New Mexico’s new protections for innocent property owners should not be weakened
In its most recent session, the New Mexico Legislature passed a comprehensive bill aimed at protecting innocent property owners from government overreach. Prior to the passage of HB 560, the…
Lawmakers take note: Americans believe a criminal conviction should be required before the government takes someone’s property
Civil asset forfeiture is becoming a hot topic in the media. New stories of abuse, where innocent people’s property and/or cash is seized by overzealous law enforcement, come out on…
Abuse of federal law allowed the government to steal this college student’s life savings
Charles Clarke, after a long trip to visit relatives in Cincinnati between late 2013 and early 2014, was preparing to board a flight back to his home in Orlando when…
Reforms to protect innocent property owners from government overreach awaiting action in the Michigan Senate
In February, just after the start of the 2015 legislative session, Michigan House Republicans rolled out their action plan for the year. Among the issues included in the action…
Civil Asset Forfeiture: This is Pernicious Stuff, and FreedomWorks is Working to Change It
Jason Pye, Director of Justice Reform, represented FreedomWorks at a panel discussion called "Civil Asset Forfeiture: Undue Process and Overdue Reforms" on June 26 at Americans for Tax Reform…
FreedomWorks supports efforts in Pennsylvania to protect private property and restore due process
This afternoon, Pennsylvania state Rep. Jim Cox (R-Sinking Spring) introduced HB 508, a bill that would offer protections for innocent property owners and restore due process in the Commonwealth.
California House committee expected to take up legislation to protect innocent property owners from abuse of federal law
The California House Public Safety Committee is expected to hold a hearing on July 14 to debate proposed civil asset forfeiture reforms that offer substantive protections for innocent property owners.
Settlement: Another Arrow in the Government’s Civil Asset Forfeiture Quiver
Using civil asset forfeiture, the government often seizes the property of completely innocent individuals. However, despite their innocence, these individuals often settle with the government and forfeit a portion of…
Mary Fallin should get behind the effort to protect innocent Oklahomans from civil asset forfeiture
During a recent a recent discussion with Oklahoma journalists, Gov. Mary Fallin indicated that reforms were necessary to the Sooner State’s awful civil asset forfeiture laws. How far she is…
Civil Asset Forfeiture: Grading the States
Civil asset forfeiture is a unique area of law in which the government charges specific property of being guilty of wrongdoing, rather than a person. Perhaps because the property is…