It is the responsibility of the Department of
the Corporation Counsel of the City and County
of Honolulu to facilitate the process of returning
evidence, which has been recovered from a pawnshop
or secondhand dealership and which has more than
one person claiming ownership rights to the property.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF RESPONDING OFFICER

A. Prior to inspecting the property, the
officer will ascertain all identification
information from the claimant. The officer
will then inspect the evidence and determine
if it is the property in question.

B. All identified property will be recovered
and placed into evidence. The property is not to
be released to any claimant.

C. The pawnshop or secondhand dealer will be
given a property receipt for accountability.

D. The property shall be submitted into
evidence under the report number (i.e., burglary
first, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle,
robbery, etc.). If no criminal report is initiated,
the officer shall initiate a miscellaneous public
case and submit the evidence under the report number.

E. A copy of the miscellaneous public case
shall be forwarded to the district’s Misdemeanor
Follow-up Detail for final disposition.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The completed report with a final disposition
by the investigating officer (the assigned
detective or misdemeanor follow-up officer)
and an interpleader cover action letter must
be received by the Department of the Corporation
Counsel to begin the return process.

CORPORATION COUNSEL

The Department of the Corporation Counsel is
solely responsible for facilitating the
interpleader action before the court.