Section 40-17-118 - Confiscated stolen property(a) Personal property confiscated as stolen property by a lawful officer of the state, a county or a municipality of the state to be held as evidence of a crime shall be promptly appraised, catalogued and photographed by the law enforcement agency retaining custody of the property.(b) The lawful officer of the state, county or municipality, in order to detain the property from the lawful owner, for whatever reason, more than thirty (30) days, shall show cause to the judge having jurisdiction over the property by petition filed by the district attorney general upon five (5) days' notice to the property owner why the property should be further detained. The court may grant or refuse the requested impounding order upon the terms and conditions as are adjudged to be proper.(c) The state, county or municipal authority holding the property shall be responsible for the return of the property to the lawful owner and shall be liable in damages to the owner of the property in the event of damage or destruction occasioned by the delay in the return of the property.Acts 1973, ch. 317, §§ 1-3; T.C.A. §§ 40-2442 -- 40-2444.