A few weeks ago, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a new policy directive that was seeking to increase the prevalence of asset forfeiture activity across the country.
Asset forfeiture is the practice of law enforcement confiscating a variety of assets that they believe might be connected to a potential law violation. In many cases, they never need to prove any wrongdoing or even file charges against an individual, yet they possess the authority to commandeer their property.
Picture This...
Let's say that you just took out some cash from the ATM in order to go and do some shopping or to go out for dinner with some friends or to the casino, maybe you owe someone money? There could be many reasons why you might be carrying a large sum of cash on you at one point in your life.
Under asset forfeiture laws, if you get pulled over and a police officer suspects or alleges that the cash might be connected to a crime, they can take your cash.
They can do this with cash, houses, cars, boats; you name it.
And the onus will then be on you (and the legal costs) to prove in court that the cash wasn't connected to any crime. Quite often people cannot afford to go through that legal process or it's too difficult to prove the innocence of their asset and so it's simply taken and they never see it again.
Keep in mind that many states have rules in place that were established to try and curb this behavior, those rules insist that law enforcement needs to have a criminal conviction before they can take your belongings.
Needless to say, criticism against this practice has been growing for many years now as more people fall victim to the policy, and as more discover the truth about what is going on.
The asset forfeiture program has been used to seize billions of dollars worth of assets for the state.
Under the new changes from the recently released policy, local and state law enforcement are encouraged to pass their asset confiscation cases to federal prosecutors. Once this exchange takes place, the case is then going to proceed under federal law and this scenario might bring about less protections for the individual than if they had continued with a state case. This exchange opportunity allows law enforcement to seemingly bypass rules that were put into place to try and prevent widespread abuse via methods like asset forfeiture.
Civil liberties advocates maintain that there is a way for states to try and protect themselves in this matter, that is by including certain language into their asset forfeiture policies and legislation. They suggest that it should clearly dictate that there is a restriction when it comes to the ability of officers to enter into an agreement to transfer any of the seized property to federal agents.
US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said that highly controversial policing-for-profit tactics like asset forfeiture are a key tool for assisting law enforcement to do their job. But there are many human rights advocates, legal experts, and Constitutional scholars who would passionately disagree. The practice of asset forfeiture quite often violates the basic tenets of due process; where many people have their property seized without any charge ever being filed against them.
Pics:
Pixabay
Sources:
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/08/lets_stop_policing_for_profit.html
http://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2017/08/tenther-tuesday-episode-21-the-new-doj-asset-forfeiture-scheme-and-how-to-stop-it/
http://www.startribune.com/oppose-wider-use-of-asset-forfeiture/437965293/
http://tenthamendmentcenter.com/2017/07/30/states-can-thwart-new-doj-asset-forfeiture-policy/
Related Posts:
Policing For Profit: New Bill Looks To Reform Civil Asset Forfeiture
Working Together To Protect The Profits
https://steemit.com/assetforfeiture/@doitvoluntarily/working-together-to-protect-the-profits
Makes a good argument for divorcing banks, renting, and driving an old car.
I'm soon ready to be free of USD as well.
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whatever, they ain't touchin' my steem
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The land of the "free" and the home of the slaves.
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There is just so much wrong with this on so many levels I can't even say because it all irks me too much. It just makes me sick.
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Civil asset forfeiture needs to stop. You shouldn't be able to seize a person's assets without being convicted of a crime. It's time to tell congress and senator's to repeal it or You'll vote for someone who will.
Just my 2 cents
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Well said! I hope everything settles down so we can focus on producing content and taking care of real problems that are threatening Steemit. Like that pesky scaling issue
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I really appreciate the effort put into this post and even more that a sourcing has been included, which should become more common.
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another reason to start using bitcoin, much harder to confiscate, and it's undetectable while crossing borders.
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great
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Even more of a reason to use crypto. Keep a bitpay card or the likes and just fill it up the you reach your destination. I know this doesn't address the BS of this practice, but it's a way to stay safer.
