IRS Stole Money and Hid the Details for Years
As law enforcement agencies patrol for profit, the secrecy surrounding cash seizures must stop.
As law enforcement agencies patrol for profit, the secrecy surrounding cash seizures must stop.
The settlement came after the Justice Department agreed to return more than $1 million in proceeds from state-licensed marijuana businesses in California.
Empyreal Logistics agreed to drop its claims against the Justice Department, but it is still suing San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus.
The officer used a "pain compliance maneuver" to force information from the boy's sister, who was recording the encounter.
A federal judge declined to issue a temporary restraining order, saying the evidence of legal violations is insufficient at this point.
The city's restrictions threaten one of the world's most vibrant music scenes.
The Institute for Justice argues that the seizures violated state law, federal law, and the U.S. Constitution.
The Institute for Justice wants the Supreme Court to review the case—and to clarify the proper scope of "investigatory stops."
Regulators insist Fourth Amendment protections don’t apply to administrative searches.
Malinda Harris’ ordeal shows how easily the government can take innocent people’s property under civil forfeiture laws.
Keddins Etienne's experience shows that bullies who seize innocent people's property tend to back down when their victims put up a fight.
"What they're doing is like robbery," observed one property owner.
Residents say their cars were improperly ticketed, then impounded and scrapped after they couldn't pay off their debts soon enough.
Free speech and occupational licensing collide.
A homeless man’s truck was impounded in Seattle and he couldn’t afford the costs to get it back. That’s unconstitutional, justices rule.
The commission says the legislature should raise the standard of proof and remove the financial incentive that encourages cops and prosecutors to pursue profit instead of public safety.
Sandy Martinez is challenging the exorbitant penalty for driveway cracks, a storm-damaged fence, and cars parked in an "unapproved" manner on her own property.
The question of proportionality assumes that punishment is appropriate for peaceful conduct that violates no one's rights.
After eight years, Tyson Timbs finally gets to keep his Land Rover—once and for all.
"When you've done nothing wrong, you shouldn't be subjected to an investigation," says Paul Snitko, whose box was seized in a March 22 FBI raid of a Beverly Hills business.
Government officials who wield land grabs to pick economic winners and losers now want to use them to kill disfavored businesses.
Arizona passed a law raising the standard of evidence for asset forfeiture. That didn't help Jerry Johnson when Phoenix police seized his cash.
Predictive policing lets authorities add a science-y gloss to hammering people who rub them the wrong way.
All professions deserve the same constitutional protections that speech-heavy industries get.
Sandy Martinez says that fine, along with another $63,500 for driveway cracks and a downed fence, violates Florida's constitution.
Civil forfeiture reform failed last year. But now more legislators are on board.
The justices did not address one of James King's key arguments, which the 6th Circuit will now consider.
A new study provides further evidence that property seizures are driven by financial motives rather than public safety concerns.
The Institute for Justice wants the Supreme Court to rule that the Fifth Amendment requires a prompt post-seizure hearing.
Government bullies empowered by civil forfeiture laws often back down, but only when their victims can afford a fight.
The DEA dropped its attempt to keep the money roughly two months after the woman joined a class-action lawsuit challenging cash seizures at airports.
According to the government, a law aimed at helping victims like King prevents him from holding his assailants accountable.
The federal government wants the Supreme Court to rule that the victim has no recourse.
Gerardo Serrano, whose truck was seized over five forgotten handgun rounds, waited two years for a hearing he never actually got.
The lawsuit argues that the DEA is violating the Fourth Amendment by seizing money from travelers without evidence of criminal activity.
Licensing laws can be weaponized to chill speech.
In two-thirds of those cases, there were no accompanying arrests.
The Institute for Justice fights for the right to receive paid training as a farrier without a high school diploma or equivalent.
Dairy industry-endorsed regulations required skim milk to be labeled as “imitation” if it hadn’t been enriched with added vitamins.
An innocent man was beaten up by a local police detective and an FBI agent. No one wants to take responsibility.
Neither Terry Rolin or his daughter were ever charged with a crime, but that didn't stop the DEA from trying to seize more than $82,000 from them through civil asset forfeiture.
Mats Järlström's research never would have seen the light of day if the Oregon Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying had its way.
The Institute for Justice calls on the Supreme Court to put a stop to it.
A class-action lawsuit is now challenging the DEA's habit of seizing large amounts of cash from travelers without evidence of any crime.
The Institute for Justice asks the Supreme Court to clarify a doctrine that shields cops from responsibility for outrageous conduct.
The Institute for Justice asks the Supreme Court to block sneaky tactics that prevent victims of property grabs from recovering their legal costs.
"Taxation by citation" harms the harmless and destroys trust in civic institutions.
This year, Mississippi and North Carolina both ditched a vague "good moral character" clause that kept occupational licensing out of reach for people with criminal records.