Civil asset forfeiture has caused an incredible amount of destruction to the lives of many individuals, families, and businesses.
There are multiple efforts that are ongoing that have been trying to reduce the overflow of corruption that seems to be stemming from this highly controversial practice. And one of them involves Rep. Peter Lucido who is trying to have a bill passed in Michigan that would overhaul their civil asset forfeiture practices.
According to one wife of a former Michigan State Police trooper, she alleges that the practice of civil asset forfeiture eventually contributed to the corruption of her own ex-husband.
“I remember my husband bragging about seizing jewelry, designer pursues, expensive sneakers, computers, cars, boats, and even homes. He would even go into these homes with the sole intent of cherry picking items he wanted for himself. It was like his own personal shopping spree. He kept the items for himself or stole them to make a profit."
This is what civil asset forfeiture has turned into, surely her husband isn't the only individual with a uniform who might feel tempted to act inappropriately given the glaringly obvious financial incentive for them to do so.
The new bill, House Bill 4158, that has been recently introduced into the Michigan Legislature is looking to try and prevent the state from being able to confiscate property unless the suspect is found guilty of a crime. Two committee hearings have already been held for the bill and it's expected that it might soon see passage.
If passed, the new changes would apply only to seizures under $50,000.
Currently, police agencies in Michigan are allegedly able to use up to 100 percent of the proceeds from the property that they confiscate under this practice. And in a little over a decade, the law enforcement agencies in that state have managed to confiscate more than $244 million thanks to their confiscations.
That is an average of about $19 million every year.
In many cases where police take cash, cars, and other property from people, they don't even file charges and yet the person is left sometimes for years trying to fight the legal battle in looking for their property and attempting to have it returned. This policy causes more harm than any good it allegedly sets out to try and achieve and for this reason it should be aggressively scaled back.
Pics:
Pixabay
Sources:
https://www.heartland.org/publications-resources/publications/research--commentary-michigan-lawmakers-continue-effort-to-reform-civil-asset-forfeiture-laws
http://wwmt.com/news/local/michigan-lawmaker-tackles-civil-asset-forfeiture-laws
http://michiganradio.org/post/former-police-chief-says-michigan-s-current-civil-asset-forfeiture-laws-are-working-well
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/civil-rights/329530-its-time-for-michigan-to-end-civil-forfeiture
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2017/07/21/forfeiture-michigan-cash/103909608/