Posted on 06/25/2015 10:34:25 AM PDT by SZonian
The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office has agreed to change two of the most scrutinized aspects of its civil forfeiture program - a $6-million-a-year juggernaut aimed at taking cash and property out of the hands of drug dealers.
In federal court filings this week, city lawyers agreed to limit their practice of barring homeowners from properties tied up in forfeiture proceedings until the case has made its way before a judge.
Prosecutors also said they would no longer enforce several controversial requirements routinely included in deals struck with property owners to settle forfeiture cases. Those include restrictions blocking relatives accused of crimes from living at the property, granting the state pre-approval on all new owners or tenants, and limiting the rights of owners to fight off future forfeiture efforts.
The policy shifts come amid recent calls from some lawmakers to overhaul Pennsylvania's forfeiture laws, and growing national scrutiny of the city's forfeiture program, which critics say has too often caught innocent people in its dragnet. Last year, four Philadelphia property owners whose houses or cars had been seized filed a civil rights lawsuit in federal court challenging several aspects of the program.
(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...
All these draconian laws have done NOTHING to reduce drug availability and arguably nothing for drug use.
Drugs are still cheap and readily available.
Agreed.
This is but a sample of how out of control this “war” has become...the Constitution be damned.
But now these laws are big money for big govt. The govt needs illegal drugs to fund their operations.
I own 32 acres of field and undeveloped forest. What is to stop them from planting a single plant somewhere on my property, unbeknown to me, and then coming by a month later and “finding” it and taking my property?
Nothing...and that concerns me as well since I am currently looking for land back East for my post CA homestead.
The Government, in league with environmentalist property grabbers, might do just THAT!
Fixed it
“The govt needs illegal drugs to fund their operations.”
Yep, asset forfeiture is, in part, the drug dealers paying their “tax” to operate in the crime boss’s territory.
They don’t even need to “plant” the plant. Marijuana grows wild in all 48 contiguous states. So chances are, if your parcel is fertile and large enough, they might find a few stray plants if they just look hard enough.
I also live in the heart of “Cornbread Mafia” territory.
(google it)
Oh yeah, I’ve heard of those guys but never by that name. When good farmers go bad :)
Fixed it
Yup, "drug dealers" was just a con to get the suckers to bend over and take it.
“I own 32 acres of field and undeveloped forest. What is to stop them from planting a single plant somewhere on my property, unbeknown to me, and then coming by a month later and “finding” it and taking my property?”
Nothing, they’ve done it before. Just ask the Forest Service.
Yes, there is a certain california case that comes to mind. They really wanted his property.
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