Concerned that a Colorado reform bill would close a civil forfeiture loophole that has netted millions of dollars in revenue for police and prosecutors, law enforcement and local government groups are lobbying Gov. Empowered by civil forfeiture laws, law enforcement can seize (and keep) property without having to file criminal charges. Under Colorado law, once a property has been forfeited, agencies receive half of the proceeds. Opposition to civil forfeiture has united Democratic Representative Leslie Herod with Republican Senator Tim Neville. For smaller seizures, Colorado prosecutors can continue to litigate forfeiture cases under state forfeiture law.

Source: Forbes June 06, 2017 00:11 UTC