The Property and Evidence Unit is a division of the Criminal Investigation Division. The Property and Evidence Unit is responsible for the safe and secure storage of thousands of articles of property which are submitted to the unit as evidence for criminal cases or for safe keeping by officers of the Clayton County Police Department. Located on the ground floor of the Police Headquarters facility at 7911 N. McDonough Street, Jonesboro, Georgia, the Property and Evidence Unit is open Monday - Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

Property submitted to the Property and Evidence Unit is classified into two categories: Evidence and Found Property.

Property with evidentiary value for criminal prosecution which is submitted to the Property and Evidence Unit will be held until after disposition by the courts for the criminal case for which it was collected. With some exceptions, after the case has been disposed of and after all appeals, property which was collected for evidentiary purposes may be released to the rightful owner with permission of the prosecutor's office in writing.

Periodically, officers with the Clayton County Police Department will respond to and collect "found property" for which the owner cannot be located or for which the owner wishes to relinquish temporary control (ie. firearms turned over to police due to safety concerns during an altercation). Found property will be retained by the Property and Evidence Unit for "safe keeping" for a period of 90 days. During the 90 day period, found property may be released to the rightful owner. All found property not collected after the 90 day hold is subject to court ordered disposal pursuant to the Official Code of Georgia.

Persons who wish to retrieve evidence or found property which is in the custody of the Clayton County Police Department Property and Evidence Unit must present themselves in person to the Property and Evidence Unit and must furnish a valid government issued identification card along with proof of ownership in the form of a bill of sale prior to any property being returned.

Persons who have been convicted in any court of a qualifying misdemeanor crime of domestic violence (MCDV) generally are prohibited under federal law from possessing any firearm or ammunition in or affecting commerce (or shipping or transporting any firearm of ammunition in interstate or foreign commerce, or receiving any such firearm or ammunition). This prohibition also applies to federal, state, and local governmental employees in both their official and private capacities. Violation of this prohibition is a federal offense punishable by up to ten years imprisonment. See 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9); see also 18 U.S.C. §§ 921(a)(33), 924(a)(2), 925(a)(1); 27 C.F.R. §§ 178.11, 178.32.

Additionally, pursuant to the Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 17-5-51, any device which is used as a weapon in the commission of any crime against any person or any attempt to commit any crime against any person, any weapon the possession or carrying of which constitutes a crime or delinquent act, and any weapon for which a person has been convicted of the crime of carrying a concealed weapon, as provided for by Code Section 16-11-126, are declared to be contraband and are forfeited.

Firearms and weapons cannot be returned to persons who fall within these categories. A criminal background check is mandatory for all persons who wish to retrieve a firearm from the Property and Evidence Unit.