Meet the Texas Lawmaker Fighting Trump on Civil Asset Forfeiture
Konni Burton has emerged as the state's fiercest opponent of civil asset forfeiture.
Civil Asset Forfeiture
Court to Grandma: You Shouldn't Lose Your House Just Because Your Dumb Son Sold Some Weed There
A 72-year-old grandma's house was seized by police over $140 of pot. Not so fast, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court says.
San Diego D.A. Files Charges Against Marijuana Entrepreneur 16 Months After Seizing His Money
"I can't help but think this is vindictive prosecution."
Judge Orders San Diego D.A. to Return $100K it Seized from Family of Marijuana Business Owner
The San Diego D.A. seized this family's bank accounts, accused them of money laundering, and kept their cash for 15 months without charging them with a crime.
Sen. Ted Cruz Wants to Pay for Border Wall with Asset Forfeiture (UPDATE: Criminal Forfeiture Only)
This will encourage even more attempts to seize people's money and property.
SCOTUS Says States Have No Right to Money Taken Based on Overturned Convictions
If making people prove their innocence to get their property back violates due process, what about civil forfeiture?
Arizona Makes It Tougher for Police to Seize People's Money and Stuff for Themselves
Higher threshold required to trigger civil asset forfeiture in bill signed by governor.
Here Are All The Things Idaho's Governor Got Wrong About Asset Forfeiture in His Veto Statement
Gov. Butch Otter says cops never abuse asset forfeiture, but there's no way for anyone to know without this bill becoming law.
Idaho Governor Flips Off Libertarians With Both Hands, Vetoes Asset Forfeiture AND Licensing Reforms
Is he trying to make libertarians angry, or is he just a puppet of special interests?
The Other Side of Legalized Theft
Civil forfeiture encourages cops to loot first and ask questions never.
IRS Seized $17 Million From Innocent Business Owners Using Asset Forfeiture
The IRS used obscure money laundering rules to seize money from business owners. A watchdog report finds $17 million of that money was legally obtained.
North Dakota Senate Says It's Fine for Police to Seize Property Without a Conviction
Meanwhile, new reforms in Minnesota improve on a 2014 law requiring criminal conviction before property can be forfeited to law enforcement
DEA Seized $4 Billion From People Since 2007. Most Were Never Charged with a Crime
A new government watchdog report finds the DEA grabs cash just for the sake of grabbing cash, raising civil liberties concerns.
Idaho Reforms Law to Require Criminal Connections Before Seizing People's Stuff
Police will also be required to track and report what they take.
Mississippi Finally Brings Some Transparency to Asset Forfeiture
Mississippi didn't track how much stuff police seized or how they spent the proceeds. Now it will do at least one of those.
Clarence Thomas Condemns Civil Asset Forfeiture, Points to 'Egregious and Well-Chronicled Abuses'
Justice Thomas says SCOTUS should review the constitutionality of asset forfeiture in a future case.
Ted Cruz: Republicans Have to Support Asset Forfeiture Reform
Says he can't back criminal justice reform for violent offenders.
Talking Trump, Michael Flynn Resignation, and Civil-Asset Forfeiture: Nick Gillespie on Keith Larson
"You are on Twitter like all day."
3 Reasons Trump Is Wrong to Oppose Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform
Civil asset forfeiture reform is an idea that's time has come, in Texas and elsewhere, whether Donald Trump is ready or not.
What Was Rand Paul Thinking in Voting for Jeff Sessions? That the A.G. Agrees With President Trump (Updated)
Senator and staff explain the puzzle of opposing Loretta Lynch, supporting Jeff Sessions, and threatening to filibuster Elliott Abrams
Is Trump a 'Fascist, Loofa-Faced, Shit-Gibbon' for Opposing Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform? (New Reason Podcast)
"The police don't have to even charge you with a crime to seize your stuff."
Trump Does Not Know What Civil Forfeiture Is, but He Likes It
The president agrees there should be no restraint on a form of legalized theft he clearly does not understand.
The Sessions Debacle, the Travel Ban SNAFU, and Trump's Residency Between Your Ears: Matt Welch on Red Eye
Watch Fox News at 3 a.m. for some unkind words about Elizabeth Warren, the new attorney general, and people with cracked iPhones
Jeff Sessions, Fan of the Drug War and Asset Forfeiture, Confirmed as Attorney General
Sen. Rand Paul votes aye with rest of GOP.
