Exporting Corruption
May 21st 2009 23:47
Over the past several months, policemen around the country have been getting arrested for stealing from asset forfeiture programs. These programs allow the government to seize your money and/or property upon 'probable cause' that it was connected to a crime. It then falls on the owner to prove innocence. The police then use the proceeds to help fund their departments. Guilty until proven innocent is not what our legal system stands for. This is unconstitutional and just plain immoral.
Especially when 'probable cause' can include the mere fact of carrying a large amount of cash or a police dog's sniff of drug residue on your property (or money!) that you had nothing to with. Someone could have driven by and decided to dump their drugs on your property without your knowledge, but that doesn't matter if the police want your stuff. Once they seize it, you face a long and messy legal battle to try and get it back.
Asset forfeiture breeds corruption. It's immoral and unconstitutional. But instead of abolishing it, the U.S. Government is exporting it to other countries. U.S marshals are instructing Mexican authorities on how to implement and enforce it. The World Bank and the United Nations have a published a guide to help developing countries implement these procedures. The U.S. government contributes billions and basically controls these institutions. Their reason for doing this is to 'fight corruption', but in reality they are just helping it to thrive. Giving law enforcement the arbitrary power to seize personal property is like combating ignorance by censoring newspapers, or trying to strengthen democracy by arresting opposition leaders. Asset forfeiture is inherently corrupt and is about to get much worse. With the current economy and government at all levels facing budget shortfalls, police are writing more speeding tickets to help generate revenue. And don't think that they aren't thinking about more illegal searches, raids and seizures to get more money for themselves, because they are. Wouldn't you?
Contact your legislative representatives today and frequently and tell them as your employees, you want them to end civil asset forfeiture. Tell them you think it's immoral and unconstitutional.
Especially when 'probable cause' can include the mere fact of carrying a large amount of cash or a police dog's sniff of drug residue on your property (or money!) that you had nothing to with. Someone could have driven by and decided to dump their drugs on your property without your knowledge, but that doesn't matter if the police want your stuff. Once they seize it, you face a long and messy legal battle to try and get it back.
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