SOP 206.02: Management of Offender Property or Contraband

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|
|Policy Number: 206.02|Effective Date: 12/09/2019|Page Number: 1 of 16|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level II: Required Offender
Access
|

I. Introduction and Summary:

It shall be the policy of the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) that offenders
may possess only the property that is acquired by one of the following methods:

A. Issued to the offender upon admission to the facility or center;

B. Issued to the offender while in custody at the facility or center;

C. Purchased by the offender in the facility or center Offender Commissary;

D. Approved for special purchase from the GDC Authorized Vendor in accordance

with the provisions outlined in Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 206.01,
Offender Personal Property Standards;

E. Certain items received through the mail in accordance with provisions outlined in

SOP 206.01, Offender Personal Property Standards; or

F. Certain items authorized for receipt by Transitional Center residents.

In addition, property in an offender’s possession upon arrival into GDC custody may
become authorized personal property. Such property is subject to approval in
accordance with guidelines in SOP 206.01, Offender Personal Property Standards.

Any item or article that is not acquired through authorized methods shall be considered
contraband and shall be seized when found, whether it is in physical possession of an
offender, in an offender’s living quarters, or in common areas of the facility. This
SOP aids in the management of contraband and items of property seized as contraband
shall be disposed of in accordance with this SOP.

II. Authority:

A. GDC Board Rules: 125-2-4-.06, 125-3-1-.06, 125-3-2-.04(d), 125-3-3-.04, 125-3
3-.06, and 125-3-4-.10;

B. GDC SOP’s: 206.01, Offender Personal Property Standards; 227.06, Offender Mail

and Receipt of Funds; 227.07, Access to Offender Commissary; 404.01, GDC

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
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|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|
|Policy Number: 206.02|Effective Date: 12/09/2019|Page Number: 2 of 16|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level II: Required Offender
Access
|

Insurance Claims Process; 209.01, Offender Discipline; 203.03, Incident
Reporting; 215.23 Resident Cell Phones; 227.02, Statewide Grievance Procedure;
206.03, Disposition of Abandoned, Tangible Inmate Property; 226.02, Entry
Security Procedures; and 218.01, Key and Lock Control; and

C. ACA Standards: 2-CO-3A-01, 4-4192, 5-ACI-3A-19, 4-4281, 5-ACI-3D-08(M),

4-4292, 5-ACI-5A-06, 4-4294, 5-ACI-5A-08, 4-4335, 5-ACI-5D-07, 4-4207, 5ACI-3A-42, 4-4339, 5-ACI-5D-11, 4-4164, 5-ACI-2E-10, 4-4494, 5-ACI-7D-08,
4-ACRS-2C-01, 4-ACRS-2C-02. 4-ACRS-7D-09, 4-ACRS-7D-13, and
4-ACRS-7D-14.

III. Definitions:

A. Offender Personal Property - Articles of value owned by an offender that were

acquired through authorized methods.

B. Commissary Items - Those items purchased at the offender store.

C. Contraband - Property items which are not explicitly authorized for possession;

which were acquired through unauthorized means; which exceed personal property
limitations on value or amount; which cannot be maintained in a neat and safe
manner; or which present a fire, sanitation, or security issue.

D. Evidence Locker - A secure storage locker for illegal contraband maintained by

the Georgia Department of Corrections, Office of Professional Standards (OPS).
Removal of illegal contraband from the Evidence Locker will be restricted to the
Investigator or Special Agent-In Charge from OPS. OPS will maintain absolute
control of the keys and locks to the Evidence Locker. Keys to the Evidence Locker
will be issued to the Institutional Investigator and Special Agent-In Charge with
OPS. Additional keys to the Evidence Locker will be located at OPS, Central
Office, and Regional office locations.

E. Nuisance Contraband - Any item or article which may be or may have been

authorized for possession, but which is now prohibited because of excessive
quantities or otherwise presents a health or fire hazard, sanitation, security, or
housekeeping problem.

