Massachusetts Special Commission Calls For Civil Forfeiture Reform - Institute for Justice

Massachusetts Special Commission Calls For Civil Forfeiture Reform - Institute for Justice: In an extensive report released late last week, a special commission created by the Massachusetts Legislature urged lawmakers to overhaul civil forfeiture, which lets law enforcement seize and keep property without prosecutors ever charging anyone with a crime. Although civil forfeiture is often defended as a way to target drug kingpins, the reality is far different. Over the past three fiscal years, 86 percent of all cash forfeitures involved amounts of less than $10,000, including as low as $6.20.