Disgusting Asset Forfiture

[Benton]

(07-18-2017, 07:45 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: I am of the mindset that asset forfeiture is theft, unless there is a conviction that merits the seizure of assets that were the gains of committing crime, or necessary for the restitution of a crime.

However, I understand the need and reasons to seize a person's assets during the legal process, and for accounts to be frozen, etc. It prevents criminals from building a high paid defense, using ill gotten gains, that may never be recovered, as well as preventing criminals from grabbing all their loot and fleeing the Country, etc.

But, should those citizens be found Not Guilty in a Court of Law, they should be entitled to have all of their assets returned, accounts unfrozen, etc. No questions asked.

I think most people fall into this line of thinking. Commit a crime in your car, lose the car to help recoup costs.

It boggles my mind how states like Texas get away with law enforcement selling your stuff during the judicial process.

But there's also the disparity with how it's applied. A guy sells pot out of his house and it can get seized; a bank commits millions of dollars in illegal fees and account manipulation, they pay the money back and write the attorney fees off as a business expense.