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
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|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|
|Policy Number: 206.02|Effective Date: 12/09/2019|Page Number: 3 of 16|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level II: Required Offender
Access
|

F. Illegal Contraband - Any item or article that is illegal in nature as defined by

State or Federal Law; any item or article that poses a serious threat to the security
of the institution and is ordinarily not approved for possession or admission into
the institution.

G. State Property - Any items purchased or owned by the State.

IV. Statement of Policy and Applicable Procedures:

This policy is applicable to all State, Private, and County Facilities, Residential
Substance Abuse Treatment Centers (RSATs), Integrated Treatment Facilities (ITFs),
and Transitional Centers.

A. The following procedures for handling offender property are established:

1. When an offender is initially received into the GDC system, the processing or

receiving officer shall act in accordance with GDC Board Rule 125-2-4-.06 in
the allowance of personal property and recording of the same. Attachment 1,
Initial Offender Personal Property Inventory, shall be completed to include the
following information:

a. Description of article (including color, manufacturer, model, condition,

serial number if applicable, unusual marks, etc.);

b. Declared monetary value of each item per offender;

c. Personal clothing items that the offender is allowed to keep must be

thoroughly cleaned and, when necessary, disinfected before allowing the
offender to wear them; and

d. The offender shall be given a copy of Attachment 1, Initial Offender

Personal Property Inventory.

2. Whenever an offender is assigned to hospital, mental health facility, Helms

Facility, produced to a State, Superior or Federal Court, or absent by way of
authorized leave or writ, personal property obtained from the offender shall be
properly inventoried on Attachment 2, Offender Personal Property Inventory

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
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|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|
|Policy Number: 206.02|Effective Date: 12/09/2019|Page Number: 4 of 16|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level II: Required Offender
Access
|

Form. Offender clothing shall be thoroughly cleaned and, when necessary,
disinfected prior to storing.

For offenders in Disciplinary Isolation, Protective Custody, Administrative
Segregation, the remaining property shall be packed in the following manner,
and the property shall then be placed in a container and stored as outlined in
section I.V.B (see Attachment 3, Personal Property/Evidence Tag) of this
procedure. Attachment 2, Offender Personal Property Inventory Form shall be
stored with the offender’s property, a copy given to the offender, and a copy
shall be placed in the offender’s institutional file.

Upon his or her return, the property shall be returned to the offender and the
offender shall acknowledge receipt of the property by signing the inventory
form. The offender completed Personal Property Inventory Form shall then be
filed in the offender’s institutional file.

This same process shall be used any time any of these movements occur with
the offender in order to safeguard the offender’s personal property. Every effort
shall be made to ensure that no property damage occurs when handling
offender property. Any damage will be documented and handled in accordance
with, Section IV.C., Reimbursement to Offenders for lost or damaged property.

3. When a Transitional Center resident is placed in the holding room his/her

property will be gathered and inventoried by a staff member. The resident's
property will be divided at this time into two (2) categories, the property that
the resident can have in a state institution and the property that is not acceptable
in a state institution. The property that is acceptable in a state institution will
be inventoried on Attachment 2, Offender Personal Property Inventory. The
resident will review and sign this inventory of items that can return with
him/her to a state institution. The resident will also review and sign Attachment
5, Offender Property Disposal Agreement. Attachment 5 will list the items the
resident must send home or forfeit. Each officer will sign both forms, attesting
to the list(s) of the resident's property. Anyone receiving property for the
resident must also sign the Property Disposal Agreement and the property log.

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|
|Policy Number: 206.02|Effective Date: 12/09/2019|Page Number: 5 of 16|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level II: Required Offender
Access
|

NOTE: Anytime an offender leaves the facility for any of the reasons
stated in paragraph 2, the offender shall be thoroughly searched and all
items taken or worn out of the facility shall be inventoried and
documented on Attachment 2, Offender Personal Property Inventory
Form. Upon return to the facility, the offender shall be thoroughly
searched, and all items inventoried. Any items not previously documented
on Attachment 2, Offender Personal Property Inventory Form, shall not
be allowed into the facility. These item(s) shall be confiscated as
contraband and shall be handled in accordance with paragraph 4.

