Law Enforcement Loves Legal Larceny

Townhall.com ^ | November 18, 2015 | Jacob Sullum

[Talisker]

Non-conviction civil forfeiture is armed theft under color of law, period.

[Jack Hammer]

‘A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns.”

-Don Vito Corleone

In a later generation, he could have been a congressman, a senator, a governor

[USNBandit]

Forfeiture laws, when applied appropriately are a good form of justice. The problem is that they aren't always applied appropriately, and it innocent citizens are being penalized, without any criminal activity.

I think reform is a necessary part of fixing this problem.

[rockrr]

During a talk radio debate last week, Tulsa's district attorney, Steve Kunzweiler, warned that civil forfeiture reform would invite "some of the most violent people in the history of this planet" to set up shop in Oklahoma, making decapitated bodies "hung from bridges" a familiar sight in the Sooner State.

If true could you start with the two Steves?

[SaveFerris]

[making decapitated bodies “hung from bridges” a familiar sight]

I guess they’ll be using some sort of harness.

[libertylover]

Non-conviction civil forfeiture is armed theft under color of law, period.

Agreed. Conviction should come before forfeiture.

[SaveFerris]

I suppose a courtesy ping is in order.

[SaveFerris]

Oh and Jacob Sullum adores alliteration.

Well, don’t we all! I’m positively pleased!

[Kaslin]

correct

[drypowder]

Constitutional due process worked just fine when it was in affect. But local politicians saw how the IRS can steal from and abuse the citizens so why not them too. There really needs to be legal and immediate reciprocity for public servants who do not honor their oath of office.

[afsnco]

Most civil asset forfeiture laws are a rape of justice. Forfeitures should be forbidden unless people are convicted of using the assets in furtherance of a crime. Anything else is just lowlife scumbag.

[DuncanWaring]

Forfeiture Endangers American Rights.

[Currentriverrat]

A few years ago the Missouri House thought it would be a good idea to set the Minimum salary for rural county Sheriffs at $90,000.00. The Sheriff would then be allowed to raise his salary up to $250,000.00 using funds from property confiscated from drug dealers.

Enough Reps agreed with me that there would be no incentive to rid a county of drugs if your salary depended on busting drugies...

[MileHi]

The problem is that they aren't always applied appropriately...

Maybe only 50some% of the time?

[ConservingFreedom]

As Steve Jones, the Tennessee prosecutor, explained, law enforcement officials rebel at the notion of relying on legislative appropriations because "we don't get what we need that way."

Speaking of people who need to be decapitated and hung from a bridge ...

[YankeeinOkieville]

Last month, Steve Jones, an assistant district attorney, told Tennessee legislators "criminals will thank you" for making it harder to confiscate people's property.

So will innocent citizens.

[ZOOKER]

Posted this reply on a thread Saturday. The thread had to do with fines assessed in traffic court, but it could apply here, too -

A few years ago I learned that a former co-worker had again been arrested and jailed (possession, DUI, no license, no insurance).
They had him dead to rights but I was surprised to learn he had been released.
I guess when they learned he had no money, no assets, and no paycheck to garnish, they decided he wasn't worth prosecuting.

Fair disclaimer: I don't know details in this story, could have been a weak case. Really don't know if the defendant's poverty had any influence on the decision not to prosecute.

But it does appear that when you add a financial incentive to the justice system, things can go off the rails, so to speak.

[Carry_Okie]

This is what we get when we allow government a monopoly on law-enforcement.

[Vendome]

+1