for compliance regarding physical standards, policies, and regulations as it relates to the OAG’s transportation and collection of evidence
- Ensures the receipt, packaging, labeling, barcoding, and evidence data is properly entered into the CMS statewide tracking system
- Manages the updating of property evidence documents, excel worksheets, and maintenance records of regional and section offices that incurred expenses associated with evidence seizures
- Conducts periodic security and overall compliance checks of the regional and section offices’ temporary storage locations of seized evidence, including second layer security areas, and the corresponding documentation
- Coordinates with Regional and Section Directors and attorneys in adherence to timely, prompt, and legal disposition of evidence
- Ensures that all seized evidence documentation is accurate and complete, and as necessary, requests additional information from appropriate field personnel
- Prepares written reports of evidentiary handling, processing, and audit custodial activities
- Liaison with police department staff, court personnel, forensic laboratories, attorneys, other officials, and individuals outside the OAG
- Attends meetings, trainings, and conferences in areas related to position function
- Maintains a working knowledge of OAG equipment, including computer software and security programs, that are unique to the Evidence Operations Unit
- Assists in investigative proceedings related to evidence and its storage
- Appears in state and federal court before a Magisterial District Judge, Common Pleas Judge, Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, or U.S. District Judge to present testimony as a well-experienced prosecution witness
- Performs other duties as required
Minimum Qualifications
Qualification for Special Agent Trainee:
Applicants that do not have Act 120 certification, or a certification from an equivalent training program as determined by the Office of Attorney General, but that meet the minimum experience and training for a Special Agent I or Special Agent II as outlined below, will be hired as Special Agent Trainees.
Agent Trainees must participate in and successfully complete the CommonwealthInvestigators TrainingProgram (CITP) and mustparticipatein the Office ofAttorneyGeneral Agent FieldTrainingProgram.
Upon successful completion of the CITP, Special Agent Trainees will be reclassified to Special Agent I or Special Agent II based on their education and investigative experience.
Qualifications for Special Agent I and Special Agent II:
In addition to the below qualifications, applicants must have Act 120 certification, certification from an Act 120 equivalent training program as determined by the Office of Attorney General, or have successfully completed the Commonwealth Investigators Training Program.
Special Agent I:
- Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate’s degree in Criminology, Criminal Justice, Police Science, Police Administration, or a related major specific to the criminal investigative field, or a technical or specialized major related to a specific position, and two years of relevant law enforcement or investigative experience, or experience in a technical or specialized field related to a specific position OR
- Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in Criminology, Criminal Justice, Police Science, Police Administration, or a related major specific to the criminal investigative field, or a technical or specialized major related to a specific position OR
- Four years of relevant law enforcement or investigative experience, or experience in a technical or specialized field related to a specific position OR
- Four years of active duty military experience with honorable discharge OR
- Any equivalent combination of relevant education, experience, and training
Special Agent II:
- Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate’s degree in Criminology, Criminal Justice, Police Science, Police Administration, or a related major specific to the criminal investigative field, or a technical or specialized major related to a specific position, and four years of relevant law enforcement or investigative experience, or experience in a technical or specialized field related to a specific position OR
- Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in Criminology, Criminal Justice, Police Science, Police Administration, or a related major specific to the criminal investigative field, or a technical or specialized major related to a specific position, and two years of relevant law enforcement or investigative experience, or experience in a technical or specialized field related to a specific position OR
- Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master’s degree in Criminology, Criminal Justice, Police Science, Police Administration, or a related major specific to the criminal investigative field, or a technical or specialized major related to a specific position, and one year of relevant law enforcement or investigative experience, or experience in a technical or specialized field related to a specific position OR
- Six years of relevant law enforcement or investigative experience, or experience in a technical or specialized field related to a specific position OR
- Four years of active duty military experience with honorable discharge, and two years of relevant law enforcement or investigative experience, or experience in a technical or specialized field related to a specific position OR
- Six years of active duty military experience with honorable discharge including two years as a Military Police Officer with the Criminal Investigations Division or a relevant Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) OR
- Any equivalent combination of relevant education, experience, and training
Other Qualifications
- A minimum of one year of work experience involving the following:
- Knowledge of and adherence to Office of Attorney General policies, rules, and regulations related to federal, state, and local laws.
- Strong understanding of best practices pertinent to the intake and release, packaging, cataloging, storage, proper disposal, and safeguarding of evidence and property.
- Ability to efficiently operate evidence software applications.
- Well-experienced in the principals and procedures of administration, preparing detailed reports, record management, and presenting evidence specific to demonstrating the preservation of the chain of custody.
- Strong ability to meet deadlines and maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail OR
- A minimum of one year of work experience with a concentration in the field of Evidence Custodianship which affords the applicant the required knowledge and skills to perform the various duties and responsibilities involved in evidence handling OR
- Any equivalent Evidence Custodianship experience, training, and education