Entries by Sebastian Rucci

Criminal Justice Reform? We’re Making Progress

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If you had asked your legislator last year about their stance on civil asset forfeiture, jail food, or marijuana reclassification you would likely have heard confusion about the first two and opposition to the third. That’s no longer the case. While our legislation to end civil asset forfeiture, stop sheriffs from personally profiting from money […]

Michigan Man Cleared of Wrongdoing, Still Fighting Civil Forfeiture Years Later

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This article was originally published by the Institute for Justice. To see more Michigan-specific work on forfeiture, please visit www.mackinac.org/forfeiture. Crime doesn’t pay, but being innocent in the wrong place can cost you big time under Michigan’s civil forfeiture laws. The sheriff’s department of Oakland County, Michigan (in suburban Detroit) froze more than $10,000 in […]

No Arrest — But Cops Took And Kept His $2,035 Anyway

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Your assets are presumed guilty in Michigan; legislation would change that By Evan Carter | November 24, 2017Share on FacebookShare on X In May 2016, two Michigan State Police troopers conducted a traffic stop in Flint when they suspected a man had made a drug-related transaction at a nearby McDonalds. After searching his SUV and […]

Civil asset forfeiture is a dangerous tool

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South Africa’s civil forfeiture law is based on American law with a long history going back to feudal times, and even earlier. Then, as now, it is easily abused to seize assets from suspects who prove to be innocent, for the enrichment of the state. It should have long gone the way of absolute monarchs. […]

Sessions Creates DOJ Asset Forfeiture Watchdog

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Attorney General Jeff Sessions is setting up a unit to oversee a policy he reinstated to help state and local police take cash and property from people suspected of a crime, even if they have not been charged, reports the Washington Post. Sessions came under fire from members of Congress when he announced the policy […]

Yes, the government can steal your stuff

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Authorities don’t need a conviction or even for a suspect to be charged before seizing a car, cash or a house By NORA V. DEMLEITNER PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 3:58AM (EDT) (Getty/amphotora) (Getty/amphotora) Facebook 196 Twitter Reddit Email save This article was originally published on The Conversation. Editor’s note: Should someone wearing a badge have […]