4. Whenever an offender’s personal property is confiscated as contraband, his or

her property shall be inventoried on Attachment 2, Offender Personal Property
Inventory Form. If the items are clothing, they shall be thoroughly cleaned and,
when necessary, disinfected prior to storing. A copy of the Offender Personal
Property Inventory Form, Attachment 2, shall be stored with the property, a
copy given to the offender, and a copy shall be placed in the institutional file
in order to safeguard the offender’s personal property. The property shall then
be placed in a container, tagged with the Personal Property/Evidence Tag, and
stored as outlined in section IV.B. of this procedure. Disposition of contraband
property is outlined in section IV.D. of this procedure.

4. Whenever an offender is transferred to another facility, the Offender’s Personal

Property Inventory Form, Attachment 2, shall be completed by the losing
facility and attached to the offender’s property. The receiving facility shall
verify that all items inventoried by the losing facility on the Offender Personal
Property Inventory Form, Attachment 2, were received at the receiving
institution. The officer providing verification, the witness, and the offender
shall then sign the form. The completed original form shall be placed in the
offender’s institutional file.

5. When a Transitional Center resident is transferred to a state institution, the

property that the resident can have in a state institution will be transferred with
him/her and the process in IV.A.4. will apply. Resident property that is not
acceptable in a state institution will be left in the property storage room for up
to thirty (30) days. The property must be picked up by someone of the resident's
choosing or mailed out at his/her expense within thirty (30) days or it will be

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|
|Policy Number: 206.02|Effective Date: 12/09/2019|Page Number: 6 of 16|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level II: Required Offender
Access
|

destroyed/ donated. Attachment 5, Offender Property Disposal Agreement will
be used.

6. When an offender escapes or dies, his or her property shall be stored and

recorded as outlined in paragraph A.3. above. If the property is surrendered to
an outside party, an appropriate documented receipt shall be obtained. If after
one (1) year, no legal claim has been made, the property shall be offered for
public sale under the provision of GDC Rule 125-2-4-.06 (e). Procedures for
conducting public sales can be found in SOP 206.03, Disposition of
Abandoned, Tangible Inmate Property.

7. Upon transfer to the Transitional Center, each resident will sign Attachment 7,

Surrender of Property in the Event of Escape. When a Transitional Center
resident escapes, any and all of possessions remaining at the center are
considered to be voluntarily abandoned. P erishable property will be destroyed
immediately. Non-perishable property will be stored in the property storage
room for up to thirty (30) days. If the escapee is recaptured within thirty (30)
days, he/she will have thirty (30) days in which to dispose of the property by
either having it picked up or mailed out at his/her own expense. If the escapee
is not recaptured within thirty (30) days, the property will be deemed
abandoned and will be disposed of in accordance with SOP 206.03, Disposition
of Abandoned, Tangible Inmate Property.

8. When an offender receives personal property from any other authorized source,

see SOP 206.01, Offender Personal Property Standards for recording
procedures of personal property received in this manner.

B. Any time an offender’s property is stored for any reason, the property shall be

inventoried on Attachment 2, Offender Personal Property Inventory Form. A copy
of the Offender Personal Property Inventory Form shall be stored with the
property, a copy given to the offender, and a copy shall be placed in the
institutional file in order to safeguard the offender’s personal property. The
property shall be placed in a container and secured. Prior to being placed in the
container, an offender’s personal clothing shall be thoroughly cleaned and, when
necessary, disinfected and all property including clothing and bedding must be
inventoried. The container shall then be tagged with the Personal

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|
|Policy Number: 206.02|Effective Date: 12/09/2019|Page Number: 7 of 16|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level II: Required Offender
Access
|

Property/Evidence Tag and stored. Each facility shall maintain a property storage
room in a neat and orderly fashion. This room shall be secured at all times and
offenders are never allowed in the property storage room. In addition, the
following guidelines shall be used for management of this storage room:

1. Keys to this room shall be classified as Highly Restricted Use keys as defined

in SOP 218.01, Key and Lock Control.

