Property & Evidence

Property collected as evidence, recovered from any source or turned over as found property for safekeeping, is stored in the Property and Evidence Room.

Residents can make an appointment with Property and Evidence BEFORE arriving to pick up property items in order to ensure that someone is available to help. To schedule an appointment to pick up the property, you can call the office and leave a message or email them at propertytechs@nrhtx.com, the message should include your name, phone number, case report number, and property description, and you will be contacted within 48 hours to schedule an appointment to pick up your property.

Release of Property/Evidence

Items are booked into Property & Evidence under 3 different categories:

• Evidence – Items collected in connection with a crime. Evidence is retained until a final disposition has been administered by the court (conviction, dismissal, etc.) involving all parties charged in that case. Evidence can only be released with a certified copy of a County Court order. To inquire about the status of a criminal case or about obtaining a court order for property retrieval, contact the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office at 817-884-1400. You will need to provide a case number, which can be obtained from NRH Records Section at 817-427-7000.
• Safekeeping – Items taken and stored with the intent to return the property to its rightful owner. For instance, if you have a medical emergency while riding your bicycle and have to be transported by ambulance to the hospital, Officers will secure your bicycle in Property & Evidence under the heading of safekeeping. In order to pick up your property, the Officer must first complete a Disposition for Release. Items held for safekeeping will only be retained for 90 days, after which they can be destroyed or auctioned.
• Found—Items found or abandoned. For items found with a known owner (Credit Card, Driver’s License, etc.), found/abandoned items can be destroyed or auctioned after 90 days of no inquiry. If a last known address is located for the owner of a found item, a certified letter is sent for notification. 

For items with no known owner, found/abandoned items can be destroyed or auctioned after 30 days from the date of receipt of the item. To see a current list of found property, visit our Found Property List website. If you believe any of these items belong to you, please email the property section at foundproperty@nrhtx.com, to identify your property. You will need to provide proof of ownership to make a claim. 

Release of Firearms

The process for releasing a firearm varies depending on why it is being held. The following is a list of required documentation needed based on why it is being held:

• Firearm being held as Evidence:
  • A certified copy of a County Court Order granting the release of evidence
• Firearm being held for Safekeeping:
  • A Disposition for Release (submitted by the Officer or Detective)
  • Proof of ownership, i.e., a receipt or bill of sale. If this cannot be produced, a notarized statement must be completed certifying ownership: Firearm Ownership
• Firearm being held for Safeguard pursuant to Section 573.001 of the Texas Health and Safety Code and Article 18.191 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure:
  • If you are the owner of the firearm and you were detained under this section, the following is required before release: 
  • Clearance from MHMR Tarrant County; 
  • Disposition of Release from an Officer verifying firearm eligibility; 
  • Proof of ownership, i.e. a receipt or bill of sale. If proof of ownership cannot be produced, a notarized statement must be completed certifying ownership: Firearm Ownership
  • If you are the owner of the firearm and you were detained under this section, you also have the option to release the weapon to a designee. However, the following forms will need to be completed and notarized by both the owner and designee before firearms can be released:
    • Release of Property to Designee & Ownership Affidavit
    • Firearm Designee Affidavit
    • A Disposition for Release must also be filled out by an Officer to determine firearm eligibility
  • If you are the owner of a firearm that was seized from someone detained under this section, the following is required before release:
    • Disposition of Release from Officer verifying possession of firearm eligibility
    • Proof of ownership and notarization of this form: Safeguard Ownership