disposal authority portion of DA Form 4137 will be completed by the SJA. When it is not possible to get written
approval of the SJA before the disposal of the evidence, oral permission will be obtained followed by written
approval.
External Agencies
When evidence is permanently released to an external agency, the final disposition authority part of the DA Form
4137 will be completed. This will be the final disposition of the evidence.
Methods of Final Disposition
When a legal question on methods of disposal comes up, refer the question to SJA who will give legal advice.
Methods of disposition for a variety of evidence are discussed below.
US Government Property. US Government property will be released to the organization to which it is issued.
Personal Property. Personal property that is legal to own will be released to the rightful owner.
Treasury Checks. US Government Treasury checks will be returned to the U.S. Secret Service and money orders
from an APO money order facility will be returned to the issuing APO.
Negotiable Instruments. Other types of negotiable instruments (like money orders, travelers checks, and checks)
owned by a business firm, will be released to the firm. If the firm does not want them returned, they will be
destroyed.
Negotiable instruments and other documents obtained from a person will be returned, unless the owner does not
want them. In this case, you will supervise their destruction.
US Postal Money Orders. US Postal money orders will be returned to the Postal Inspector in Charge of the Postal
Division that originally provided the documents. AR 195-5 provides additional instructions.
Known Standards. Known document standards will be released to the agency or person from whom received or
the rightful owner, as appropriate, unless they are not wanted. In this case, you will supervise their destruction.
Documents of No Value. Exemplars and other documents of no value to the person or agency from whom
received will be destroyed under your supervision.
Personal Property of Deceased or Missing Army Personnel. Items of personal property that belong to deceased or
missing Army personnel will be released to the summary court officer appointed to dispose of the decedent's
effects.
MP2002
2-52
Previous Page