Gov. Christie Helps N.J. Police Keep Property Seizure Info Secretive
Vetoes legislation requiring better reporting of how law enforcement gets its hands on people's stuff.
Updated! Meet the Libertarian-Leaning GOP Texas State Senator[s] Whose Career[s] Donald Trump Wants To Destroy
Konni Burton is leading a coalition to reform civil-asset forfeiture abuses. So naturally the president is against her.
Majority of States Lack Transparency on Asset Forfeiture
Want to know how much stuff police are seizing from people and where all that money goes? Good luck.
FBI Insists That When They Steal People's Stuff, They're Doing It for You
They take $5 billion and give back $100 million to crime victims. These numbers don't add up.
Inside Mississippi's Asset Forfeiture Extortion Racket
State narcotics police seized $4 million in cash-as well as couches, comics, and 18-wheelers-through asset forfeiture in 2015.
Police Union Head Wonders Why Everybody Suddenly Wants Them to Stop Stealing People's Stuff
It's the worst defense of civil asset forfeiture you'll read today, or possibly ever.
Will a Trump Administration's Support for Police Taking Citizens' Property Trigger Needed Reforms?
Sen. Sessions' endorsement of civil forfeiture gets public criticism.
Want to Stop Asset Forfeiture Abuse? Teach Americans That It Happens.
People don't like it when cops take property without getting convictions.
Ohio Legislature Passes Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform
Over opposition from law enforcement, Ohio lawmakers passed a bill barring civil asset forfeiture in cases under $15,000.
Border Patrol and IRS Sued for Stonewalling FOIA Requests on Asset Forfeiture
IRS charges nonprofit $750K to see FOIA records on asset forfeiture.
Ohio Legislature Set to Pass Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform This Week
Despite objections from law enforcement, Ohio lawmakers are poised to make the Buckeye State the latest to reign in asset forfeiture.
Iowa Will Pay Poker Players Robbed by Forfeiture-Hungry State Cops
The state is also disbanding the interdiction team responsible for the traffic stop.
Victim of Airport Seizure Gets His $11,000 Back With Interest
Charles Clarke was robbed by cops who said his suitcase smelled like marijuana.
Trump's Pick for Attorney General Is a 'Drug War Dinosaur'
Jeff Sessions opposes sentencing reform, defends civil forfeiture, and criticizes the Obama administration for letting states legalize marijuana.
Another Innocent Parent Loses Their Car to Civil Asset Forfeiture
"I work for the state. My job is to take your property from you."
Montana Supreme Court Affirms Right to Jury Trial in Civil Forfeiture Cases
The ruling strengthens civil asset forfeiture reform laws passed last year by the legislature.
San Diego Police Seize Family's Bank Accounts Because the Dad Ran a Medical Marijuana Business
James Slatic and his family are fighting to get back $100K that was seized nine months ago by the San Diego D.A. They haven't been charged with a crime.
Arizona Prosecutor Returns Car to Elderly Couple Suing State Over Asset Forfeiture Laws
An Arizona county attorney's office will return Terry and Maria Platt's car, admitting they were innocent, but the Platt's lawsuit isn't over.
Bill to Restrain Abuse of Gov't Forfeiture in Pennsylvania Gets Gutted by Prosecutors
Senate sponsor on removal of conviction requirement: 'They want the money.'
Operation Cross Country X: Everything You Need to Know About the FBI's Annual 'Underage Human Trafficking' Sting In One Chart
Sex workers and their customers made up 72 percent of arrests in this "underage human trafficking" operation. Human traffickers? One percent.
Class-Action Lawsuit Targets New York's Abusive NYPD-Controlled Eviction Program
People's homes and businesses threatened unless they sign away rights.
Elderly Couple Files Civil Rights Lawsuit Challenging Arizona's Rigged Asset Forfeiture System
Unable to afford a lawyer, Terry and Maria Platt entered what a new lawsuit says is a unbeatable maze of laws to get their car back.
Read How Chicago Police Use Asset Forfeiture as a Slush-Fund for Surveillance Equipment
An investigation by the Chicago Reader pieces together how the Chicago Police Department uses asset forfeiture funds outside the public eye.
