Archive for the ‘Office Divisions’ Category

Evidence Division Storage

OPERATIONS STATEMENT

By statute, the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for maintaining seized, found, unclaimed, court ordered seizures, surrendered property or contraband, and items determined to be of investigative, evidentiary value by sworn personnel, including items in physical, digital, or virtual form.

Items deemed to be of evidentiary value, or items associated with a criminal investigation or civil litigation may be required for retention and court presentation. The primary goal of the Evidence Unit is to preserve property and evidence, make it available to court presentation, and to return known items to the rightful owner in its seized condition, or dispose of the property as soon as legally possible, to include illegal or contraband items.

EVIDENCE UNIT RELEASE POLICY

Authorized property will be released by appointment only. If you receive release documents from any of the protocols listed below please call the Evidence Unit, 406-454-7698, for an appointment to obtain the property.

A valid, government issued form of photo identification (Preferably a Driver’s License) and signature will be required to obtain the release of property.

Evidence and property that is retained by the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office may only be released by one of the following protocols:

IN CASES WHERE CHARGES WERE FILED

• A court order signed by a Judge directed to the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office that lists in detail the property or evidence to be released, and to whom.

• A signed Release Form from the Cascade County Attorney’s Office, listing exactly what property can be released and to whom.

• A letter addressed to you from the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office Evidence Unit, indicating that the property is ready for release.

You must bring the original document listed above with you at the time you schedule to retrieve your property. If you do not have the original document, the property will not be released to you at that time.

IN CASES WHERE NO CHARGES WERE FILED OR CORONER CASES

• Prior arrangements made with the Investigating Deputy, Detective, or Coroner who handled the case. The submitting officer is required to notify the Evidence Unit in written form in advance, prior to any property or items entered as evidence can be released.

Additional Information

Property and Evidence will not be released to a third party without notarized, written authorization from the listed owner of the property.

If you are or were a defendant in any case which is now adjudicated, and property in that case was held by the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office Evidence Unit and you are interested in retrieving said property, contact your legal counsel in that matter for assistance in petitioning an order for release of any applicable property. This excludes any items considered to be illegal or contraband.

NOTIFICATIONS OF PROPERTY SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE

Persons designated as owners or property authorized for release will be notified by mail of any property scheduled for release. Acknowledgement and receipt of this correspondence to the Evidence Unit by phone or written response is required within fourteen (14) days from the date of said letters.

If no response is received within fourteen (14) days, the property will be disposed of per the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office Disposal Policy.

Additional Information and Common Questions

If you wish to designate someone to pick up the items, please provide the persons name and contact phone number to the Evidence Unit when you call to schedule an appointment. Also remember that release to a third party requires a notarized, written authorization.

All property must be received personally by the recipient at the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office.

If you feel that we are holding any property in which you claim ownership, if applicable, you may be required to provide proof of ownership including but not limited to:

• Complete physical description of the property.
• Make, model, or serial number of items determined to be listed as valuables.
• Provide any identifying marks that would distinguish the property as belonging to you.

If you wish to surrender any property held by our office, please send a signed letter describing said property, and state that you relinquish any and all ownership of the property, and authorize the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office to take possession of said property. Please send the letter to the following address: