Tim Walberg: “I wish to enter into a colloquy with Chairman Wolf. I rise today to highlight an increasingly abused law enforcement…”

“I wish to enter into a colloquy with Chairman Wolf. I rise today to highlight an increasingly abused law enforcement tactic known as ``civil asset forfeiture.'' This process is an ugly development that enables law enforcement to take legal action against property of individuals, regardless of whether the property owner is guilty, innocent, or even charged with a crime at all. Although criminal forfeiture is a legitimate tool for law enforcement that has helped in the war on drugs and human trafficking, the civil forfeiture system has created the opportunity for local and State law enforcement to police for profit in coordination with the Department of Justice. Specifically, the practice of equitable sharing between local and/or State Departments and the Federal Government has increased 250 percent over the last 12 years, reaching $657 million in 2013 alone, according to The Heritage Foundation. Equitable sharing allows State and local agencies to work around State laws that prohibit civil forfeitures so long as the State agency partners with the Department of Justice and splits the profits. State and local governments, in their pursuit of the fruits of seizures have at times been too eager to seize property, with the result that innocent citizens have been adversely affected with little or no compensation for their damages and economic losses.…”