If your brother was charged with merely possessing a controlled substance, then the statute of limitations has run on his charges-- this means that he can no longer be prosecuted for charges eight years old.  To get it off his record, he would need to file a petition to have his record expunged.  To get his things, he may want to contact the agency after the expunction.  If they still refuse, he may need to file a writ to procure the return of his personal belongs.If his charge was not just for possessing drugs-- but also included an allegation of drug trafficking, then he may want to hold off-- because there is no statute of limitations for this offense.  Filing an expunction could draw unwanted attention to a case that is lying in someone's "to do bucket."