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Multi part investigation into civil asset forfeiture in South Carolina. Horrifying abuse of police power. greenvilleonline.com/in-depth/news/…
Police agencies claiming that without asset forfeiture their funding would be imperiled is disgusting. “The only way we get our K-9 unit is by seizing innocent peoples property”. 
19% of people who had property seized were never arrested. Another 20% were charged and not convicted.
Twice a city has tried to steal a 72 year olds house because she didn’t do enough to discourage drug dealers from setting up shop in her front yard
And as always when forfeiture gets attention, please read this series of articles newyorker.com/magazine/2013/…
Detailed look at Chicago
Here is part II of the big South Carolina civil asset forfeiture investigation. Outstanding work by the journalists. independentmail.com/in-depth/news/…
"To win forfeiture in SC, it just has to show that property is more likely than not connected to crime. At least twice in recent years, agencies tried to seize widows' homes because they said the women didn’t do enough to stop drug sales taking place beyond their front stoop."
"From the very beginning of a forfeiture proceeding, the deck is stacked in favor of police"
“If the individual ... is poor, if they’re indigent ... you don’t get a lawyer appointed from the public defender’s office,” Erwin said. “You’re on your own.”
“If the individual ... is poor, if they’re indigent ... you don’t get a lawyer appointed from the public defender’s office,” Erwin said. “You’re on your own.”
Sometimes if deputies find a pile of cash but no drugs, they'll relieve a driver of their money and send them on down the road, Wright said.
“Some people don’t like it that we can take cash,” he said.
greenvilleonline.com/in-depth/news/…
“Some people don’t like it that we can take cash,” he said.
greenvilleonline.com/in-depth/news/…
"If police don’t get to keep the money from forfeiture, “what is the incentive to go out and make a special effort?” Bruder said. “What is the incentive for interdiction?”
Effectively these police officials seek to to avoid the democratic process of getting allocated funding by elected officials is absurd. Convince the public you need the funds or do without them.
"It is always cheaper to take somebody's stuff with no due process.. .Our focus should be on: Have we protected the property rights of the individual who had their property seized? Not: How cheaply can we keep their stuff by cutting due process out of it?"
A 'historic event': Thanking TAKEN series, 71 SC legislators unveil bipartisan push to reform civil forfeiture greenvilleonline.com/story/news/pol…
