For nearly a year, the UCLA Police Department has held onto the cellphones of 40 students arrested during protests related to the war in Gaza. These students faced significant challenges without their phones. Some lost jobs, others struggled to communicate with family, and student journalists found it hard to report for their publications.
On Monday, the UCLA Police announced they would return the phones. Acting Police Chief Scott Scheffler explained that the decision came after the Los Angeles City Attorney announced that most of the arrested students would not face charges. Scheffler stated that as of that morning, the phones were no longer considered evidence. Students who have not retrieved their devices will be notified and can set up an appointment to collect them.
However, students only have two weeks from the time they receive notification to claim their phones before they are destroyed. This deadline has raised concerns among attorneys who represent the students, as many no longer live in Los Angeles. They have requested permission for an attorney to collect the phones on behalf of the students.
To retrieve their phones, students must present identification and proof of ownership. If someone else is picking up the device, a notarized letter is required.
The UCLA Police Department maintains over 3,000 items in its evidence and property storage. Typically, items held as evidence are kept until a case is resolved. In this instance, the phones were held for an unusually long time, with some legal experts questioning the justification for such a lengthy retention period.
The push to return the phones began after the May 6 arrests of more than 40 students in a parking structure at UCLA. Although the case remained open, no criminal charges were filed against the students. Attorneys involved in the case have expressed frustration over the process of retrieving the phones, describing it as unnecessarily complicated.
Sabrina Darwish, a criminal defense attorney, noted that they faced significant resistance from the police department in their efforts to recover the phones. She emphasized the challenges the students encountered during the months without their phones, highlighting the impact on their daily lives and responsibilities.