The mission of the Property and Evidence Unit is to accept, catalog, safeguard, store, produce as required for superior court, and return to owner or otherwise legally dispose of all property and evidence collected into the custody of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. The Units main facility comprises of several individual vaults with a total approximate capacity of 2,800 square feet which hold thousands of items and operates a 13,300 square foot off-site secured storage facility for the storage of overflow. In addition, the Unit also operates two secured vehicle storage lots.
The majority of all property taken into custody is evidence required for criminal cases. The rest of the property includes property no longer needed as evidence, contraband, serological evidence, and property confiscated for forfeiture proceedings. Other forms of property received by Property and Evidence also includes, but not limited to; cash, jewelry, firearms, narcotics, and general property of every description.
All property coming into and leaving the Property and Evidence unit is subject to strict legal constraints. Evidence property is regularly signed out for presentation to Superior Court. Property that can be legally returned to its rightful owner is done so in a timely manner. Contraband is destroyed when it is no longer needed for a criminal case. Property and vehicles that have cleared forfeiture proceedings are disposed through public action. The property and evidence unit consists of both sworn and civilian personnel that also help support all municipal police departments within Hudson County in the transfer and release of property.
Operates Monday-Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. We are closed on all holidays and weekends. All property releases are by appointment only and must be approved by an Assistant Prosecutor prior to its scheduled release. Please follow the directions provided to you by mail correspondence for scheduling and pick-up.
Release of Property – Firearms
1. The owner of property shall appear in person and see the receptionist of the Hudson County Prosecutors Office located on the 6th floor of 595 Newark Avenue in Jersey City, NJ. At which time the owner will request and fill out a property release form in its entirety. Upon completion the property owner can submit the property release form directly to the receptionist who will forward the request to the Property and Evidence Unit. At which time you will be given a carbon copy of your request for your records. Failure to provide all necessary information that is required to process your request will cause a delay and result in a re-submission by the owner once the necessary information is provided.
2. After initial review of your request by Property and Evidence Staff your request will be forwarded to the Assistant Prosecutor assigned to your case. Due to the high volume of request received it may take up to 60 days to fully process your request.
3. You will be notified by mail in reference to the statues of your request. If your request was approved please follow the directions provided to you for scheduling and pick-up. A valid NJ Firearms Purchasers ID card and a certified Firearms Purchasers Permit for the weapon has to be provided in addition to the required two forms of ID need to release the property. If you’ve misplaced your Firearms Purchasers Permit, visit your local municipal police department and submit a voluntary firearms registration form.
NOTE: Ammunition and firearms will not be returned on the same day.
Release of Property – Currency
1. The owner of property shall appear in person and see the receptionist of the Hudson County Prosecutors Office located on the 6th floor of 595 Newark Avenue in Jersey City, NJ. At which time the owner will request and fill out a property release form in its entirety. Upon completion the property owner can submit the property release form directly to the receptionist who will forward the request to the Property and Evidence Unit. At which time you will be given a carbon copy of your request for your records. Failure to provide all necessary information that is required to process your request will cause a delay and result in a resubmission by the owner once the necessary information is provided.
NOTE: The owner may have an authorized representative make claim for the property. Such representative must have a notarized letter from the owner of the property, identifying the individual to whom the owner is authorizing to act as his or her representative to claim the specific property. A power of attorney may be required and is preferred.
2. After initial review of your request by Property and Evidence Staff your request will be forwarded to the Assistant Prosecutor assigned to your case. From there your request will be forwarded to the business office for a final decision.
NOTE: If you have any questions or require further assistance concerning your currency request please contact Luisa Reyes of the Business Office at (201) 795-6400 ext. 6609
Release of Property – Vehicle
1. The owner of property shall appear in person and see the receptionist of the Hudson County Prosecutors Office located on the 6th floor of 595 Newark Avenue in Jersey City, NJ. At which time the owner will request and fill out a property release form in its entirety. Upon completion the property owner can submit the property release form directly to the receptionist who will forward the request to the Property and Evidence Unit. At which time you will be given a carbon copy of your request for your records. Failure to provide all necessary information that is required to process your request will cause a delay and result in a re-submission by the owner once the necessary information is provided.
