When Philadelphia police use civil asset forfeiture to seize millions in cash, cars, and homes every year, the money is put into secretive municipal bank accounts. Long-hidden documents reveal what happened to at least some of the money. It went for submachine guns, outboard motors and "tens of thousands in mysterious cash withdrawals over the past five years." Some $5 million is unnaccounted for, this investigation reckons.
From Philadelphia Weekly:
Read Full Article »Attorneys at the Virginia-based nonprofit depict civil asset forfeiture as one of the greatest threats to property rights in the nation today. Under the Trump administration, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has sought to expand the practice's already widespread use. In 2014, federal authorities notoriously seized $5 billion – more than was reported stolen in burglaries nationwide, according to FBI data. Meanwhile, big cities like Philadelphia continue cultivate their own forfeiture juggernauts with little scrutiny.
As part of a potentially historic settlement with the plaintiffs, city lawyers have offered to radically restructure forfeiture spending to support drug treatment programs over law enforcement spending.
