DNA Evidence

• As of July 2010, all precincts must store biological evidence from violent crimes for at least 30 years. The storage for this type of evidence is regulated by Ohio's Biological Evidence Retention Task Force.
  
  

Ohio Municipal Records Manual

• The "Ohio Municipal Records Manual" contains a list of suggested records retention periods for all of Ohio's public offices, including police departments. Pending homicide evidence should be stored permanently. Closed homicide cases only need to be stored for 10 years after the appeals process has been exhausted.
  
  

Replevin

• An individual may request that personal property used as evidence may be returned after it is no long of evidentiary value or the case has been closed. Alternately, an individual may file a formal motion for a hearing for the return of personal property, known as replevin. The rules for replevin are covered under Chapter 2737 of the Ohio Code.