Audit on the New York City Police Department’s Controls over Seized Property Inventory

Executive Summary

This audit was conducted to determine whether the New York Police Department (NYPD) has adequate controls over the seized property managed by its Property Clerk Division (PCD). NYPD is legally authorized to pursue forfeiture under State law of any property that was used to facilitate a crime or constitutes the proceeds of a crime. NYPD also holds property no longer needed as evidence or for further investigation pending disposition. PCD, under the administration of the Support Services Bureau, is responsible for overseeing all property coming into the NYPD’s custody.

Property categorized as contraband is destroyed when it is no longer needed for a criminal case. Property that is not subject to forfeiture proceedings, property being held for safekeeping, and found property can be returned to its rightful owner. Property not claimed by the owner or returned to the finder is to be either auctioned off (if it has value) or discarded. Seized property is recorded and tracked in FORMS – Property, NYPD’s computerized system for inventorying and tracking the movement of property in its possession.

As of January 2021, according to the New York Police Department Property Clerk Division- 2021 Monthly Summary, the total number of seized property invoices in its possession was 2.9 million.

Audit Findings and Conclusion

NYPD was generally able to account for property related to the sampled invoices recorded in its property tracking systems. However, the audit found that NYPD did not consistently conduct required inventory counts of property on hand. While NYPD generally met the minimum retention periods before disposing of held property, many items are held well beyond their retention periods. Finally, the audit found that NYPD should improve its documenting of claimants’ identification information when property is returned.

Audit Recommendations

The audit makes several recommendations that aim to improve NYPD’s controls over its inventory of property. These appear in the body of this report.

Agency Response

In its response, NYPD agreed to implement the audit’s recommendations.