Evidence and Property

The TGPD Evidence Unit is responsible for processing all incoming evidence and ensuring the integrity of the chain of custody for court proceedings.

Categories

Items are generally divided into the following categories:

  • Evidence – Items that have been collected or recovered in the course of an investigation that may be used in the prosecution of a case. These items are usually stored until a final disposition is made in the form of a court ruling and an Authorization to release is signed by the prosecutor.
  • Safekeep – Items that are usually personal property located on an arrestee that are not pertinent to the crime. Safe keep items are held for 90 days.
  • Found Property – Items collected by an employee or citizen that have no apparent evidential value and where the owner cannot be readily identified or contacted. Found items are held for 90 days.

Property Release

  • Evidence – Items held as evidence may be released to the owner during hours. Evidence items may only be released upon authorization from the prosecuting attorney or the responsible officer. Evidence items cannot be released until 30 days after sentencing on state cases and up to 18 months after sentencing on federal cases. All property not held for evidence in a pending criminal investigation or proceeding and held for six months or longer where the owner has not been located or fails to claim the property, may be disposed of in compliance with existing State law.
  • Safekeep – Items held as safekeep may be released to the owner during hours TGPD Evidence is open to the public. These items are held for 90 days after which the items will be disposed of in compliance with existing State laws.
  • Found Property – Items held as found property may be released to the owner, with proof of ownership, during hours. These items are held for 90 and then destroyed per state law if not claimed.
  • Firearms – A BCI background check must be performed on the owner/third party of every firearm released by TGPD. These background checks can take over 24 hours – please call TGPD Evidence before the collection of firearms. Proof of ownership is required to release firearms. Please note: not all firearms can be released – several variables go into the ability to release firearms.
  • Third Party Releases – TGPD Evidence can release approved items to a third party with a notarized power of attorney or a notarized letter from the owner.