Our sheriff has asked me for advice about what he should/can do with property taken from inmates at book-in that remains unclaimed after those inmates have been released/ gone to TDCJ. Apparently, some of this property has been sitting around for 20 years or so.

I do not know if relatives were notified in every case that they could come get the property. I thought perhaps someone out there had dealt with this issue before or has a system in place.

Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated.

As a starting point, take a look at article 18.17 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, as well as chapters 71 through 74 of the Property Code.