(1) The law enforcement agency having responsibility for investigating a reported offense shall promptly return to the victim property belonging to that victim that is taken in the course of the investigation, except as provided in subsections (2) to (4).
  (2) The agency shall not return property that is contraband.

Have a question?
Click here to chat with a criminal defense lawyer and protect your rights.

Terms Used In Michigan Laws 780.783

  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Offense: means 1 or more of the following:
  (i) A violation of a penal law of this state for which a juvenile offender, if convicted as an adult, may be punished by imprisonment for more than 1 year or an offense expressly designated by law as a felony. See Michigan Laws 780.781
  • Prosecuting attorney: means the prosecuting attorney for a county, an assistant prosecuting attorney for a county, the attorney general, the deputy attorney general, an assistant attorney general, a special prosecuting attorney, or, in connection with the prosecution of an ordinance violation, an attorney for the political subdivision that enacted the ordinance upon which the violation is based. See Michigan Laws 780.781
  • Victim: means any of the following:
  •   (i) A person who suffers direct or threatened physical, financial, or emotional harm as a result of the commission of an offense, except as provided in subparagraph (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v). See Michigan Laws 780.781
      (3) The agency shall not return property if the ownership of the property is disputed until the dispute is resolved.
      (4) The agency shall retain as evidence any weapon used in the commission of the offense and any other evidence if the prosecuting attorney certifies that there is a need to retain that evidence in lieu of a photograph or other means of memorializing its possession by the agency.