NOTE: The owner may have an authorized representative make claim for the property. Such representative must have a notarized letter from the owner of the property, identifying the individual to whom the owner is authorizing to act as his or her representative to claim the specific property and a power of attorney.
2. After initial review of your request by Property and Evidence Staff your request will be forwarded to the Assistant Prosecutor assigned to your case. Due to the high volume of request received it may take up to 60 days to fully process your request.
3. You will be notified by mail in reference to the statues of your request. If your request was approved please follow the directions provided to you for scheduling and pick-up. A current vehicle insurance card or insurance policy record, and proof of current registration must be provided in addition to the required two forms of ID need to release the property.
NOTE: If you have any questions concerning the statues of your vehicle request please contact Neutral Vehicle Custodian Detective Sergio Herrera at (201) 795-6400 ext. 6671
Certain documents may require proof of legal US presence.
All documents must be original or certified copies, in English, and have the required state and/or municipal seals. Certified copies of New Jersey records are available from the municipality that originally issued them and from the State Bureau of Vital Statistics at www.nj.gov/health/vital or (609) 292-4087. If your birth certificate is from Jersey City/Hudson County you must check www.nj.gov/health/vital/jerseycity or call (888) 486-3339.
List of Valid Forms of Identification
You must present proper identification to claim your property; one MUST be in the form of a PHOTO ID. However, in some cases additional items must also be presented to prove identity and ownership of property.
- 1. Civil birth certificate* or certified copy from one of the 50 states, District of Columbia or a US territory. Photocopies or certificates from hospitals or religious entities are not accepted. Please read IMPORTANT INFORMATION above.
- 2. Order or decree of divorce, dissolution or termination*
- 3. US Department of State birth certificate (Form FS-545, FS-240 or DS-1350)
- 4. US passport, current or expired less than 3 years
- 5. Current NJ digital driver license
- 6. Current NJ digital non-driver ID card
- 7. Current NJ digital boat license
- 8. Current PHOTO driver license from any other state or the District of Columbia
- 9. FAA pilot license
- 10. Social Security Card
- 11. Valid federal, state or local government employee driver license
- 12. Valid active duty US military photo ID card
- 13. Current US military dependent card
- 14. US military photo retiree card
- 15. US military discharge papers (DD214)
- 16. Veterans Affairs universal access PHOTO ID card
- 17. Valid federal, state or local government employee photo ID Card
- 18. Valid federal, state or local government employee photo driver’s license
- 19. Valid NJ firearms purchaser card
- 20. US adoption papers
- 21. Certificate of naturalization (Form N-550, N-570 or N-578)
- 22. Certificate of citizenship (Form N-560, N-561 or N-645)
- 23. State professional license
- 24. Employee PHOTO ID card with printed pay stub
- 25. NJ public assistance card with photo
- 26. US school PHOTO ID card with transcript or school records
- 27. US college PHOTO ID card with transcript
- 28. ATM Card with preprinted name and claimants signature
- 29. Bank Statement or record
- 30. Court order for a legal name change, signed by a judge or court clerk
- 31. Civil Marriage, domestic partnership or civil union certificate issued by the municipality or state in which the ceremony occurred. Please note: Photocopies or certificates issued by religious entities are not acceptable
- 32. Foreign passport with INS or USCIS verification and valid record of arrival/departure (Form I-94)
- 33. Foreign passport with INS or USCIS verification and valid Form I-551 stamp
- 34. Current alien registration card (new Form I-551) with expiration date and verification from INS or USCIS
- 35. Current Photo employment authorization card (Form I-688B or I-766) Must be presented with valid Social Security Card.
- 36. Current alien registration card (old Form I-551) without expiration date and with INS or USCIS verification
- 37. Photo temporary resident card (Form I-688)
*IMPORTANT INFORMATION: If your current legal name is different from the name on your civil birth certificate (e.g., your maiden name), then you must show legal proof of the name change. Legal proof = Certified marriage or civil union certificate, divorce decree or court order linking the new name with a previous name.
Note: A divorce decree may be used as authority to resume using a previous name only if it contains the new name and the previous name and permits a return to use the previous name.