It Could Soon Be Much Harder For Police To Seize Defendants’ Assets In California

It Could Soon Be Much Harder For Police To Seize Defendants’ Assets In California

The bill aims to stop police from taking assets and profiting from suspected criminals before a criminal conviction is obtained.


posted on Aug. 24, 2016, at 4:43 p.m.


California state legislators have passed a new civil asset forfeiture law aimed at curbing law enforcement from taking and keeping the property of suspected criminals during investigations.

Under the bill, in federal cases, state and local law enforcement agencies can only receive a share of forfeited property if they obtain a conviction, or if the forfeited property is $40,000 or more in cash. Cash amounts under $40,000 will require a conviction, as will vehicles, boats, homes, and other types of personal property regardless of value.

In state cases, cash under $40,000 may be forfeited if there is an conviction — an increase from the current $25,000. And assets like boats, vehicles, and homes will still require a conviction, regardless of value.

The details of the bill were amended this summer after an earlier version was voted down on the Assembly floor, 24-41. That version called for a conviction to be necessary in all cases before law enforcement could keep a defendant’s assets.

More:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/mikehayes/it-could-soon-be-much-harder-for-police-to-seize-defendants?utm_term=.rjAOqB8By#.srb2K8X8M