PLEASE CALL (831) 758-7394 FOR RELEASE OF PROPERTY
An appointment is required for property pick-up. To claim your property, call the Property Unit at (831)758-7394. Appointments are available Tuesday and Thursday between the hours of 9:00 am to 2:30 pm.
Valid Identification must be presented for release of property, i.e. valid Driver’s License from any state, valid Identification card from any state, valid Passport, Matricula Card or similar from any country, valid United States Military Identification, etc…
You will need a notarized letter of authorization before someone else can pick up your property. The authorized letter must have the name of the person picking up the property. The person picking up your property must bring a valid government issued picture ID. The following form can be downloaded, printed, and used for this purpose: Notarized Property and Evidence Release Form. This process does not apply to firearms. For further information regarding Firearm releases, please contact us at (831)758-7394.
The primary duties of the Property Unit is to log, classify, store, dispense, destroy and release property/evidence to its rightful owner for court presentation and/or for destruction or auction.
*Evidence: Property is generally held for a minimum of 90 days from conclusion of any pending court action or investigation. Subsequently the prosecuting attorney may initial a court order for return certifying that the property is no longer needed for court and may be returned to the rightful owner. If no charges are filed, items held as Evidence will be held for the Statute of Limitations for the crime sought. If the item is requested back by the owner and charges were not filed, it is responsibility of the rightful owner to contact the District Attorney’s office for a request for the property to be released. If the owner does not claim the items after written contact has been made, they may be considered unclaimed and disposed of in the manner prescribed by law.
*Safekeeping: Property is generally held for 90 days for pick up by the owner. If the owner is unable to retrieve the property, the owner must notify us in writing to release the property to an authorized person. For items that hold significant value, like currency, jewelry, or phones the owner shall make the request with a Notarized letter authorizing, said person permission to retrieve the item on behalf of the rightful owner. Failure to claim items within 90 days will invalidate any claim and the property shall be disposed of in the manner prescribed by law.
*Found Property: Found property and/or unattended property is taken into custody for safeguarding until the owner is located. This property is held a minimum of 90 days while attempts to locate the rightful owner are made. FINDER: If you wish to claim the property, contact the Property Technicians within 5 days after delivering the property to the Salinas Police Department. You must complete a found property affidavit claim form. If the property affidavit form is not submitted to us, you will forfeit all rights to the property and items will be disposed of if no owner is located. (FOUND FIREARMS AND DRUGS WILL NOT BE RELEASED)
*Search Warrant: All property taken during the service of a search warrant can only be released by order of the court. You must obtain a valid Monterey County Court Order for release of property. Call 831-755-5070 to speak with the Monterey Court Criminal Division Office for more information on obtaining a court order.
*Firearms & Ammunition
**If you are attempting to claim a firearm(s), ammunition, and/or ammunition feeding devices, you must first obtain a clearance letter from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) PC 33850. Beginning December 1, 2021 applicants must electronically submit a Law Enforcement Release (LER) application via the California Firearms Application Reporting System (CFARS). The clearance letter, confirming that you can legally possess a firearm(s), ammunition, and/or ammunition feeding devices is valid for 30 days. You must make an appointment to retrieve your firearm and/or ammo before the letter expires. You must also bring a firearm lock or locking case for transportation. Ammunition is not released at the same time as guns. For additional information you may visit the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Firearms website here.
*Firearms & Ammunition Transfers
**The Salinas Police Federal Firearms License (FFL) Dealer Release form needs to be completed when any firearm which is in the possession of the Salinas Police Department is to be released to a firearms dealer rather than to the registered owner of the firearm(s) in question. This form is most often used under the following circumstances; the owner of the firearm can no longer legally take possession of his/her property but wishes to transfer/sell the weapons to a third party; or when the owner can not come to the Salinas Police Service building in person to take possession of the firearms.
**If the registered owner is prohibited by law from taking the firearms into his/her possession and cannot obtain a Law Enforcement Release form (LER) from California DOJ, they must come to the Salinas Police Property & Evidence Room in person with the FFL holder of their choice. The registered owner must complete the Salinas FFL Dealer Release form, which authorizes us to release the listed firearms to the FFL. The FFL dealer who will take possession of the firearms will then sign the property release forms indicating that he/she has taken legal possession of the firearms and will process any sale in accordance with State law. Both the owner and the FFL must bring valid ID. The FFL dealer must show proof of their current Federal Firearms License.
**In instances where the registered owner can legally take possession of the firearm, but cannot accompany the FFL dealer to the Salinas Police Property & Evidence Room, the Salinas Police FFL Dealer Release form must be completed by the owner and a Notary Public must notarize the form along with a photo copy of the registered owner’s identification. We will accept a valid driver’s license, ID card, passport or military ID. The completed and notarized FFL Dealer Release form and the golden seal copy of the LER verifying that the owner of the firearms can legally posses the weapons, must be on file with the Salinas Police Property & Evidence Room before the firearms can be released to the designated FFL. The FFL dealer must show valid identification and proof of their current Federal Firearms License.
*Out of State Transfers
**Individuals who do not reside in the state of California, must have a notary form accompany the Salinas Police Department FFL Firearms Release Form. We will accept a general acknowledgement notary form from the owners state of resident along with a photo copy of the registered owner’s identification. All documents must be submitted via certified mail to Salinas Police Department, Property & Evidence, 312 E. Alisal Street, Salinas Ca 93901.
*MENTAL HEALTH INCIDENTS – NOTICE OF RIGHTS: If you were detained under Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) 5150 and subsequently admitted to a mental health facility, you are prohibited from owning, possessing and controlling firearms for a period of five (5) years in California. If you currently own any firearms, you must contact the nearest law enforcement agency to surrender those firearms.
If the firearms and/or other deadly weapons were confiscated from you pursuant to WIC 8102, a report of the details surrounding the confiscation of those items may be given to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office. The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office must file a petition with the Monterey County Superior Court within 30 days, alleging that the return of the items would likely result in endangering you or others, otherwise the items must be returned to you as long as you are not prohibited from possessing firearms. If the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office does file such a petition, you have a right to a hearing on the question of whether returning these items would, in fact, likely result in endangering you or others. A copy of the Monterey County District Attorney’s petition will be mailed to you at the address you provided to the Salinas Police Department. If you wish to have a hearing you must notify the clerk of Monterey County County Superior Court within 30 days of the filing date of the Monterey County District Attorney’s petition. The clerk will then set a date and time for such hearing and a notification will be mailed to you.
**Property and Evidence does not provide Vehicle Releases, please contact the front desk for a vehicle release form**
For more information please go to our Frequently Asked Questions. Click Here.
