Civil Asset Forfeiture

Civil asset forfeiture allows the government to seize cash, cars, real estate, or other property suspected of being connected to criminal activity. In civil forfeiture actions the property itself, rather than an individual, is believed to be connected to a crime. In fact, under federal law (as well many state laws) property can be seized and forfeited even when criminal charges are never filed against a property owner, as is the case in a staggering 80% of civil asset forfeitures. The Drug Policy Alliance has long played a leading role in forfeiture reform – calling for abolishing civil forfeiture entirely and supporting efforts to substantially reform the practice.