§ 128-50.001 Definitions.

§ 128-50.001-1 Seized personal property.

Personal property for which the Government does not have title but which the Government has obtained custody or control of in accordance with 15 U.S.C. 1177; 18 U.S.C. 924(d), 1955(d), 2513, 3611, 3612, 3615; 19 U.S.C. 1595a; 21 U.S.C. 881; 22 U.S.C. 401; Fed. R. Crim. P. 41(b); 28 CFR 0.86, 0.89, 0.111(j), 3.5, 3.6, 8.1, 8.2, 9a.1, 9a.2; or other statutory authority.

Subpart 128-50.1-Storage and Care of Seized Personal Property

§ 128-50.100 Storage and care.

(a) Each bureau shall be responsible for providing that its seized personal property storage facilities meet the safeguarding standards applicable to the type of property being stored.

(b) Each bureau shall be responsible for performing care on its seized personal property to prevent the unnecessary deterioration of such property. In particular, a bureau preparing a seized vehicle for storage should be at a minimum;

(1) Protect the cooling system from freezing;

(2) Protect the battery by assuring it is properly watered;

(3) Protect the tires by inflating to correct pressure;

(4) Remove all articles found in the vehicle's interior (for example, easily removable radios, tape players, and speakers) and all exterior accessories (for example, wheel covers) that are subject to pilferage and properly store them; and

(5) Shut all windows and lock all doors and compartments that have locks.

§ 128-50.101 Inventory records.

Each bureau shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining inventory records of its seized personal property to ensure that:

(a) The date the property was seized is recorded;

(b) All of the property associated with a case is recorded together under the case name and number;

(c) The location of storage of the property is recorded;

(d) A well documented chain of custody is kept; and

(e) All information in the inventory records is accurate and current.

§ 128-50.102 Periodic reviews.

Each bureau shall be responsible for performing an independent accountability review at least once a year to ensure compliance with this subpart and with the bureau's procedures for the handling, storage, and disposal of its seized personal property. In particular, a bureau conducting a review shall verify that the inventory records are accurate, current, and are being kept in accordance with established inventory procedures.

§ 128-50.103 Investigation of any discrepancy.

(a) Upon discovery of any discrepancy between the inventory records and the bureau's actual amount of seized personal property, a board of survey shall conduct an investigation in accordance with 41 CFR 128-51.1.

(b) If the discrepancy cannot be eliminated and involves a shortage, the bureau shall notify the U.S. attorney in charge of the litigation involving the missing property of the shortage as soon as possible.

(c) If the discrepancy cannot be eliminated and involves an overage, the bureau shall determine if the property has any evidentiary value. If the property does have evidentiary value, the property shall be properly stored and inventoried. If the property does not have any evidentiary value, the bureau shall determine whether the property is forfeitable to the United States, voluntarily abandoned, or abandoned. Proper proceedings shall be commenced as soon as possible to vest title of the forfeitable property in the United States. The voluntarily abandoned and abandoned property shall be kept in custody in accordance with 41 CFR 101-48 and any applicable Justice property management regulations.