(See Here’s the Story: Uniform Evidence Retention Policy and Ramsey County Uniform Evidence Retention Policy- Updated 8/3/2012)
The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, Saint Paul City Attorney’s Office and Saint Paul Police Department have entered into a Uniform Evidence Retention Policy (RCERP) designed to apply to all Ramsey County law enforcement agencies. This policy should be used as a guide for determining evidentiary dispositions.
Evidence will be retained for pending civil litigation against the city. In such a case, the chief and/or assistant chiefs, deputy chiefs, (or his/her designee) of the division involved in the civil litigation will notify commander of the technology unit who will in turn cause the notification to the property room, technology, forensic services unit etc. regarding the need for evidence retention. Any directive from the chief and/or assistant chief deputy chief, will over-ride any property disposition provided by an investigative unit.
The retention of records shall be in compliance with all state and city data laws, in particular, the “Uniform Retention Schedule” and “General Retention Schedule for the Minnesota cities,” a copy of which is maintained in the data compliance official.
General Orders 439.01: Property and Evidence Procedures, 439.11: Investigative Unit Procedures – Property/Evidence and 439.12: Property Room Unit Procedures explain department policy as it relates to evidence storage, retention, release and disposal.
Revised April 24, 2018