Entries by Sebastian Rucci

Trump Just Resurrected the Ugly Practice Known as Civil Forfeiture for No Reason

Civil asset forfeiture is the latest dangerous from the Trump administration. The new rule announced by the Justice Department won’t just expand the practice. It’s designed specifically to defeat protections passed at the state level. It will almost certainly lead to abuse. As reported by the Washington Post: “The Justice Department announced a new federal […]

Yes, the government can steal your stuff

Authorities don’t need a conviction or even for a suspect to be charged before seizing a car, cash or a house By NORA V. DEMLEITNER PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 3:58AM (EDT) (Getty/amphotora) (Getty/amphotora) Facebook 196 Twitter Reddit Email save This article was originally published on The Conversation. Editor’s note: Should someone wearing a badge have […]

Sessions Creates DOJ Asset Forfeiture Watchdog

Attorney General Jeff Sessions is setting up a unit to oversee a policy he reinstated to help state and local police take cash and property from people suspected of a crime, even if they have not been charged, reports the Washington Post. Sessions came under fire from members of Congress when he announced the policy […]

Civil asset forfeiture is a dangerous tool

South Africa’s civil forfeiture law is based on American law with a long history going back to feudal times, and even earlier. Then, as now, it is easily abused to seize assets from suspects who prove to be innocent, for the enrichment of the state. It should have long gone the way of absolute monarchs. […]

No Arrest — But Cops Took And Kept His $2,035 Anyway

Your assets are presumed guilty in Michigan; legislation would change that By Evan Carter | November 24, 2017Share on FacebookShare on X In May 2016, two Michigan State Police troopers conducted a traffic stop in Flint when they suspected a man had made a drug-related transaction at a nearby McDonalds. After searching his SUV and […]

Michigan Man Cleared of Wrongdoing, Still Fighting Civil Forfeiture Years Later

This article was originally published by the Institute for Justice. To see more Michigan-specific work on forfeiture, please visit www.mackinac.org/forfeiture. Crime doesn’t pay, but being innocent in the wrong place can cost you big time under Michigan’s civil forfeiture laws. The sheriff’s department of Oakland County, Michigan (in suburban Detroit) froze more than $10,000 in […]

Criminal Justice Reform? We’re Making Progress

If you had asked your legislator last year about their stance on civil asset forfeiture, jail food, or marijuana reclassification you would likely have heard confusion about the first two and opposition to the third. That’s no longer the case. While our legislation to end civil asset forfeiture, stop sheriffs from personally profiting from money […]