Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 525.01
Page 1 of 9
525.01
EVIDENCE AND PROPERTY
5-23-2022
PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is to establish procedures for collecting and booking evidence and property.
POLICY
It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department to ensure evidence/property is properly
secured and stored and readily retrieved and that changes in possession are documented to maintain
the integrity required for successful prosecution or proper disposition.
PROCEDURE
A. COLLECTING AND HANDLING EVIDENCE/PROPERTY
1. All seized evidence, contraband, and property of value coming into possession of an employee
shall be safeguarded and retained for processing.
a. Collect all evidence and handle in a manner that will retain the e videntiary value of the
item( s).
(1) Whenever reasonable, no piece of evidence should be removed from the position in
which it is found until after it has been photographed and its location recorded.
(2) If Peace Officers , Forensic Investigators , or Community Service Officers (CSO) pick up a
piece of physical evidence, for any reason, they are then responsible for booking that
evidence, unless directed otherwise by Investigations or the Forensic Investigations
Section (F IS).
b. Property collected for booking shall be booked no later than the end of the work shift during
which it is acquired.
c. Booking evidence or property requires a report in the Ver sadex Records Management
System .
(1) Repor ts shall be written to document :
(a) Where evidence was located.
(b) Who picked up the evidence.
(c) To whom it was give n.
(d) Why it was given to someone else.
(e) Any other pertinent information.
(2) A report may not be necessary when the item(s) is booked for safekeeping, found , or
disposal only. For found property, a street check shall be completed to include the
“finder” and the “owner” of the property if known.
NOTE: a report shall be written for all narcotics, firearms, contraband, and unusual
circumstances. See B.1.e . for e xception requirements.
d. Items meeting the criteria for field evidence release as outlined in G.O. 525.02 (Release of
Evidence and Property) shall be released to the owner.
2. Employees shall issue a receipt to the person from whom the property was taken, whic h
includes evidence and safekeeping items, by filling out an Evidence and Property Booking
Receipt (SPD 779), listing items taken or received, obtaining a signature if possible, and giving
that person the yellow copy. If property is taken due to abandonment, an SPD 779 shall be
filled out and the yellow copy left at the site listing the items taken, case number, peace
officer’s name and badge number, and the date and time the property was collected. See
section A.5.
3. Surrendered Property
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 525.01
Page 2 of 9
a. When a citizen surrenders evidence/property at a Police Facility counter, a Police Records
employee shall book the evidence/property and complete the appropriate report(s).
b. If the evidence/property is a firearm, narcotic, explos ive or ot her hazardous material, a
peace officer shall be requested to handle the booking procedures. If left with a security
officer, the item(s) shall be secured by the security officer in secured storage in the security
office pending pickup by a peace officer.
c. If the item is a sealed package, with unknown contents, the district sergeant should be
made aware of the circumstances and determine if a peace officer should be assigned to
handle the booking procedures and follow -up.
4. Evidence at Medical Facilities
a. Investigating employees should attempt to retrieve physical evidence from involved persons
at an incident scene before their transportation to a medical facility.
b. If unable to retrieve evidence at the scene, investigating employees shall make every effort
to retrieve physical evidence while they are conducting follow -up at the medical facility.
c. If the investigating employee is unable to respond to the medical facility for follow up
investigation :
(1) The Communications Division shall be requested to dispatch a unit to retrieve and book
the evidence.
(2) Investigating employees shall provide the Communications Division with identification
information of the person from whom the evidence is to be collected. If the evidence is
not readily available, the responding unit sha ll request hospital personnel to notify the
Communications Division when the evidence is available.
5. Illegal Camping Enforcement Evidence and Property
a. It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department that personal property shall not
be removed fro m individuals except when necessary for evidence or safekeeping.
b. If no enforcement action is taken, the peace officer(s) shall not book or remove any items
from the scene unless the owner requests the disposal of the property or it is determined to
be abandoned. See A.5.d. for 24 -hour Notice to Vacate exception.
c. When appropriate, peace officers shall attempt, with the owner’s consent, to find a caretaker
for the property in lieu of booking for safekeeping.
d. If a peace officer encounters an unoccupied or unattended encampment on public property,
he/she shall not remove any property without following the 24 -hour Notice to Vacate
procedure (SPD 113).
6. Perishable Food and Live Plants
Evidence that consists of perishable food or live plants shall be photographed in the field prior
to disposal