People often ask why asset forfeiture should be reformed. Why shouldn’t criminals have their stuff taken away?
Civil #AssetForfeiture is legalized government stealing. No one should have their property taken without at least a criminal conviction. @mmaharrey10th pic.twitter.com/dR6w38lFzr
— TenthAmendmentCenter (@TenthAmendment) September 16, 2020
The problem is this isn’t how asset forfeiture works in most states. Police and prosecutors don’t have to prove the property owner is a criminal. They can just take people’s stuff.
Asset forfeiture reform requires a conviction. It doesn’t let criminals keep their stuff. It ensures innocent people don’t have their stuff taken away.
For Further Reading
Status Report: Taking on Civil Asset Forfeiture
Asset Forfeiture and the Destruction of American Liberty
A History of Civil Asset Forfeiture in America
Civil Asset Forfeiture: Another Stealth Tax
The post Asset Forfeiture Reform Isn’t About Letting Criminals Keep Their Stuff first appeared on Tenth Amendment Center Blog.
The Tenth Amendment Center works to preserve and protect Tenth Amendment freedoms through information and education. The center serves as a forum for the study and exploration of state and individual sovereignty issues, focusing primarily on the decentralization of federal government power. Visit https://tenthamendmentcenter.com/