COLUMBUS, Ohio (Jan. 5, 2016) – On Wednesday, Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed a bill that reforms asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without criminal charges in many cases. The new law also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by passing cases off to the…
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Jan. 3, 2017) – A bill filed in the Indiana Senate would reform the state’s asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction. The legislation also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by passing cases off to the feds. Sen. Phil Boots…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 1, 2017) – Today, a California law went into effect that not only bolsters restrictions on state officials from seizing property without due process, but also throws a wrench into federal efforts to do the same. Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) introduced Senate Bill 443 (SB443) in 2015. The new law sets additional…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 1, 2017) – Today, a California law went into effect that not only bolsters restrictions on state officials from seizing property without due process, but also throws a wrench into federal efforts to do the same. Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) introduced Senate Bill 443 (SB443) in 2015. The new law sets additional…
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Dec. 22, 2016) – A bill filed in the Washington House for the 2017 legislative session would reform the state’s asset forfeiture laws by prohibiting the state from taking property without a criminal conviction. But a loophole in the legislation would allow law enforcement to work with the feds to skirt the more stringent state law.…
AUSTIN, Texas (Dec. 21, 2016) – A bill prefiled in the Texas Senate for the 2017 legislative session would reform the state’s asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction in most cases. The legislation also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Dec. 20, 2016) – A bill prefiled in the Missouri House would close a loophole that allows state and local police to circumvent stringent state asset forfeiture laws by passing cases of to the feds. Rep. Shamed Dogan (R-St. Louis) prefiled House Bill 231 (HB231) on Dec. 15. The legislation would prohibit…
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Dec. 16, 2016) – A bill filed in the Utah House for the 2016 legislative session would reform the state’s asset forfeiture laws, making it more difficult for police to seize property. But a loophole in the legislation would allow law enforcement to work with the feds to skirt the more stringent state…
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Dec. 9, 2016) – Yesterday, the Ohio legislature gave final approval to a bill that would reform asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without criminal charges in many cases. The legislation also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by passing cases off to…
A new technology at least in part funded by the federal government has made it even quicker and easier for cops to grab money via asset forfeiture. The device is called ERAD, short for Electronic Recovery and Access to Data, and it has already been deployed in Oklahoma. ERAD is made possible through a combination…