Would the police give evidence back if they were not finished with it?

Here is the story. My cousin is in trouble for fraud and writing bad checks and etc and he was in prison. He was released on parole and one of the conditions was that he was not to use a computer. Well his parole officer somehow found out and confiscated his computer, then returned later and arrested him. The computer was returned to his mother. It is now some months later and his mother wants to sell his laptop computer and asked me to reformat it before she sells it. Am I am going to be in trouble for tampering with evidence if I reformat this computer? Would the police have given the computer back if they hadn't of gotten the evidence they needed?? How long should this computer have to be left untouched in case there are pending charges?? It doesn't seem to me like they would give it back if they needed it for evidence.

If they gave it back their done with it. Do what you want.

You're probably fine. If your cousin was released on parole that must mean that the investigation and trial are over and the computer is no longer evidence. As long as he hasn't been using it for any criminal activity after it was returned to his mother, you'll be fine.

If you're really nervous about this, you can go and visit your local courthouse or police station. You'll almost certainly get the go-ahead from them though, so there's nothing to worry about.

I think you would be safe with doing whatever you want.
If you are in doubt, just call the police dept. and ask them if they are finished with it.

I rather doubt that they would have returned it, if they still needed it.

If the computer was returned, the clean it up and get rid of it.....To much bad Karma attached to it.

I would think they were done with it, but it never hurts to double check. Call the PD and ask.

No. They are done with it.