{"id":14384,"date":"2016-08-15T16:17:45","date_gmt":"2016-08-15T23:17:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/?page_id=14384"},"modified":"2023-03-06T12:57:19","modified_gmt":"2023-03-06T19:57:19","slug":"get-property-back-after-search-seizure-arizona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/blog\/get-property-back-after-search-seizure-arizona\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do I Get My Property Back After Search & Seizure in Arizona?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Search and seizure laws have been coming under intense scrutiny because of the many abuses that have caused considerable inconvenience to average citizens. In many cases, these citizens get caught up in criminal or civil investigations merely because of some association with the subjects of an investigation.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, they have no connection to a crime at all. Getting their property back after seizure can entail considerable time, trouble and expense for these individuals. A search and seizure attorney in Phoenix, Arizona can advise these individuals on their legal rights and the best way to proceed in these cases.<\/p>\n
Reasons for Seizing Property<\/h2>\n
Search and seizure is a tactic used by law enforcement to inspect individual’s home, car, business or person to find information on a crime. In general, people in America are covered by the 4th amendment of the Constitution, which protects against illegal searches and seizures. Law enforcement must have a search warrant to inspect property.<\/p>\n
Evidence discovered under an illegal search cannot be used in court. However, if you consent to an inspection by the police, it is considered a legal search and property can be confiscated. A search and seizure may also be legal if the police have cause to think evidence of a crime might be on the property.<\/p>\n
A search and seizure attorney can provide information on whether a search or seizure has been conducted legally or not. One of the more confusing aspects of seizure law is when the property can be seized as being evidence in a crime, although the person owning the property is not involved in the crime.<\/p>\n
Even when the property is cleared of being the result of a crime, it may still be held by the state. It is entirely the individual’s responsibility to prove ownership of the property, as well as prove why it was seized inappropriately.<\/p>\n
Types of Property That Can Be Seized<\/h2>\n
Any type of valuable can be seized as being either evidence of a commission of a crime or of financial gain that occurred because of a crime. Cars, computers, cameras, clothing, jewelry, tools, equipment and even cash can be confiscated as evidence. Once these items enter the system, they may or may not be retained for use in a criminal or civil case.<\/p>\n
Many times, the evidence needed to successfully prosecute a case is not present, and the legal case evaporates, but the forfeited goods still remains in the system, either waiting for the legal process to recover it to be completed or waiting for it to be sold and the profits incorporated into the law enforcement budget. In most case, the owners of the property face a time limit within which they must make their case or lose the property.<\/p>\n
The Process of Getting Property Back<\/h2>\n
The process of getting your property back is determined by statute in the state in which it was confiscated. Some states have a fairly lax process of returning seized property back to the individuals who were not involved in the commission of any crime. Arizona has a rigorous process of recovering seized property.<\/p>\n
In most cases, individuals benefit from having an attorney who is experienced in search and seizure law to help them navigate the often-complicated process of recovering money or property from the state. The attorney can then help the individual file a timely claim for the forfeited property and determine whether local, state or federal law will be applied in regard to it. The attorney can also help the individual compile the correct documents to prove ownership. Finally, the attorney will help the individual keep track of court appearances in regard to the case.<\/p>\n