All seized evidence must be properly disposed of. If it's been used in criminal proceedings, usually the prosecutor dictates what happens to the evidence.
Cops don't always take computers. Often just the hard drive will do. Of course, it requires a competent law enforcement officer to make that determination at the scene, and it obviously depends upon the case. Fraud case, might not take the machine. Hacker case, might take the machine. Child porn case, might take the machine.
If seized as evidence and found not guilty (found innocent is not a determination that can be made by our court system), the computer/hdd is returned to the owner. If it contained contraband, as of in the case of sex crimes, it might be wiped (formatting is not a secure way of deleting data).
If seized as evidence and found to be guilty, it depends. If the computer/hdd is a fruit or instrumentality of the crime, it will be disposed of. Often "disposal" involves wiping the drive and using it (and possibly the computer) in the police department. If it only held evidence but wasn't really used to commit the crime, or wasn't purchased with fraudulent money, it can be returned to the suspect or the suspect's family. This disposal occurs only after all appeals have been exhausted.
Slashdot Mirror
All seized evidence must be properly disposed of. If it's been used in criminal proceedings, usually the prosecutor dictates what happens to the evidence. Cops don't always take computers. Often just the hard drive will do. Of course, it requires a competent law enforcement officer to make that determination at the scene, and it obviously depends upon the case. Fraud case, might not take the machine. Hacker case, might take the machine. Child porn case, might take the machine. If seized as evidence and found not guilty (found innocent is not a determination that can be made by our court system), the computer/hdd is returned to the owner. If it contained contraband, as of in the case of sex crimes, it might be wiped (formatting is not a secure way of deleting data). If seized as evidence and found to be guilty, it depends. If the computer/hdd is a fruit or instrumentality of the crime, it will be disposed of. Often "disposal" involves wiping the drive and using it (and possibly the computer) in the police department. If it only held evidence but wasn't really used to commit the crime, or wasn't purchased with fraudulent money, it can be returned to the suspect or the suspect's family. This disposal occurs only after all appeals have been exhausted.