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4.1 PROJECT UNDERSTANDING <br />21 | <br />Having worked with Orange County on facilities master planning effort and justice <br />department evaluation, we understand the long-term needs of the County and the <br />integral role the Link Government Services Center and the Sheriff’s Office Evidence <br />Storage Facility will play in providing services to the community. <br />O’Brien Atkins has been involved in several law enforcement and judicial projects for <br />Durham County, City of Durham, Forsyth County, Wake County, and Duke University. <br />We have worked for both County Sheriff’s departments and City Police departments. <br />Additionally, we have experience with strict security protocols from our work with the <br />Nor th Carolina National Guard at their Joint Force Headquarters and with Homeland <br />Security (Customs and Border Patrol) and the Transportation Security Administration <br />(TSA) at RDU International Airport. <br />SHERIFF’S OFFICE EVIDENCE STORAGE <br />O’Brien Atkins incorporated evidence storage and processing facilities in both the <br />Durham Sheriff’s Office (as part of the Durham County Courthouse project) and City <br />of Durham Police Headquarters Complex. Each facility had to follow the NC statutes <br />concerning evidence storage and retention. <br />The Durham County Courthouse needed safe and secure storage for objects, drugs, <br />weapons, and biological specimens for use during trials. Chain-of-custody was <br />critical for the integrity of the court cases, making secure storage a priority. <br /> At the City of Durham Police Headquarters, evidence processing and short-term <br />storage were provided across multiple small rooms. However, the department’s long- <br />term storage was handled at another facility. <br />Providing chain of custody and long-term access is essential in evidence storage <br />and retention. The storage facility needs to be able to withstand power outages <br />and damage from potential hurricanes and floods. N+1 backup power ensures <br />consistent operations both for cold storage rooms and necessary security systems. <br />Additionally, statute requires biological evidence must be retained indefinitely <br />or until ordered by the court to be destroyed, which necessitates a robust and <br />redundant system to keep the integrity of that evidence. <br />Knowing that Orange County is Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement <br />Agencies (CALEA) Accredited, the design team will adhere to International <br />Association for Property and Evidence (IAPE) Professional Standards for various <br />components: <br />• Policy and Procedures <br />• Security Controls <br />• Chain of Custody <br />• Temporary Storage <br />• Inventory and Auditing <br />• Disposition and Purging <br />Security scanner at NC <br />National Guard Joint <br />Force Headquarters <br />+ <br />Aerial of Orange <br />County Facilities <br />Master Plan <br />Physical Evidence <br />Storage at the <br />Sheriff’s Department <br />in the Durham County <br />Courthouse <br />Docusign Envelope ID: ED9774D9-AC0C-4CB2-997F-EA672B7B6C5D