Evidence Custodian I - Forensic Services - Baldwin County Sheriff's Office

The Evidence Custodian is responsible for receipting, storing, cataloging, retrieving, and delivering of evidence to court. The position of Evidence Custodian is a crucial and integral part of the Criminal Justice process. Thus, an incumbent in this position must be of the utmost in character and integrity as well as trustworthy and dependable. The incumbent will represent the Sheriff’s Office in trial proceedings, turning evidence over to Officers and returning property to citizens.


Successful applicants must pass a criminal background check and will be subject to a pre-employment drug screen. 

• Bay Minette Sheriff’s Office
• Robertsdale Sheriff’s Office 

Work is generally performed in an office setting with majority of the time spent in a seated position. Work entails extensive keyboarding and logging of evidence. It also entails regular reaching and stretching to lift and move evidence. It requires travel between office locations / worksites, as well as, travel for training or other Sheriff’s Office events as required by the supervisor. It may also require overtime to ensure work is completed.

• Retrieve and count items, and record data manually or using a computer 
• Pack and unpack items to be stored on shelves in the evidence storage room 
• Verify inventory computations by comparing them to physical counts of evidence and investigate discrepancies or adjust errors. 
• Store items in an orderly and accessible manner in storage rooms or other areas

• Mark items using identification tags, stamps, electric marking tools, or other labeling equipment
• Clean and maintain supplies, tools, equipment, and storage areas in to ensure compliance with safety regulations 
• Determine proper storage methods, identification, and storage location based on turnover, environmental factors, and physical capabilities of facilities
• Examine and inspect items for wear or defects, reports any damage to supervisors
• Provide accurate documentation of evidence
• Courtroom testimony

• Answering telephones, running errands and assisting in office duties
• Refers visitors to appropriate and individual offices

• Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Open, sort and distribute incoming correspondence, including faxes and e-mail.
• Entering, transcribing, recording, storing or maintaining information in written or electronic form.

• Attends specialized training as required
• Performs other related duties as required

The physical characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this classification. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with a qualified disability to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.
The work is generally sedentary to light and may require exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:

• Possess an audible voice for in-person and telephone communications;
• Possess sufficient body strength in order to perform normal duties of the position
• Crouching: Bending the body downwards and forward by bending leg and spine
• Dexterity: Primarily with fingers and in picking, pinching or typing
• Grasping: Applying pressure with the whole hand
• Handling: Picking, holding or otherwise working with the whole hand
• Lifting: Ability to lift and move objects
• Reaching: Ability to frequently extend hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Mental Acuity: Ability to make rational decisions
• Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands and/or fingers
• Speaking/Talking: Ability to communicate clearly, accurately, and concisely through speech
• Hearing: Ability to hear and understand at normal speaking levels with or without correction
• Visual Acuity: Ability to perform activities such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, viewing a computer screen/terminal; and /or extensive reading, with or without correction
• Walking: ability to move about on foot to accomplish tasks or moving from one work site to another
• Sitting for extended periods of time

• Required: Accredited high school diploma or GED certificate; Valid Driver’s License; including courses in typing
• Preferred: Minimum of two years’ experience in office administration;
• For positions requiring operation of County vehicles, must possess a valid, current driver’s license or be able to obtain one within 45 days of hire. Must be insurable

• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing service to the public, including needs assessment and satisfactory response to meet their needs.
• Knowledge of administrative procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, transcription, designing forms and other office procedures and terminology
• Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, arithmetic and modern office practices and procedures
• Skill in the use of a variety of computer programs, to include operation of Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint) and various other office equipment including phones, faxes, scanners, printers and copiers

• Technical skills to perform routine trouble shooting on office equipment (computers, faxes, scanners, printers, copiers)
• Ability to type with speed and accuracy, compose correspondence

• Ability to compose effective and accurate correspondence
• Ability to deal with non-routine matters
• Ability to complete complex work with minimal instructions, keep records and reference files, assemble and organize data
• Ability to meet and deal with the public in an effective and courteous manner
• Ability to exhibit a high degree of loyalty and integrity as a trusted confidant of the unit
• Ability to assume responsibility and execute the supervisor’s orders and instructions
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly
• Ability to read, write, and speak and interpret the English language
• Ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted
• Ability to work a flexible schedule as needed
• Ability to set up and maintain effective and efficient filing systems
• Ability to receive instruction and correction when appropriate