Evidence Custodian (Part-Time)

Position Summary

Churchill County is recruiting for the part-time, regular position of Evidence Custodian for the Sheriff's Office. Working approximately four hours per day (an average of 19 hours per week), the person in this position manages evidence used for law enforcement proceedings. This includes receiving, storing, organizing, and inventorying the evidence that is collected. The incumbent will be handling and transporting evidence, and due to the sensitive nature of the duties performed, must be able to pass a thorough background check.

The ideal applicant will have strong administrative and clerical skills, and must be adept at communicating in various forms (over the phone, in person, in writing, testifying in court, etc.). A legal or law enforcement background is a plus. As stated previously, the position is part-time and the county is looking for qualified individuals who are committed to working long-term (several years) in a part-time position.

Essential Functions

This job description indicates, in general, the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities and other essential functions (as covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act) expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required.

• Demonstrates regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.
• Receives, tags, and stores property/evidence from crime scenes; maintains and inventories property and materials submitted as evidence by law enforcement staff.
• Transports evidence for criminal examination and court presentation; testifies in court regarding evidence maintenance procedures and the chain of custody of evidence.
• Determines the type of evidence and the proper method of storage and disposal.
• Notifies owners of evidence release procedures.
• Disposes of evidence through auctions, burns and burials, according to legal and administrative procedures and practices.
• Corresponds with courts on case status and evidence needed; processes correspondence, reports, forms and specialized documents from drafts, notes, tapes or instructions; composes various correspondence.
• Inputs detailed records into a computer terminal regarding the inventory and storage location of evidence and safekeeping of found property; verifies accuracy of information and updates information for transactions, deposits, and viewing to maintain chain of custody; develops, organizes, and maintains statistics and reports of property/evidence in the evidence vault.
• Researches case dispositions and case files to determine the rightful owner of property.
• Photographs property entered into evidence; maintains photograph files and photograph lineups for use in investigations.
• Supervises the viewing of all evidence by attorneys, detectives, or other law enforcement personnel.
• Represents the County with dignity, integrity, and a spirit of cooperation in all relationships with staff and the public.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education and Experience
High School diploma/GED; AND two (2) years of administrative support experience, including experience involving data entry, records management, and inventory techniques; OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Required Knowledge and Skills
Knowledge of:

• Laws, departmental policies, practices, and procedures pertaining to property/evidence collection, storage, processing, handling, and destruction of evidence.
• Law enforcement activities, regulations, protocol, and procedures related to criminal investigation and prosecution.
• Record management and inventory techniques.
• Principles and techniques of photography.
• Use of specified computer applications involving word processing, data entry and/or standard report generation.
• Use of specified computer applications involving the design and management of databases or spreadsheet files and the development of special report formats.
• Business arithmetic.
• Applicable regulations, policies and statutes.
• Office administrative practices and procedures.
• Business letter writing and the standard format for typed materials.
• Record keeping principles and practices.
• Correct business English, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Techniques for dealing with the public, in person and over the telephone.

• Accurately and completely preparing and maintaining complex and important records, logs, and files.
• Organizing and maintaining evidence inventory-control tracking systems.
• Analyzing data and interpreting laws and regulations to make sound decisions.
• Reading and explaining rules, policies and procedures.
• Analyzing and resolving varied office administrative problems.
• Organizing, maintaining and researching office files.
• Compiling and summarizing information and preparing periodic or special reports.
• Using initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
• Organizing own work, setting priorities and meeting critical deadlines.
• Contributing effectively to the accomplishment of team or department goals, objectives and activities.
• Establishing and maintaining effective work relationships with staff, coworkers, and the public.

Physical Demands and Working Environment

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Mobility to work in a typical office setting and use standard office equipment; stamina to sit for extended periods of time; strength and agility to lift and carry up to 25 pounds; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen, and hearing and speech to communicate over the telephone and in person; controlled exposure to chemicals, bodily fluids, and other potentially hazardous materials collected as evidence.

Conditions of Employment

• Continued employment is contingent upon all required licenses and certificates being maintained in active status without suspension or revocation.
• New employees are required to submit to a background investigation and if hired for a safety-sensitive position, a drug/alcohol screen. Employment is contingent upon passing the background and the drug/alcohol screen (if applicable).
• Churchill County participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS, with information from each applicant's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. All candidates who are offered employment must complete Section 1 of the Form I-9 along with the required proof of their right to work in the United States and proof of their identity prior to starting employment. Please be prepared to provide required documentation as soon as possible after the job offer is made.

DISCLAIMER: Churchill County provides benefits to regular employees. Benefits are prorated for some part time, regular positions (depending on job). Most part time positions provide no benefits.

No Nevada state income tax

Retirement
Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) of Nevada - Part-time positions must work at least 1,040 hours in a fiscal year to be eligible for PERS. Churchill County contributes 33.5% of an eligible Regular Member's salary for retirement. Churchill County contributes 50.0% of an eligible Police Member's salary for retirement. Retirement benefits are available to employees hired in positions that work 20 hours per week or more on a regular basis. Positions of less than 20 hours per week (or less than 1040 hours in a fiscal year) will receive Social Security contributions and will not be enrolled in PERS.

Deferred Compensation Plans
Employees can also participate in the VOYA 457 deferred compensation plan, which is funded by the employee. This allows the employee to save money in pre-tax dollars toward retirement.

Cafeteria Health Coverage Plan – There are no health insurance benefits offered to part-time employees.

Vacation Leave
Part-time, regular county employees accrue annual (vacation) leave vacation at a prorated amount depending the number of hours worked. (A new full-time employee accrues 8 hours per month - a part-time, regular employee earns a prorated amount of the 8 hours per month.) Employees earn additional annual leave hours at 5, 10, 15, and 25 years of service up to a maximum of 240 hours (30 days) per year. While on probation an employee is not granted vacation leave for the first six months; the employee still accrues vacation leave during this time and will be credited with 48 hours of vacation leave after six months of employment in their regular position.

Sick Leave
Part-time, regular employees accrue sick leave at a prorated amount depending the number of hours worked. (A new full-time employee accrues 10 hours per month - a part-time, regular employee earns a prorated amount of the 10 hours per month.)

HOLIDAYS - Regular county employees enjoy 12 paid holidays per calendar year including New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Nevada Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Family Day (Friday after Thanksgiving), and Christmas Day. In addition, County employees are entitled to one floating holiday per year, to be used at a time agreed to by the employee and his or her supervisor. (Regular, part-time employees receive prorated holidays based on the number of hours normally worked.)

Tuition Reimbursement
Churchill County values it's employees and empowers all employees to enhance their skills by taking job-related college courses as well as participating in job related workshops and seminars. To that end, for regular employees the county has a generous Tuition Reimbursement policy for accredited courses, reimbursing up to $1,200 per calendar year in educational expenses.