More scrutiny, less conflict of interest

The (Dalton, Georgia) Daily Citizen ^ | February 21, 2013

[GrootheWanderer]

Each year, law enforcement agencies across Georgia seize millions of dollars in cash and property from individuals who have never even been charged, much less convicted of a crime. They keep it for their own use, and there’s little oversight of how they use it.

That needs to change. Ideally, law enforcement should not be able to seize any cash or property from anyone who hasn’t been convicted of a crime, and they should have to go to court to prove to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that the property they want was connected to the crime that person was convicted of. As it stands now, it’s up to the owners of seized property to prove it isn’t connected to a crime.

House Bill 1, which the Legislature is currently considering, doesn’t go that far. But it does impose some common sense rules on law enforcement agencies. For instance, it would deny agencies the proceeds of forfeiture if they fail to make public annual reports specifying what property and cash they seize and how they use it. It would also deny them the right to the proceeds of forfeiture if they have a record of misusing forfeitures.

[GrootheWanderer]

This bill has bipartisan support from some of the General Assembly's highest-ranking members. It also has a lot of opposition from local sheriffs across the state. It will be interesting to see what happens.

[BitWielder1]

About time. The ability to take property on a pretext just invites abuse.
Frankly, law enforcement agencies should not be able to loot anything.
After a conviction, after careful consideration of innocent co-owners and heirs, sell and give to charities and victims.

[zeugma]

, law enforcement agencies across Georgia seize steal millions of dollars in cash and property from individual

Words mean things people. These people are no more than common criminals with badges. Should be dealt with like the ones without.