Evidence / Property

The Placer County Sheriff’s Evidence Unit covers a variety of duties including Photography and Evidence Collection from crime scenes and autopsies. Other duties include Laboratory Processing, AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System), storage and inventory management of property and evidence. They also provide support to the Patrol Division and Investigations Division.

Property Auction

Placer County Sheriff's Office utilizes the services of Property Room  to auction recovered, lawfully seized, or unclaimed property of every kind and description, remaining unclaimed for 90 days or more, except for firearms.

Property Room makes our auction items available on line, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Items sent to auction typically include:

  • Bicycles
  • Coins
  • Electronics
  • Jewelry
  • Musical instruments
  • Sporting equipment 
  • Tools
  • And more

Automated Fingerprint Identification System

The Evidence Unit conducts latent and inked fingerprint analysis. Latent prints are developed by evidence technicians or deputies from crime scenes or in the evidence lab. The latent prints are then analyzed and searched through several databases such as Department of Justice, WIN (Western Identification Network), and FBI. AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) will provide a list of possible matches. A technician conducts the comparisons and a second technician verifies the information.

Crime Scene Evidence Collection

Qualified technicians are on call during evenings and weekends for crime scene call out. Technicians respond to assist investigations and patrol with photography, evidence collection, sketching, and packaging while maintaining the chain of custody and preserving the evidence for future examination and testing.

Laboratory Processing

Our laboratory is stocked with technical equipment, chemicals and powders used in the processing of evidence. The equipment includes:

  • Alternate light source
  • Digital and 35 millimeter cameras
  • Electrostatic dust print lifter
  • Fume hood
  • Superglue chamber

The chemicals and powders are utilized to enhance latent (hidden) prints making them visible.

Property & Evidence Storage

Our property storage facility is used to store evidence on criminal cases, found property, and safekeeping items. The evidence is retained based on the type of crime, the status of the case, and the penal code statutes. Found and Safekeeping properties are offered back immediately if the owners are known.

Contact Information

The Evidence Unit is a call out unit and may have to leave the office to conduct field work. Because of this we highly suggest you call to make an appointment if you have business to conduct with our unit.