“Public trust in the police is one of the most vital elements for a civilized society. But, for many Americans, that trust has been undermined by a procedure called civil forfeiture,” Oliver explained.
Police can just take your stuff if they suspect it’s involved in a crime? They can! It’s a shady process called “civil asset forfeiture”. The issue is that there’s virtually NO standard of evidence required. Since someone getting their belongings back requires going to court against the government, a time-consuming and expensive process that’s largely decided by the same law enforcement officials who took the property in the first place, the vast majority of people have to give up. Especially with any cash money taken, it’s Highway Patrol robbery.
Police departments across the country use the “civil interdiction” as a fundraising mechanism, but also the shadowy network of for-profit firms that enable the practice.