NCJ Number
160610
Date Published
1994
Length
61 pages
Annotation
This report provides an overview of the Federal Government's asset forfeiture program and case examples of the program in operation.
Abstract
An introduction notes that forfeiture laws can benefit crime victims through the remission and mitigation process and the government's foregoing forfeiture where equity demands it. The program also combats crime by depriving criminals of their gains and putting forfeited assets back into crime control efforts through the Equitable Sharing Program. In addition, the program allows law enforcement agencies to find unique ways to use the proceeds of forfeited assets. The 1984 Crime Control Act authorized the sharing of Federal forfeiture proceeds with participating State and local law enforcement agencies. Currently, the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Program has shared more than $1.1 billion in forfeited property with more than 3,000 State and local agencies. Police agencies have used the proceeds to purchase everything from weapons to computer equipment. They have also used forfeited real property in diverse ways, from establishing shelters for victims of domestic assault to housing law enforcement training facilities. Photographs and contact information the case examples