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Asset forfeiture

Asset forfeiture has been called a valuable tool of law enforcement to bring down major kingpins. A study in Boston found that drug dealers who had money forfeited to law enforcement and more lenient sentences than those who have no money (1 ).

Police only need probable cause to seize property. 80% of those who have had property seized are never charged with a crime (2 ).

Do some law enforcement agencies see asset forfeiture as a source of funding? Very possibly, agencies that cooperate with federal agencies can get up to 80% of the proceeds of raids back. Dallas criminologists John Worrall said "As agencies become more desperate, there's the potential for the situation to worsen. We could see a lot more interest in creative sources of funding," (3 ).

What else could happen to the forfeited property? Nine studies by the GAO in ten years say's it's usually trashed or Stolen by the police (4).

Rep Henry Hyde, said about this countries seizure policy in the War On Drugs. "Everything you have can be taken away at the whim of one or two federal or state officials. Regardless of sex, age, race, or economic situation, we are all potential Victims."(5 ).

Luther and Meredith Ricks from Lima Ohio said they had always been frugal and managed to save more than $400,000. They didn't trust banks so they kept the money in a safe in there house. During a break-in, in 2007 by two burglars. Luther attacked and Luther's son was stabbed before Luther was able to shoot and kill one of the attackers. The police cleared Luther of the shooting saying he acted in self defense. But hey found a small amount of marijuana, Luther said he used to manage pain from arthritis and a hip replacement surgery. The Ricks were never charged but the FBI stepped in and took the couples life savings(6 ).

In 1991 Police Stopped Allen Coulter Kidd when he was riding his motorcycle through Chesterfield County, Virginia. They believed he might be a drug courier. The police found no drugs but took him to police headquarters anyway. They seized 2,780 cash he had on him and his Harley Davidson Motorcycle. Kidd plead not guilty to the charge and the case was dismissed, because the police had no evidence. But it took Kidd a year to get half his money and his motorcycle back (7 ).