If the Salem Police Department has your property in its custody, you may be able to have it returned. Property is released by appointment only.

Check if your property can be released

To find out if your property can be returned, email propertycontrol@cityofsalem.net and include as much of the following information as possible:

• Your name and date of birth
• Your telephone number
• Police incident number and a description of your property

If you cannot send an email, call 503-588-6104 and leave a brief message.

The Evidence Control Unit will verify if your property can be released and will contact you using the phone number or email you provided. The process may take two to five business days.

An appointment for pick up

If the property can be released to you, staff will contact you to make an appointment.

Appointment times are available Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Bring the following items with you to your appointment:

• Photo identification, such as a driver license or a jail identification card
• Documentation for property, as needed:
  • Court order for release of the property
  • Copies of legal documents, e.g., a power of attorney, status as executor of an estate or will
  • Notarized letter

If you are unable to claim your property in person, you can arrange for a representative to do so by providing them with a notarized letter. Parents may pick up property on behalf of their minor children.

Additional property information

There may be other requirements before your property can be released, depending on the item and how it came to be in police custody. Review the following examples to determine if they pertain to you.

Evidence

If the item(s) were seized as evidence in a case, they cannot be returned until the prosecution of the case is complete and the District Attorney's Office releases a judgment stating the property can be returned to you.

Safekeeping

Property taken for safekeeping must be claimed within 90 days before it is disposed of by the police department. Safekeeping property will be marked with the letters SK on your property receipt.

Found Property

Found property with no owner listed is held for 90 days.

The Salem Police Department will not accept found property items from the public unless they meet specific criteria outlined by the ORS 98.005 Finder's Law and department policy. Items not accepted are the finder's responsibility to dispose of pursuant to law. 

Items accepted by the Salem Police Department are held for 90 days while attempts to identify and notify an owner are made or follow the requirements of the Finder's Law. Items not released to the legal owner are disposed of after 90 days pursuant to law. Items will not be returned to the finder. 

Firearms

Firearms may be returned to you following adjudication of your case and upon passing a criminal history background check. If you need to retrieve both a firearm and ammunition from the Salem Police Department, the items cannot be released together. You will need two appointments to pick up the items separately. Staff will advise you of any other legal requirements or steps needed to retrieve your firearm.

Illegal property items

Property items that are illegal to possess cannot be returned to you. Property items obtained through crime, such as stolen property, also cannot be returned.

Recovered stolen property can be returned to the owner when the property becomes releasable.

Drugs

Illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia cannot be returned to you, including marijuana. Although marijuana is legal to possess in the state of Oregon, it is an illegal substance under federal law.

Prescription medications can be returned if they are prescribed to you, contained in the original prescription bottle, and not expired.