Criminals!!! Asset seizures fuel police spending

[RKP5637]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/investigative/2014/10/11/cash-seizures-fuel-police-spending/

Police agencies have used hundreds of millions of dollars taken from Americans under federal civil forfeiture law in recent years to buy guns, armored cars and electronic surveillance gear. They have also spent money on luxury vehicles, travel and a clown named Sparkles.

In Douglasville, Ga, population 32,000, an armored personnel carrier costing $227,000 was bought using money taken from Americans under civil forfeiture laws.

The details are contained in thousands of annual reports submitted by local and state agencies to the Justice Department’s Equitable Sharing Program, an initiative that allows local and state police to keep up to 80 percent of the assets they seize. The Washington Post obtained 43,000 of the reports dating from 2008 through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Stop and Seize: In recent years, thousands of people have had cash confiscated by police without being charged with crimes. The Post looks at the police culture behind the seizures and the people who were forced to fight the government to get their money back.

Part 1: After Sept. 11, 2001, a cottage industry of private police trainers emerged to teach aggressive techniques of highway interdiction to thousands of local and state police.
Part 2: One training firm started a private intelligence-sharing network and helped shape law enforcement nationwide.
Part 3: Motorists caught up in the seizures talk about the experience and the legal battles that could take over a year.

The reporters behind “Stop and Seize” answered readers’ questions about the investigative series.
The documents offer a sweeping look at how police departments and drug task forces across the country are benefiting from laws that allow them to take cash and property without proving a crime has occurred. The law was meant to decimate drug organizations, but The Post found that it has been used as a routine source of funding for law enforcement at every level.

[valerief]

1. Legalized robbery. Oftentimes, highway robbery literally! nt

[Politicalboi]

2. How does this shit happen

It's not like they hide this. They seem to be proud of their theft. Maybe people can get the addresses of cops, judges and prosecutors, and file a suit against their property.

[aggiesal]

3. Watch this. It explains a lot.

[Unknown Beatle]

4. What surprises me is that

the DOJ hasn't put a stop to this outrageous federal civil forfeiture law. I'm sure Obama and Holder are well aware of this law but do nothing.

Proud To Steal

Picture from linked site.

[RKP5637]

5. That, is what has amazed me ... they remain silent on things like this, yet another WTF. n/t