Wisconsin Enacts Sweeping Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill protecting residents’ constitutional rights to property and due process. Senate Bill 61 (S.B. 61), sponsored by state Sen. David Craig (R-Town of Vernon), sets new requirements for law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in using civil asset forfeiture to take ownership of individuals’ seized assets or property. In most […]
Civil Forfeiture: Can the Government Really Seize and Take Ownership of My Company’s Assets?
In 2017, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) reported more than $8.2 billion held in its forfeited-assets fund, [1] which is a $600 million increase from the $7.6 billion in the fund in 2016. [2] The cases brought by the government in 2017 show the government’s intent to continue aggressive use of civil asset forfeiture. For […]
Civil asset forfeiture reform is sweeping the nation
There’s an under-the-radar fight brewing in Washington, D.C., and in states across the nation. The debate concerns when law enforcement can take private property from citizens via a process known as civil forfeiture. In most states, law enforcement entities can take and keep assets without even charging someone with a crime. The items are usually […]
The government took $41,000 from this Texan at a Houston airport six months ago. They never gave it back.
A nurse from Katy is suing Customs and Border Protection after the agency took the cash from her last October and never charged her with a crime. Advocates say the case shows just how abusive the practice of civil asset forfeiture can be. BY NEENA SATIJA, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE AND REVEAL MAY 4, 2018 12 […]
A look into DHS asset forfeiture procedures
Forfeiture is a fairly big business for the Department of Homeland Security; seized more than $2 billion at airports between 2000 and 2016 and overwhelming number of owners were never even accused of committing a crime.
5 states that reformed civil forfeiture laws – and one that didn’t
We looked at some of the states that have restricted civil forfeiture in recent years and some that haven’t. We looked at some of the states that have restricted civil forfeiture in recent years and some that haven’t. At least 29 states have reformed forfeiture laws in the past decade. The issues include: Standard of […]
MI Prosecutor Quits Over Forfeiture Fund Charges
Macomb County, Mi., Prosecutor Eric Smith, accused of embezzlement and misconduct in office over how drug and alcohol forfeiture funds were spent, resigned Monday, the Detroit Free Press reports. The announcement came less than a week after the longtime prosecutor was charged with 10 criminal counts by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office in a nearly […]
Forfeiture Cases Can Take Years, Even for the Innocent; Supreme Court May Help
Mackinac Center signs onto amicus brief in Salgado v. United States January 6, 2020 | Facebook X Email Print By Jarrett Skorup Miladis Salgado is a Florida mom who had $15,000 seized and forfeited by the federal government. But she was never even charged with criminal activity. For two years, she fought in court and […]
Loophole Lets Missouri Cops Keep Millions in Forfeiture Funds (and Away from Schools)
Under a civil forfeiture loophole, Missouri law enforcement agencies have diverted millions of dollars in seized assets away from a fund for public schools, instead retaining those funds for their own use. A new report by the Missouri State Auditor found that police had seized over $6.2 million worth of property in 2016. Of those […]
How A Quiet Police Lobbying Campaign Killed Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform In Missouri
Editor’s note: This story is part of a collaborative-reporting initiative supported by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. All stories can be found here. When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that police had to abide by the Bill of Rights when they seize property from people, Rep. Shamed Dogan, R-Baldwin, thought he […]
Civil asset forfeiture in South Carolina is unconstitutional, circuit court judge rules
A South Carolina circuit court judge in Horry County has ruled the state’s civil asset forfeiture law unconstitutional, in violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Fourth, Fifth and 14th amendments. While the decision by 15th Circuit Court Judge Steven H. John doesn’t set precedent beyond his courtroom, it could set the table for a state appellate […]
Michigan Bans The Cops From Seizing Your Property Without Conviction
The Heartland Institute reports that three new bills were signed into law which limit property seizure practices in the state. These new statues ban police officers from seizing property in suspected drug crimes without first acquiring a conviction or plea agreement. Poland Suggests Russian Missile Entered Airspace Poland Suggests Russian Missile Entered Airspace close volume_off […]
EDITORIAL: Civil asset forfeiture horror story shows need for reform
Every once in a while, a criminal makes a mighty blunder when sizing up a potential mark. The same can be said of the police. Last week, federal officials agreed to return nearly $87,000 to a retired Marine sergeant after Nevada Highway Patrol officers shook him down for his cash during a February traffic stop […]
US Government is Seizing so Many Cryptos, It’s Enrolling Private Contractors
The U.S. government has seized $1.2 billion worth of cryptos so far this year. Now, the crypto seizure and sale operation is growing so fast that the government just enlisted the help of the private sector to manage the storage and sales of its hoard of crypto tokens, CNBC reports. See: Biden and IRS Put […]
How Civil Asset Forfeiture Turns Authorities into ‘Bounty Hunters’
Civil asset forfeiture gives police officers the right to seize cash, cars and homes from people who haven’t been convicted of a crime, which is why it’s time to end this exploitative practice by passing laws that prohibit it, argues the USA Today Editorial Board. Intended to reduce crime by seizing the profits of drug […]
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