Lege Trend: Civil Asset Seizure Reform in the Wolverine Homestate

Michigan legislature is moving a bill to refrom civil asset forfeiture laws that will:

• Increase the burden of proof for police to “clear and convincing evidence,” that the property came from crime. Up from “preponderance of the evidence.”
• Local police will be required to document the property they seize & their investigation with Michigan state police
• Michigan state police will have to post online all civil asset forfeitures
• Expanded to the number of crimes for qhich asset forfeiture reporting will be required to include: prostitution, gambling, human trafficking, identity theft

The civil asset forfeiture reform had bipartisan support and is expected to be signed by Gov. Snyder.

Why does this matter to Texas? Because asset forefeiture reform has been in the works for years and is supported by TPPF and the ACLU.

What’s the bottom line? Asset forefeiture can be used as proceeds to fund local law enforcement. Greater reform, leads to less forefeitures, and that leads to less revenue for local law enforcement.

Governing | Michigan Makes It Harder for Police to Seize People’s Property