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Police and prosecutors’ offices seize private property—often without ever charging the owners with a crime, much less convicting them of one—then keep or sell what they’ve taken and use the profits to fund their budgets. And considering law enforcement officials in most states don’t report the value of what they collect or how that bounty is spent, the issue raises serious questions about both government transparency and accountability.
Under state and federal civil asset forfeiture laws, law enforcement agencies can seize and keep property suspected of involvement in criminal activity. Unlike criminalasset forfeiture, however, with civilforfeiture, a property owner need not be found guilty of a crime—or even charged—to permanently lose her cash, car, home or other property.
Under state and federal civil asset forfeiture laws, law enforcement agencies can seize and keep property suspected of involvement in criminal activity. Unlike criminalasset forfeiture, however, with civilforfeiture, a property owner need not be found guilty of a crime—or even charged—to permanently lose her cash, car, home or other property.
According to the Institute for Justice—whose fight against eminent domain abuse raised that issue to national prominence—civil asset forfeiture is one of the worst abuses of property rights in our nation today. The Institute for Justice today released a first-of-its-kind national study on civil forfeiture abuse. The report—Policing for Profit: The Abuse of Civil Asset Forfeiture(http://www.ij.org/PolicingForProfit)—is the most comprehensive national study to examine the use and abuse of civil asset forfeiture and the first study to grade the civil forfeiture laws of all 50 states and the federal government. The report finds, not surprisingly, that by giving law enforcement a direct financial incentive in pursuing forfeitures and stacking the legal deck against property owners, most state and federal laws encourage policing for profit rather than seeking the neutral administration of justice. (For additional resources on this report, visit: http://www.ij.org/PolicingForProfit. For a brief video on this topic, visit: www.ij.org/Forfeiture.)
Told you it was time to leave the US.
ReplyDeleteGet out now while the gettin' is still possible.
travel light, no one can take anything from u. besides most of all we own is junk and it sbad for the planet. just begin to go without and u will be amazed at truely how great ur life is without TV or internet or even without a car.. life gets better not worse when u have less. u never heard the native americans bitching about lving off the land.. now in fact they're like not allowed to do that. that have to participate in soceity.
ReplyDeleteRent and sell everything turn it into GOLD and SILVER. Hide it, bury it, stick it in a floor, wall, garden. You "own" nothing. I have no assets, sir.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, You Tube is packed with videos of survivalists who have major firepower in their home. The cops can easily find them now legally using the Terrorism Laws. Once found they can take everything just because of some little something something they said on their video. Mark my words folks, IT'S ON!!!
ReplyDeletethe reality
ReplyDeleteis were are the postsofall these people loseing everything on utube
a guess the sheeple
just graze and shut up
its so sad
7:52 When the thugs come around and wipe out residents a metal detector will come in handy.
ReplyDeleteWe are to be a Republic! Personal property is to be protected from other people and the government. This all started with personal income tax. They own your labor, it should not shock anyone that they think they own everything else. People should never be in court unless under common law, with a jury and impartial judge that must allow ALL evidence.
ReplyDeleteI went to a garage sale about 2 hours ago and an old lady had just moved to town from the farm. She showed me her pantry. It was packed to the max with home canned food. I bought some canning jars to ad to my huge collection and she told me she would not be canning again. Wow, I hope she has enough food to last for a while.
ReplyDeleteIt's called ANARCHO-TYRANNY!!!
ReplyDeleteThe authorities are too busy trying to find revenues thus allowing the real criminals to get away with their crimes, that's the Anarchy. In order to collect those revenues, the State has the Sheeple in their crosshairs always looking for an reason to bust you to take your money and property, that's the Tyranny!
Enjoy people, this is our hellish future!
When does the revolution start? TPTB keep backing us into a corner. It's only a matter of time before we start pushing back.
ReplyDeleteA good example are speed racing laws where the pigs can claim unlawful acceleration and simply take your care away, forever.
ReplyDeleteNational Strike. No violence, no nothing. Can you really see the elite doing anything for themselves?
ReplyDeleteNational call in sick day. That is what we need. If we have to make it last as long as we can. I really think that is the way to go.
Otherwise they will say we are terrorists.
I'm going to confiscate this 1lb of weed and these pills and let you off with a verbal warning. I'm doing you a big time favor by not charging you, understand? You go on your way and don't ever do this again, understand?
ReplyDeleteFree weed n pills: Percs of the job.
In spite of this report, I haven't heard of anybody losing their property this way. It seems about the only way one can is via major drug involvement. I think the government knows where it's invisible line is of where not to cross without starting a bloody civil war. And the Army, like in Romania in 89, they'll go on the side of the people especially when you consider nearly all rebels in this civil war will be ex-military.
ReplyDeleteFurther, there are books on Amazon on how to set up protective legal layers between yourself and the law. Amazon search asset protection, and then view the also boughts.
Aother thing cities are doing is selling delinquent tax liens to companies that charge 18% interest. The homeowner finds that in no time at all their equity is gouged.
ReplyDeleteThe cities don't sell delinquent properties to private bidders anymore.
It's all fixed bidding for the companies.
Just a quick FYI regarding this article. As a Police Sergeant in NE Ohio we do confiscate items such as vehicles firearms and other personal property related with a crime. ANY property confiscated is treated as evidence unless the property is "found" and considered to be less than $100.00 USD in perceived value. All items were evidence or were found are auctioned and not sold outright, unless the items are firearms in which case they are sold directly to a FFL dealer. Regardless of the item, a detailed list "chain of custody" is kept and ALL moneys collected are accounted for and cannot be hidden easily.
ReplyDeleteNow that being said. It is true that "we" do like to confiscate property to fill the departments coffers, but that is not our goal but just the by-product.
Sgt. J.
The problem is anything is construed a crime if there is real value and the state wants to steal it. Muggers with a badge none the less.
ReplyDeleteThis country and the image of liberty it projects is a fraud. We are the new Indians, prepare to lose your heritage.
The police and law enforcement are to be watched very carefully... I met a Glock carrying female that works in the DA's office and without any warning whatsoever... she stole my heart!
ReplyDeleteI keep wondering when the American people are going to stop bending over and taking it, over and over. Each time something happens to strip us of one more liberty (e.g. Patriot acts, warner act, loss of habeus corpus, loss of Amendment I, now this), people bitch and moan and DO NOTHING.
ReplyDeleteAre we just a society of pussy boys?
Granted, the existing laws for the most part as Sgt. J from Ohio said are not currently being abused, they are on the books none-the-less. But, sooner or later, past trends indicate they will be abused and used as a source of revenue, especially in light of the worsening economy. Like all things governments have claimed would not be enforced, like seat belts, have come to be abused and used as revenue streams. Take automatic red light ticketing schemes for example. Eventually, these local PDs will go the route of the White House and Congress and abuse their power for the sake of money. It's the way of history. Get used to it.
ReplyDelete