Civil Forfeiture laws allow the government to gain a person’s personal property with only “clear and convincing” standard of proof rather than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard of proof that is needed for a Criminal Forfeiture action. The property in question only needs to have a clear and convincing proof that it is connected to the alleged criminal activity presented. This “clear and convincing” standard of proof can be tainted as unlawful and therefore must be condemned. The Supreme Court has extended all the rights of the Fourth Amendment, the due process rights of the Fifth Amendment, and the Eight Amendment, in return has made them more frequently used by law enforcement. Does Civil Asset Forfeiture open the door for corruption?
