Support Operations Bureau
Technical ServicesDivision
In 2014, jail staff conducted an
efficiency study to ensure that the
City Jail was being operated in the
most efficient manner and to serve as
an industry best practice facility. The
efficiency study analyzed jail operating
costs such as staffing levels and
operations. On average, the jail houses
roughly 19,000 adults and has an
annual operating budget of nearly $3
million.
The Technical Services Division is
comprised of the Crime Scene, Tactical
Intelligence, Property and Evidence,
Court Bailiff, Misdemeanor Warrant,
and Crime Analysis Units. The Division
is also responsible for operation of the
City Jail.
Part of the elements that evolved
from the study included a revamped
hiring process for jailers. Additionally,
overtime costs have been reduced by
19 percent over the previous year. The
City Jail continues to provide excellent
service to the citizens of Arlington and
preserves the safety and security for
inmates when they are arrested.
The Court Bailiff Unit is responsible
for providing judicial security at
the Arlington Municipal Court. The
Misdemeanor Warrant Unit, also
housed at the Municipal Court, seeks to
collect outstanding fines on thousands
of unpaid misdemeanor citations. The
Property and Evidence Unit maintains
custody of all items brought into the
department for future case disposition,
destruction or safekeeping.
Crime scene investigation is of
paramount importance as patrol
officers collect evidence from the
field to assist with solving crimes.
Crime scene personnel also respond
to serious incidents that occur in the
community such as homicides and
traffic fatalities. The Crime Scene Unit
is made up of highly-skilled personnel
that provide the department and
other outside agencies with analysis
of latent prints, evidence examination
and expert testimony.
The Tactical Intelligence Unit gathers,
evaluates and disseminates critical
officer safety information to field
employees during incidents. The unit
is also responsible for intelligence
monitoring from a global and regional
perspective as it relates to terrorism.
39