Police Civil Asset Forfeitures Exceed The Value Of All Burglaries In 2014

[digitaldeath]

Between 1989 and 2010, U.S. attorneys seized an estimated $12.6 billion in asset forfeiture cases. The growth rate during that time averaged +19.4% annually. By 2014, that number had ballooned to roughly $4.5 billion for the year. Now, according to the FBI, the total amount of goods stolen by criminals in 2014 burglary offenses suffered an estimated $3.9 billion in property losses. This means that the police are now taking more assets than the criminals.






plagiarized from zerohedge

[babybear]

From some of the horror stories I've heard about it is also really difficult to get property returned - even when the people are ultimately NOT Charged with any crime

I think I read they call it operation Black Asphalt

[haydukelives]

Saw this admonition:
Do not steal
The government does not like competition

[DougW]

there are more crimes that stealing stuff, drugs lords get their stuff taken, there is a logic fail here

[assman]

Government is the enemy of a free people

[jamal]

John Oliver did a thing on this recently:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kEpZWGgJks

Makes it seem like there are a lot of cases where the police just take your shit for no good reason.

Although the right answers are "no, you can not search my car," and "I'd prefer not to answer any questions."

[Bromontana]

If you can't win a debate or hire a good lawyer, you're prey under current rules for CAF. It's disgusting how corrupt it is. Snoop was right

[digitaldeath]

there are more crimes that stealing stuff, drugs lords get their stuff taken, there is a logic fail here

english fail

comma fail

[riser4]

Government is the enemy of a free people

So are corporations. So, basically, people are fucked. At least with our form of government it is supposed come with some degree of representation. Therefore, reign in the corporations and get the government back. win-win. Go enjoy your government over-reach-around.

[TomCrac]

Somebody should start a thread about police behaving badly.

[DougW]

english fail

comma fail

So you didn't understand. Ok I'll make it simple for you. The crimes for which property to forfeited are many. Only a small % would be burglaries. So using the stat that compares the value of burglaries to all forfeited property is stupid. Maybe too much is being seized but that comparison is stupid.

[babybear]

What we're talking about here is seizing of properties for finding an el roacho in someone's car or somebody's kid or grandkid selling drugs from the house and them getting their home/ life seized

Yes some is legit/ a lot is bullshit

[Bromontana]

So you didn't understand. Ok I'll make it simple for you. The crimes for which property to forfeited are many. Only a small % would be burglaries. So using the stat that compares the value of burglaries to all forfeited property is stupid. Maybe too much is being seized but that comparison is stupid.

The problem is that shit is snatched with zero hint of a crime taking place, much less a crime, much a crime that results in a conviction. The whole point is to shine light on the scope of the forfeitures to make the less awesome see what is painfully obvious to many: it is moronic to incentivize authoritative figures to cheat or wrongfully victimize civilians. It contradicts their entire purpose as an institution on this planet.

The hyperbole is justified by the high levels of stupidity in place within the system.

[digitaldeath]

So you didn't understand. Ok I'll make it simple for you. The crimes for which property to forfeited are many. Only a small % would be burglaries. So using the stat that compares the value of burglaries to all forfeited property is stupid. Maybe too much is being seized but that comparison is stupid.

Bootlicker talk!

[DougW]

The problem is that shit is snatched with zero hint of a crime taking place, much less a crime, much a crime that results in a conviction. The whole point is to shine light on the scope of the forfeitures to make the less awesome see what is painfully obvious to many: it is moronic to incentivize authoritative figures to cheat or wrongfully victimize civilians. It contradicts their entire purpose as an institution on this planet.

The hyperbole is justified by the high levels of stupidity in place within the system.

Ok see point but it would be interesting to see a breakdown of seizures by crime and compare that to the total revenue of the crime. Certainly there has been a huge uncontrolled increase and there is almost no due process.