CCSO’s Property & Evidence Bureau receives, catalogs and stores evidentiary, abandoned, forfeited and found property in accordance with state and local law.

Evidentiary items remain in custody of the Sheriff’s Office in the Evidence Unit until the sentencing phase of the case is complete and/or authorization has been obtained from the deputy or investigator in charge of the case. Authorization must be received before items are returned. A court order can also be obtained for the return of items. If items are turned in via a court order then a court order is needed to have them returned (Firearms turned in because of injunctions or no contact orders ) Firearms obtained from Baker Act or Risk Protection Orders will be returned with proper documentation. 

CLAIMING PROPERTY:

Found property: If an owner is known, a letter is sent to the last known address informing them their property has been found. A weekly list is posted in the Sheriff’s Office lobby area. If a finder wishes to place a claim on an item they found, they must contact the Evidence unit within 5 business days of the find or the claim will not be accepted.

Found property is held for 90 days and then disposed. A finder’s claim cannot be accepted on a firearm or any type of motorized vehicle or registered vessel or digital electronics.

To claim items the owner must contact the Evidence Unit at 239-252-0820 to verify items are on releasable status and to make an appointment. Appointments for the public are made between the hours of 0930-1530 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Unclaimed property and evidence per state statute 705.105
If the property is of appreciable value, the agency may elect to:
1.  Retain the property for the agency’s own use;
2.  Transfer the property to another unit of state or local government;
3.  Donate the property to a charitable organization;
4.  Sell the property at public sale

If the property is not of appreciable value, the law enforcement agency may elect to destroy it.

Unclaimed property at CCSO is auctioned through the website www.propertyroom.com

Found property Finder’s claim:
1.  Notify the collier County Sheriff’s Office Evidence Section of your desire to file a Finder’s Claim either in writing or by calling 239-252-0820 within 5 business days of the find or your claim will not be accepted. If not claimed by the rightful owner within 90 days from submission, the finder can claim the property otherwise it will be disposed.

2.  A finder’s claim cannot be accepted on a firearm or any type of motorized vehicle or registered vessel or digital electronics.

Firearms:
1. Firearms delivered via a Court Order shall remain the total responsibility of the owner or bearer of listed firearms and CCSO shall have no responsibility to maintain the value of any such firearm as delivered according to the terms of the Order

2. No firearm will be released until a background check is completed and approved.

Domestic Violence Injunction / No Contact Court Order Surrendered Firearms:
1.  A Court Order granting the return of the firearm is required to be released. 

2. If you fail to reclaim your firearms within sixty (60) days of the termination date of the injunction/no contact order or fail to claim or transfer the ownership of listed firearms to a third party within ONE (1) year of delivery, listed firearms will be forfeited and disposed of according to Florida Statute 705.

Baker Act and Risk Protection Order Seized/Surrendered Firearms:
1.  Contact the Mental Health Unit at 239-252-0958. The property owner must provide documentation to the Mental Health Unit that he/she is no longer subject to an involuntary examination and has been released or discharged from any facility under the Baker Act. 

2.  A Property Release Form (Disposition Order) MUST BE COMPLETED and SIGNED by the Mental Health Unit or Legal Dept. prior to an appointment being made for the release.

3.  A background check will be completed prior to an appointment being made and the release of a firearm Firearms/weapons seized under a Baker ACT will be considered abandoned and destroyed 6 (six) months from the date seized if not claimed.  

Risk Protection Order - RPO firearms:
1.  Contact the Mental Health Unit at 239-252-0958

2.  An owner release requires that you must contact Mental Health Unit with documentation that the RPO Temporary or Final RPO order has expired or has been vacated.

3.  A family member release requires that the family member must be legally entitled to possess firearms. Contact the Mental Health Unit at 239-252- 0958 for further instructions.

4.  A property release form (or a disposition order) MUST BE COMPLETED and SIGNED by the Mental Health Unit or Legal Dept. prior to an appointment being made.

5.  A background check will be completed to verify the claimant is legally entitled to possess firearms prior to the appointment being made and the firearm being released.

6.  Firearms seized/surrendered via Risk Protection Order will be considered abandoned and destroyed if a claim has not been presented within 60 days after the temporary or final RPO order has expired or has been vacated.

General  Property:
Please follow the steps below to assist CCSO Property & Evidence Section personnel in releasing your property to you:

1. You must first make contact with an investigator from the concerned division to determine whether the property is authorized for release. (Generally, authorization comes from a court or the investigator when the court sentencing phase is complete or the property is no longer necessary for law enforcement purposes.)

2. The Property Release Form (Disposition Order) MUST BE COMPLETED and SIGNED by the investigator from the concerned division prior to picking up property. Once the form is completed and signed, it is given to the Property and Evidence Section.

3. Property & Evidence Personnel do not have the authority to release any property unless steps 1 and 2 are completed.

4. You must contact the Property & Evidence Section at 239-252-0820 to schedule an appointment. Releases are done by appointment only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If the item is in Immokalee, appointments are taken on Tuesdays in Immokalee.

5. You MUST have current identification such as: 
    • Any government ID, including official Police ID 
    • State Issued ID (ex., Driver’s License or ID Card)
    • Passport