Property & Evidence

Responsibilities

The Property and Evidence Unit is considered the custodian of all items collected by department personnel or submitted to the department as items for safekeeping, found property, items collected as evidence, or items to be destroyed. They are also responsible for the proper storage of all these items, the preservation of the items for possible future analysis, and the lawful release or dispositions of property. The unit accurately documents every process during the storage.

Found Property

When items are collected and submitted as FOUND property, the department will make every attempt to locate the owner and return the property. FOUND property is generally maintained and stored for 90 days. The property will be appropriately disposed of if an owner is not located per department policy.

Safekeeping

All items collected and submitted as SAFEKEEPING are usually items the owner is known. A Field Property Receipt is generally given to the person from whom the property is taken with specific instructions on how to retrieve the property. All items submitted as SAFEKEEPING are held for 60 days, at which time the owner will be notified in writing, if an address is provided, as to the disposition of their property. If there is no response from the property's owner, the property will be appropriately disposed of per department policy.

Evidence

Any items held as EVIDENCE cannot and will not be released until a case disposition from the court or District Attorney's Office is received by this department. No items will be released for any circumstances until the case is adjudicated and complete. Once the Police Department has received a disposition, department personnel assigned to the case will be given the authority to review the case and its history. They can then determine whether to retain or release any items. All contraband seized will be destroyed, and all firearms will be released only after approval clearance is received from the Department of Justice.

Releasing Items

No items will be released from the Citrus Heights Police Department's Property and Evidence Unit without an appointment. All appointments are scheduled through the Property and Evidence Unit. Proper identification is required prior to the release of any property.

Property is released by appointment only on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Appointments & Information

For additional information regarding property and evidence questions or to schedule an appointment for property release, call 916-727-5801, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Please provide your name, case number, and phone number.