2. A designated Property Control Officer shall maintain Attachment 4, Property

Control Log, which shall include all the following information concerning
property placed in the storage room:

a. The Personal Property/Evidence Tag number;

b. Number of containers;

c. Offender’s name and GDC number;

d. Date received;

e. Reason for storage;

f. Staff member requesting storage;

g. Date of release;

h. To whom released/signature; and

i. Final disposition (mailed, destroyed, returned to offender).

3. A list of staff authorized access to the storage room shall be maintained. This

list shall be very restrictive and any entry shall be logged in a logbook
indicating the name, date and time of entry into the storage room.

C. Reimbursement to offenders for lost or damaged property shall be limited to the

following:

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|
|Policy Number: 206.02|Effective Date: 12/09/2019|Page Number: 8 of 16|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level II: Required Offender
Access
|

1. One (1) wristwatch per offender;

2. One (1) ring per offenders;

NOTE: The combined value of all jewelry, including wristwatch, ring, and
religious medals or pendants cannot exceed $200.00 for male offenders. For
female offenders, this amount cannot exceed $250.00 if they possess all of the
above jewelry and earrings.

3. One (1) Portable Music Device and/or GOAL Media Device: Offenders may

possess a JP4 Player or GOAL device and one other portable music device.
(See SOP 206.01, Offender Personal Property Standards for types). One (1) set
of headphones and ear buds are allowed with the media device. One (1) set of
headphones or ear buds are allowed with a music device. A belt clip is allowed.
The GOAL device and JP4 Player may have a USB Cord (this applies only to
facilities where personal devices are allowed.)

4. The value of any portable music device cannot exceed that which is set by the

Offender Commissary or approved vendor. All portable music devices, except
JP4 Players and GOAL devices (engraving will damage device), shall be
engraved with the offender’s name and GDC ID number at the time it is
purchased at the Offender Commissary or from the approved vendor. To show
ownership of the JP4 Player and the GOAL device, the offender’s name and
GDC ID number is displayed on the screen of the device once it is turned on.

5. Upon intake or reception, offenders shall be informed in writing of personal

property rules and restrictions. They shall be given an opportunity to declare
the value of the property items. If they have property that exceeds the value
limits established in this procedure, they shall be allowed to mail it to the
address of their choice.

6. Offenders who have brand name or designer-label clothing in their possession

shall be allowed to mail the articles to the address of their choice.

7. When an offender’s property is being returned after being stored for any reason

and items documented on Attachment 1, Initial Offender Personal Property

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|
|Policy Number: 206.02|Effective Date: 12/09/2019|Page Number: 9 of 16|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level II: Required Offender
Access
|

Inventory, cannot be located, this fact shall be documented on the form. Any
request for compensation or replacement of missing items shall be initiated
through the offender grievance procedure by the offender whose property is
missing.

8. If the grievance is approved, the Warden’s or Superintendent’s designee shall

conduct an investigation of the loss. The investigation shall be completed and
forwarded within thirty (30) days to the Warden or Superintendent.

9. In the event that the facility decides to pay any of the offender’s claims, the

following procedure shall be followed:

a. Upon the Warden or Superintendent receiving a copy of the investigation

with supporting documentation, including proof of ownership and the
replacement cost of the lost item(s), the Warden, Superintendent, or their
designee is authorized to compensate the offender by utilizing funds from
the Offender Benefit Fund (store profits). Should there be a similar item
sold in the offender commissary, the lost item shall be replaced.

b. The maximum amount payable per claim from the Offender Benefit Fund

shall not exceed $500.00 dollars. Any offender who wishes to file a claim
seeking compensation over $500.00 dollars must obtain a claim form, State
of Georgia Liability Incident Report Form, through the Warden or
Superintendent’s office. Claims shall be processed through the
Department’s Office of Risk Management, located at State Offices SouthTift College, 300 Patrol Rd., Upshaw Building, P. O. Box 1529, Forsyth,
GA 31029.

