Civil Asset Forfeiture in Texas: Where and Why Does It Occur?

April 7, 2016 • 11:30 a.m.

Civil asset forfeiture allows law enforcement officers to seize an individual’s property even if no criminal charges are filed, and getting those assets back can be arduous and expensive. Indeed, it is up to the original owner to prove the property’s innocence. Defining how much civil asset forfeiture occurs in Texas has been very difficult, and proposals to require more transparency have been blocked, but new information can help provide context for this important debate.

Panelists:
Derek Cohen, Deputy Director of the Center for Effective Justice, Texas Public Policy Foundation
Currie Myers, Former Sheriff, Johnson County, Kansas
Vikrant Reddy, Senior Fellow, Charles Koch Institute
Representative Phil Stephenson, Texas House of Representatives