TexasCHLforum.com

Everything surrounding the concept of Civil Asset Forfeiture is the poster child for unintended consequences. Any time we are considering the addition of a new law to allow "Fill in your blanks here" we must consider how it can be used by the other side, or in the wrong hands.

It sounds like a great idea to take away the spoils of criminal activity on the surface. But the first time an innocent (legally or morally) individual is stripped of their assets, and thus their ability to defend themselves in a court of law against the accusations that got their assets seized in the first place, we have a problem.

That's before the deeper application of the CAF codes began allowing participating agencies to keep portions of what is seized. That is what's known as "Policing for profit."

And that's just the beginning of my thoughts around the idea. It's wrong, it's immoral, it's illegal, and it's unconstitutional.

Post-conviction, fines and penalties can be increased, or even specific to a situation--that's another matter entirely. But blanket Civil Asset Forfeiture needs to go the way of the Dodo.