10. State Property: Items of state property seized as contraband shall be returned

to the Warden or Superintendent or their designee and shall be placed in normal
stock for re-issue if it has not been altered. Medical equipment, accessories,
supplies, medication, etc. shall be returned to the Medical Department. State
property may be retained as evidence for disciplinary actions or criminal
prosecution whenever appropriate.

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|
|Policy Number: 206.02|Effective Date: 12/09/2019|Page Number: 10 of 16|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level II: Required Offender
Access
|

11. Personal Property: Items seized as Nuisance Contraband shall be turned over

to the Warden, Superintendent, or their designee for disposition. Items seized
as Illegal Contraband shall immediately be sealed in an evidence bag/container
to preserve its integrity and placed in the Evidence Locker or stored in a secure
location designated by the Warden/Superintendent until the contraband can be
turned over to OPS. (See Section IV.D.2. a-e) When disciplinary action is
appropriate, disposition of the property shall be delayed until the disciplinary
action is completed.

12. Nuisance contraband is defined in the Definition section of this procedure.

Specific examples of nuisance contraband are as follows:

a. Excessive numbers of newspapers, letters or magazines;

b. Food items which have spoiled; or

c. Items accumulated for the purpose of barter or trade.

13. Illegal contraband is defined in this procedure in the Definitions section.

Specific examples of illegal contraband are as follows:

a. Tobacco;

b. Guns or firearms of any type;

c. Knives or tools not approved by institutional policy;

d. Hazardous and poisonous chemicals and gases;

e. Narcotics or other controlled substances, medication not dispensed by the

institution’s medical department, and medicines dispensed by the medical
department but not consumed according to prescriptions;

f. Ammunition or explosives;

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
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|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level II: Required Offender
Access
|

g. Wireless communication devices (cell phones, unauthorized computers,

etc.);

h. Intoxicants of any type;

i. Personal information about any correctional employee(s) including but not

limited to home telephone number, addresses, etc. This type of information
shall be viewed as having the potential to compromise the safety and
security of both the staff member(s) involved, as well as the safety and
security of the Georgia Department of Corrections. The discovery of this
type of contraband shall be immediately reported to the Appointing
Authority and an investigation shall be initiated; and

j. No offender shall possess any document (s) obtained from the Georgia

Department of Corrections public web site/offender query. This includes
the photo(s), and/or sentencing information regarding other offenders.

NOTE: This is not an inclusive list. Many other items may be illegal
contraband in accordance with the definition found in the Definition
section of this procedure. Authorized cell phones at TCs are addressed in
SOP 215.23 Resident Cell Phones.

D. Procedures for Disposing of Nuisance and Illegal Contraband:

1. Nuisance Contraband: Nuisance Contraband shall be turned over to the

Warden or Superintendent or their designee for inventory and storage pending
identification of the true owner, if in question, and possible disciplinary action.

a. Within seven (7) days of the seizure, the offender who possessed the

item(s) at the time of the seizure shall be given the opportunity to present
evidence that he or she is the owner of the item and that it is not Nuisance
Contraband.

b. If the offender establishes his or her ownership but the item is still

determined to be contraband, the items shall be mailed to the offender’s
home or to the address which he has provided for such purposes at the

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
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|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level II: Required Offender
Access
|

offender’s expense. If the offender is indigent, he or she can use the
exceptional mailing process outlined in SOP 406.19, Offender Financial
Transactions and Business Activities.

c. If the offender established ownership to a Nuisance Contraband item and

is unwilling, but financially able, to pay postage or refuses to provide a
mailing address for the return of the property, or have an approved visitor
to pick up the property at visitation, then the property shall be destroyed or
donated to charity after thirty (30) days.

d. If the offender is unable to establish ownership, reasonable efforts shall be

made to determine the rightful owner before the decision to destroy is
made.

e. In all cases, Attachment 5, Offender Property Disposal Agreement

describing the items to be mailed, picked up at visitation, destroyed, or
donated shall be completed. The employees actually destroying or donating
the property shall sign the Offender Property Disposal Agreement attesting
to the destruction or donation.

f. When property is donated to charity, employees shall write the name of the

charity by his or her signature. The Offender Contraband Disposal
Agreement shall be filed as follows:

1) When property is mailed home or picked up at visitation the completed

Offender Contraband Disposal Agreement shall be placed in the
offender’s institutional file.

