FOUND PROPERTY

 

Found property seized by a Washington County employee and submitted to Property-Evidence must fit into one of the following categories:

  1. Wallet or purse with credit cards, checks

  2. Currency

  3. Dangerous weapons

  4. Narcotics

  5. Any item found on public property by a deputy, not a citizen.

IMPOUNDING OFFICER PROCEDURES

  1. If the item found by a citizen is valued at more than $100 and does not fit into the above criteria,  run the serial number and take the following steps. 

  1. Complete the property-evidence report.  Leave the pink copy with the citizen.

  2. Advise the finder to contact the Washington County Finance Department if he/she wants to forfeit the property to the County.  Tell him/her to take the pink copy of the property-evidence report to the Finance Department with the item.  If the finder wishes to keep the property, advise them to read the back of the pink copy for instructions per ORS 98.005.

  3. Attach the property-evidence report to your report.  Discard the yellow copy of the  of the property-evidence report.

  1. If the item found by a citizen is valued at less than $100 and  does not fit into the above criteria, inform the citizen that he/she is under no obligation to find the owner of the property.  The finder is the owner of the item.  Do not complete a property-evidence report.  Leave the pink copy of the property-evidence report with the citizen and advise them to read the back of it.

  2. If you are seizing the item:

  1. If the finder is someone other than a county employee, tell him/her to send copies of their letter to the County Clerk and their newspaper ad to the Property-Evidence Office if they intend to claim the item.

  2. Run all items with serial or owner inscribed numbers for stolen through LEDS/NCIC.

  3. Attach computer printouts to the property-evidence report.

  4. Follow the instructions in this manual for the specific type of property.

 

EVIDENCE OFFICER PROCEDURES

STORAGE

  1. Ensure proper packaging; refer to the example board in the evidence processing areas.

  2. Place one barcode on the item and the corresponding barcode on the property receipt.

  3. Place the item in a location best suited to the size of the item, and area specified by the evidence room guide.

  4. Using the barcode reader, scan the location of the shelf and then scan the barcode that is affixed to the item.

  5. Place the item in numerical order by case number.

  6. Found property and safe keeping items are only held for 90 days.

 

DISPOSAL:

Upon authorization or disposition of the case:

  1. If the owner is known, follow the instructions in this manual for the specific type of property.

  2. If the owner is not known, the item is not a narcotic or contraband and is valued at more than $100.  If the property is not claimed within three months, follow the instructions for disposing of the specific type of items.

  3. If the item is valued at less than $100, destroy or auction it.

  4. If the item is a narcotic, destroy it.  See “Destruction of Narcotics.”

  5. If the item is luggage or other closed container; the item must be opened and inventoried to insure safe disposal.

 

 

Revised 11/05/03