Property and Evidence

Duties & Responsibilities

The major function of this unit is to retain evidence for court presentation by Paris Police Officers. The unit is also responsible for the proper intake, control, storage, release, or disposal of all property confiscated, appropriated, seized, or otherwise taken into custody by any authorized personnel of the department.

This property includes recovered stolen property, abandoned or found property, and evidence taken during any criminal investigation.

Evidence

Evidence is any physical item that may or may not require some form of scientific analysis and that may be used in a court of law to prove guilt or innocence. Evidence includes the following:

• Instruments used in the commission of a crime, such as burglar tools, murder / assault weapons, forged documents, etc.  
• Results of a crime, such as bloodstains, broken glass, etc.
• Contraband items, the possession of which is illegal or prohibited

Property

Evidentiary property may be released to a person upon presentation of a signed court order specifically awarding property to that person along with photo identification, such as a driver’s license. Otherwise, only the Paris police officer or detective handling the case can authorize the release of evidentiary property from the Property Room.

Found property, logged into the Property Room, may be authorized by a Paris Police Officer to be released to a person with proper identification and proof of ownership. In most cases, if stolen property has been recovered, a detective will contact you.

Ownerless Property

Property, evidence, and vehicles (other than contraband) which are held by the Paris Police Department and cannot be traced to an owner, are disposed of according to a court order or statutory authorization. Those items may be forfeited to the City of Paris for official use, sold at a public auction, or destroyed. All proceeds from any public auction are deposited into the City of Paris general fund.