2) When property is destroyed or donated, the completed Offender

Property Disposal Agreement shall be maintained in a separate file for
three (3) years and a copy shall be placed in the offender's institutional
file.

2. Illegal Contraband: Illegal Contraband shall immediately be sealed in an

evidence bag/container to preserve its integrity, secured in storage and turned
over to the Investigator or Special Agent from OPS. An Incident Report shall

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
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|Policy Number: 206.02|Effective Date: 12/09/2019|Page Number: 13 of 16|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level II: Required Offender
Access
|

be completed in accordance with SOP 203.03, Incident Reports and
Attachment 6, Chain of Custody of Evidence Form, shall also be completed.
Attachment 6, Chain of Custody of Evidence Form, shall be utilized for
recording, handling, and transferring of all contraband that is found or
collected. The Chain of Custody of Evidence Form shall 1) the original staff
member that finds or collects the contraband or evidence shall be responsible
for completing the Evidence Description. The original staff member shall also
be the first person to sign under the Signatures Required Section of the form
and attach the form to the evidence; 2) the original Chain of Custody of
Evidence Form shall be affixed to all contraband or evidence, prior to
placement in the Facility Evidence Locker; 3) each time that the contraband
or evidence is relinquished from one staff member to another (i.e., Chief of
Security or Office of Professional Standards), or to another Law Enforcement
Agency, this shall be documented on the Signatures Required Section; and 4)
a copy of the Chain of Custody Of Evidence Form shall be included in all
Incident Reports when contraband or evidence is found or collected.

a. Apprehension of Illegal Contraband: Immediately after seizure and

confiscation, all illegal contraband shall be handled in accordance with this
section. For an official investigation and prosecution, contact OPS.

b. Prior to placing any contraband in secure storage, the contraband shall be

sealed in evidence bag/container (tamper proof) with a completed chain of
custody form. Staff shall wear gloves while handling Illegal Contraband.
Illegal Contraband shall be sealed in a plastic evidence bag. The evidence
bag(s) must be sealed with evidence tape.

Note: Illegal Contraband containing bodily fluids shall be sealed in paper
evidence bag/container.

c. Storage Procedures: Once the Illegal Contraband has been sealed in

evidence bag/container and the chain of custody completed, it shall be
placed in secure storage (Evidence Locker, Armory or other secured
location outside determined by Warden/Superintendent).

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
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|Policy Number: 206.02|Effective Date: 12/09/2019|Page Number: 14 of 16|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level II: Required Offender
Access
|

1) State Prisons: Illegal contraband shall be secured in the Evidence

Locker. Procedures for keys to the Evidence Locker are outlined in
Section III.D.

2) Private Prisons, County Prisons, Transitional Centers and Probation

Detention Centers: Contraband may be temporarily stored inside in the
Warden’s Office (in a safe or locked cabinet), Main Control, or another
secure location as determined by the Warden/Superintendent due to a
lack of outside storage at these facilities, until the contraband can be
turned over to the Investigator or Special Agent from OPS. On
weekends and after hours, it shall be placed in a temporary drop-box or
locker box in a secure location determined by the Warden or
Superintendent until the contraband can be turned over to the
Investigator or Special Agent from OPS. The temporary drop-box or
locker box, which shall have limited access, shall be placed in Main
Control or another secured restricted area. Keys to this box shall be
classified as Highly Restricted Use keys as defined in SOP 218.01, Key
and Lock Control. A list of staff authorized access to the storage box
shall be maintained. This list shall be very restrictive and any entry
shall be logged in a logbook indicating the name, date and time of entry
into the storage box.

