The fraudulent practice of civil asset forfeiture is a slap in the face to the principles of American democracy. Civil asset forfeiture is a legal process in which police officers can seize a civilian’s property if they believe those assets can be connected to a crime. Civil asset forfeiture originated during the Colonial era as an initiative to prevent foreign ships from illegally transporting goods, but required a criminal conviction in order to do so. However, the policy was revitalized during the prohibition and the war on drugs. This policy has now evolved into a police-for-profit scam that targets the poor and puts innocent Americans property at risk, without due-process or a criminal conviction. Motel Casswell in Tewksbury, MA, is a
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This has led to a dramatic rise in the amount of seizures that occur, despite any legislation being introduced to keep it under control. Since there are virtually no laws to control this epidemic, the Justice Department and Treasury have been able to line their bank accounts with money that is not rightfully theirs. In 2014, for the first time in history, the federal government deposited more than $5 billion into their bank accounts, which was more than the total amount that burglars stole throughout the …show more content…
According to the Washington Post, an examination of over 400 federal court cases where people challenged seizures and got some money back, the majority were black, Hispanic or another minority. During a stop for a minor traffic violation, Mandrel Stuart, a 35-year-old African-American male, had $17,550 seized by police even though he was not charged with a crime. Stuart was a restaurant owner who used cash to pay the bills, but lost possession of the restaurant after police refused to return the seized
This has led to a dramatic rise in the amount of seizures that occur, despite any legislation being introduced to keep it under control. Since there are virtually no laws to control this epidemic, the Justice Department and Treasury have been able to line their bank accounts with money that is not rightfully theirs. In 2014, for the first time in history, the federal government deposited more than $5 billion into their bank accounts, which was more than the total amount that burglars stole throughout the …show more content…
According to the Washington Post, an examination of over 400 federal court cases where people challenged seizures and got some money back, the majority were black, Hispanic or another minority. During a stop for a minor traffic violation, Mandrel Stuart, a 35-year-old African-American male, had $17,550 seized by police even though he was not charged with a crime. Stuart was a restaurant owner who used cash to pay the bills, but lost possession of the restaurant after police refused to return the seized