Now, if they come after your house, car or something else you're in a world of hurt.
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That really amazing blog &check my blog @usmanaslam
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In our country
1 dollar = 104 rupees
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This is an interesting post, but again if we act according to the law then the small will not get weaker
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this is not the America I remember. Our freedoms have gradually rotted away particularly since 911. We have forfeited privacy for security. We have allowed the Federal government to abort many of the states rights. Our Bill of Rights are fast becoming worthless. Our fathers of this country are rolling in their graves for the travesty that has become us. We have ALLOWED them to steel what liberties we once had. When will we shake off the apathy and stand up for freedom or is it already too late? Have we drank too much Kool Aid that we are too drunk to fight? Are we like that frog that jumped in the pan of water and relaxed.. Slowly the water got hotter and hotter. At first the frog did not mind it. In fact he liked it. However it eventually got too hot. And the frogs mussles were too relaxed to work. He could not get out of the hot boiling water of pan. So he became dinner and died. Are we going to let our freedoms and God given liberties die along with a free country that once was a safety of human liberties for all? I dare hope not. Thanks for sharing, -Troy
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nice pos friend,,, i like this @doitvoluntarily please support
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https://steemit.com/love/@sharoon/what-is-important-according-to-you-money-or-true-love
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Oh that Constitution always gets in the way. Let's just take it and see if they really want it back.
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Excellent post, very good ... I invite you to go through my blog @ joserc.vzla
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Don't do that @joserc.vzla, nobody likes what you're doing. Talk about the post. If you have produced related content, it would be appropriate to post it in the comment section. You are not being social with this behavior. You deserve to be downvoted if you don't stop.
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that is one reason I like crypto. The rebel within me is happy about knowing they would have a way harder time doing that.
Concerning indeed. I still have some faith in goverments (maybe I am still a bit blue eyed there) and I hope the new laws will not have such a huge abuse but as more I learn the less optimistic I become
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I still can't believe this is really happening. Before I had watched John W. Whitehead's Newsbud video about it, I had no idea of this criminal behavior by the American authorities.
Stealing from the Citizenry: How Government Goons Use Civil Asset Forfeiture to Rob Us Blind
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Upvoted. Bad news.
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Let your every day be bright,
Do not quit your star,
Let joy, happiness and luck
You are always accompanied.
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Now the question becomes: do you compromise or use (lethal) force to defend yourself against the thief?
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Important subject you've chosen. Thanks for opening door to some new information for me)
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People should have the basic fundamental right, after paying the tax, One should have the right to hold case for his needs. Your govt should not be legalized this type of laws. Thanks for sharing such a valuable informations.If you visit.... Thanks.
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I have an unpopular minority opinion here...I think that asset forfeiture laws serve a legit purpose. I think they are abused, as well. But the spirit of those laws are correct. But your article is well written. I will join the army of followers you have to keep up with your work.
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That is why many are slaves to the grind, they can't cope up with the mortgage and so much more...
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For the most part, I would say I favor the police force in most things, but this does disturb me greatly. This has the potential to be abused and is so often abused that it truly bothers me. I think the rules for this should be greatly tightened and restricted. Just with a though of some wrong doing, the police can seize your account, house, car and more, that bothers me.
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In civil asset forfeiture, the crime is put upon the asset (the money, property, etc) not on the individual. So the money has to prove in some way that it is not-guilty. good luck with that...
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This onerous behavior is being threatened to increase???? The illegality of civil asset forfeiture is on-it's-face, totalitarianism. If I were on my way to buy a used car, had $5k on me and an officer pulled me over: A) I wouldn't tell him about the cash. B) I wouldn't allow him to search the car. C) If he somehow found the money, he's going to have to pry it from my cold, dead hands.
Screw that! Double Free Double Brave Double Slave
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amaz
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This criminal government must be totally done away with.
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