1. At any time after property of any person other than the one accused of the crime of which the property is evidence comes into the custody of a peace officer or law enforcement agency, the rightful owner of the property or a person entitled to possession of the property may request the prosecuting attorney to return the property to him or her. Upon receipt of such a request, the prosecuting attorney may, before the property is released, require the peace officer or law enforcement agency to take photographs of the property. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, the peace officer or law enforcement agency shall return the property to the person submitting the request within a reasonable time after the receipt of the request, but in no event later than 180 days after the receipt of the request.

2. In the absence of such a request, the prosecuting attorney may authorize the peace officer or law enforcement agency that has custody of the property to return the property to its owner or a person who is entitled to possession of the property.

3. If the prosecuting attorney to whom a request for the release of property is made determines that the property is required for use as evidence in a criminal proceeding, the prosecuting attorney may deny the request for the release of the property.

4. Photographs of property returned pursuant to the provisions of this section are admissible in evidence in lieu of the property in any criminal or civil proceeding if they are identified and authenticated in the proceeding by:

(a) The rightful owner of the property or person entitled to possession of the property to whom the property was released;

(b) The peace officer or representative of the law enforcement agency who released the property; or

(c) A credible witness who has personal knowledge of the property,

in accordance with the provisions of NRS 52.185 to 52.295, inclusive.

5. Any property subject to the provisions of this section which is not returned under the provisions of this section must be disposed of as provided in NRS 179.125 to 179.165, inclusive.

(Added to NRS by 1975, 1183; A 1979, 694; 1985, 796; 1993, 279; 1999, 754)