d. If a weapon (gun, Taser, etc.) is found, it shall be sealed in an evidence bag

or evidence firearm container and turned over to the OPS immediately. All
Illegal Contraband found outside the facility shall be properly labeled,
sealed in a tamper proof evidence bag, and placed in a permanent storage
area (Evidence Locker, Armory or other secured location as determined by
the Warden/Superintendent).

e. Relinquishing Procedures and Destruction of Illegal Contraband: All

Illegal Contraband shall be relinquished to OPS. OPS is responsible for the
destruction of all Illegal Contraband.

1) At State Prisons: OPS shall be the only GDC staff authorized to

remove Illegal Contraband from the Evidence Locker.

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|
|Policy Number: 206.02|Effective Date: 12/09/2019|Page Number: 15 of 16|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level II: Required Offender
Access
|

2) At Private Prisons, County Prisons, Transitional Centers and Probation

Detention Centers: The facility shall contact the Investigator or Special
Agent with OPS to arrange pick up or drop off to relinquish the Illegal
Contraband. The Warden/Superintendent’s designee (Property
Officer) and an additional staff member designated by
Warden/Superintendent shall be authorized and required to remove
Illegal Contraband from temporary storage for drop off to or pick up
by the Investigator or Special Agent from OPS. The Investigator or
Special Agent from OPS can be considered as one of the staff
authorized to retrieve evidence or contraband from the restricted area
(Armory, etc.) These procedures shall be monitored closely by the
Chief of Security. Illegal Contraband shall not be reintroduced into the
facility.

E. Currency or Negotiable Instruments: Offenders at Transitional Centers are the only

offenders allowed to possess money, currency or negotiable instruments. Money,
currency, or negotiable instruments found in an offender’s possession which
exceed the Transitional Center’s allowable limits or on offenders who are not
authorized to possess funds, shall be delivered to the Business Office. When
disciplinary action is appropriate, final disposition of the funds shall be delayed
until the action is completed. If the offender at a Transitional Center can establish
that the funds are legally in his or her possession, they shall be deposited to his or
her account. If the offender at a Transitional Center cannot provide evidence of
lawful ownership, the money shall be determined to be contraband and shall be
confiscated. All funds, which are confiscated, shall be turned over to the cashier
for deposit in accordance with departmental policies. In no case shall an offender
be permitted to retain in his/her possession currency or other funds in excess of the
established institutional limit.

F. Offender Transfer between Facilities: Storage space availability and security needs

differ among facilities; therefore, the amount of allowable personal property may
also differ. Personal property of an offender which is allowed in the sending
facility, but not permitted by the receiving facility, shall be disposed of in
accordance with paragraph IV.A.4. This property determination shall be made at
the identification processing area at the time the offender property is received.

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|Policy Name:Management of Offender Property or Contraband|
|Policy Number: 206.02|Effective Date: 12/09/2019|Page Number: 16 of 16|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level II: Required Offender
Access
|

V. Attachments:

Attachment 1: Initial Offender Personal Property Inventory Form
Attachment 2: Offender Personal Property Inventory Form
Attachment 3: Personal Property/Evidence Tag
Attachment 4: Property Control Log
Attachment 5: Offender Property Disposal Agreement
Attachment 6: Chain of Custody of Evidence Form
Attachment 7: Transitional Center Surrender of Property in Event of Escape

VI. Record Retention of Forms Relevant to this Policy:

Attachments 1, 2, 5, and 7 shall become part of the offender’s institutional file and
retained according to the official retention schedule for that file. Attachment 3 shall
remain on the container that the offender’s property is stored in until final disposition
of the property and then the tag shall be destroyed. Attachment 6 shall remain on the
property until final disposition of the property and a copy shall become part of the
incident report. Attachment 4 shall be retained for four (4) years and then destroyed.