Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to Hold Hearing on Reforms Needed to Civil Asset Forfeiture Laws
Current laws allow law enforcement to seize cash, vehicles, and other assets from individuals without filing criminal charges
Washington, D.C. (December 6, 2021)—On December 8, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. ET, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, will hold a hearingto examine the need to reform the nation's civil asset forfeiture laws and to prevent state, local, and federal law enforcement from abusing the civil rights and civil liberties of Americans.
Civil asset forfeiture is a procedure used by law enforcement officials to seize assets from individuals upon the belief that the assets are connected to criminal activity. The government does not need to convict or even charge individuals before seizing their assets. In some states, law enforcement agencies are allowed to keep 100 percent of the seized assets proceeds, creating a perverse incentive for agencies to abuse the civil rights of Americans in exchange for profit.
Studies show that low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately affected by civil asset forfeiture programs. One study in South Carolina found that between 2014 and 2016, 65 percent of individuals targeted for forfeiture were Black men, despite being only 13 percent of the state's population. Challenging civil asset forfeiture is a costly and complex endeavor, making it more difficult for low-income individuals to recoup their seized assets.
Since 2014, 36 states and the District of Columbia have introduced reforms to rein in the abuse of civil asset forfeiture programs. However, these efforts have been hindered by the federal Equitable Sharing Program which creates a giant loophole that allows state and local governments, including those that have abolished civil forfeiture, to transfer seized assets to the federal government and recoup a large portion of the cash proceeds.
WHAT: | Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties hearing entitled "Forfeiting our Rights: The Urgent Need for Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform" |
WHEN: | Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. ET |
WHO: | Aamra Ahmad Senior Policy Counsel Daniel Alban Senior Attorney and Co-Director, National Initiative to End Forfeiture Abuse Practice Professor of Law, Director of Civil Practice Clinic & Legislative Clinic Victim of Civil Asset Forfeiture Springfield, Massachusetts |
WATCH: | A livestream will be available on YouTube and the Committee on Oversight and Reform website. |
MEDIA
Per the Office of the Attending Physician's (OAP) guidelines, and in consultation with the Architect of the Capitol, the Chief Administrative Officer, the Sergeant at Arms, and the Committee on House Administration, the hearing room has been reconfigured to provide for social distancing. In light of current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and OAP, media must comply with the Committee's COVID guidelines, including by continuing to wear masks at all times, regardless of vaccination status.
Seating in the hearing room is extremely limited and as a result, credentialed media must RSVP to their respective press gallery no later than 5 p.m. ET on December 7, 2021.
For more information, please contact the Gallery:
House Radio/TV Gallery: Ryan.Dahl@mail.house.gov202-225-5214
House Periodical Gallery: periodical.press@mail.house.gov 202-225-2941
House Daily Press Gallery: dailypressgallery@mail.house.gov 202-225-3945
Photographer Gallery: Press_Photo@saa.senate.gov 202-224-6548
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