Raise the burden of proof in civil asset forfeiture proceedings.
Current civil asset forfeiture laws allow law enforcement to seize an arrested individual’s assets without proving a crime was actually committed. Once useful, this practice now endangers individual rights and the integrity of law enforcement. Texas should raise the burden of proof in these proceedings to help improve police-community relations and protect individual rights.
Resources
Commentary
- Doggone it—Civil Asset Forfeiture is Still Wrong: December 2021
- The Mischaracterization of Conservative Criminal Justice Reform: November 2017
- California Forfeits Common Sense: September 2015
Research
- Rebutting Common Myths of Civil Asset Forfeiture: December 2016
- Asset Forfeiture by Texas Law Enforcement: April 2016
- Without Due Process of Law – The Conservative Case for Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform: September 2015
- Taking Contraband Without Taking Our Liberties: March 2014
Polling
- Overwhelming Majority of Texas Voters Oppose Civil Asset Forfeiture: February 2017
Legislative Guide
- Procedural Liberty and Asset Forfeiture: September 2020
Video
- Property Rights in the Balance – Civil Asset Forfeiture in the 85th: March 2017