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Public Access Design

Get It Back!

For most of the 350,000 people arrested in New York City every year, getting arrested is just the beginning of a long and difficult process. Personal property is also taken at the time of arrest, and getting it back depends on how it was categorized by the police. Each category requires a different set of steps, interactions with multiple players in law enforcement, and tight deadlines. The process is frustrating, drawn-out, and confusing, causing many people to give up on getting their property back. To make it worse, there are no published guidelines to help people through this process.

CUP collaborated with The Bronx Defenders and designers L + L to create Get It Back!, a guide that helps New Yorkers who’ve recently been arrested get their stuff back. The illustrated guide breaks down the property seizure and civil forfeiture processes into detailed steps, including what to do when you’re arrested and after you’re released.