Policy Text
Detective Division Page 1 of 7 5/01.0 (REV 1/90)
PROPERTY BOOKING PROCE DURE BY DETECTIVES
The purpose of this order is to d escribe the procedures used by Sheriff’s Department
personnel in booking property. I. Property Report
A. A property report with a deta iled description of each item t o be booked,
including serial number and any o ther distinctive markings, sha ll
accompany all booked property. Distribution: white copy to Reco rds; pink
and yellow copies to Property; gold copy to the citizen.
B. A report number is required when property is booked as evide nce,
recovered stolen, or for safe keeping. The owner of the property must be
known before the safekeeping sta tus is used. Report numbers sha ll be
recorded on property reports prior to placing property in a pro perty locker
or booking it at the Property W arehouse. Without the report num ber, the
Property Warehouse will no t accept the property.
C. The report number issued at the onset of a case shall be use d as the
master report number t hroughout the investigat ion. A new report number
is not necessary for a search w arrant, additional charges, or m ultiple
victims which pertain to the original report. Thorough and conc ise
supplemental reports s hall be completed and attached to the mas ter
report.
D. Under unique circumstances, t he need might occur for the iss uance of an
additional report number. In such instances, the officer shall contact
Records and obtain the addition al report number. The officer sh all supply
Records with the following info rmation: type of crime, suspect and victim
names and addresses, the master report number, circumstances of the
case, and the officer’s nam e and badge number. If issued, the n ew report
number shall be entered on all co pies of the report with the ma ster report
number cross referenced.
E. Found property will not be issued a report number unless connected to a
specific case (accountability fo r found property shall be maint ained by the
Property Warehouse).
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F. All contraband such as mari juana, narcotics, etc., which wil l not be used
as evidence and where ownership c annot be proven shall be booke d for
destruction. Contraband will not be issued a report number
(accountability for contraband wi ll be maintained by the Proper ty
Warehouse). Officers shall not dis pose of or destroy confiscate d
contraband by any other method.
II. Property Envelopes and Bags
A. Proper marking of booking cont ainers; e.g., bags and envelop es, is of the
utmost importance. Each officer shall assure that containers cl early reflect
which items from the property re port are contained therein alon g with the
report number. This shall be done by writing the report number on the
container along with the appropria te item number(s) from the pr operty
report. The property report shall then be attached to the conta iner.
B. Each item should be listed s eparately in numerical sequence. If additional
property reports are needed, compl ete the inventory and continu e with the
numerical sequence; e.g., Page 1 , Items 1 through 10; Page 2, I tems 11
through 20, etc.
C. If a large quantity of items are being booked and more than one officer is
required to inventory the proper ty, assign numerical sequences to each
officer; e.g., the fi rst officer uses numbers 1 through 49; the second officer
uses numbers 50 through 99, etc . Note unused numbers from each
numerical grouping on the property report.
D. In a homicide inve stigation, the Sheri ff’s Identification Bu reau issues all
item numbers for property that i s booked. Prior to completing a Property
Receipt/Report, contact the ID Bur eau for the correct item numb ers(s) to
be used.
III. Property Tags
A. Large, individual it ems which will not fi t into containers m ust be tagged
with a property tag. Property t ags shall be tied with a string to each
individual item. These tags are p reprinted and must be filled out
completely. Include the appropria te item number from the prope rty report
on the tag or bag.
IV. Property Packaging
A. The below listed items s hould be handled in the manner indic ated:
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1. Money All money must be counted and plac ed in a completed, preprinte d
money envelope. The Kapac plastic envelope process may be used
when appropriate. The corresponding item number(s) from the property report shall be i ndicated on the envelope.
2. Guns Guns must be unloaded and indi vidually tagged with a completed
property tag. Include the item numbers from the Property
Receipt/Report on the tag. Guns are not to be booked in a container or bag unless ID work is required.
a. A gun requiring ID work sha ll be unloaded an d placed in a
separate bag or container. This bag or container shall clearly
indicate:
(1) That it contains a gun. (2) The gun is unloaded. (3) The