AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation will host a Policy Primer discussing “Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform in Texas: Fighting Contraband, Upholding Civil Liberties” on Monday, December 8, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. CST in Texas State Capitol Conference Center located in room E2.002.
Civil asset forfeiture is a common practice in Texas, responsible for part of the more than $46 million agencies receive from self-directed forfeiture proceedings each year. Unlike criminal forfeiture, there is a much weaker burden-of-proof to meet for the government to take complete control of the property. Forfeiture proceedings are an indispensable tool in law enforcement, allowing police and prosecutors to turn the ill-gotten fruits of criminals to cash and real property used to fight crime. However, some property seizures and subsequent forfeitures are made without a criminal conviction on mere suspicion alone.
Panelists will discuss civil asset forfeiture and what can be done to curtail abuse.
Panelists include:
- Representative David Simpson, Texas House of Representatives
- Andrew Kloster, The Heritage Foundation
- Matt Miller, Institute for Justice – Texas
- Chief James McLaughlin, Texas Police Chief’s Association
- Derek Cohen, Center for Effective Justice at The Texas Public Policy Foundation (moderator)
For additional information and to register, visit: http://txpo.li/civil-asset-forfeiture-primer
| WHO: | Texas Public Policy Foundation | |
| WHAT: | "Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform in Texas: | |
| Fighting Contraband, Upholding Civil Liberties" | ||
| WHEN: | Monday, December 8, 2014 | |
| 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CST | ||
| WHERE: | Texas State Capitol | |
| Legislative Conference Center, E2.002 | ||
| Austin, Texas 78701 |
To learn more please contact Caroline Espinosa at [email protected] or 512.472.2700
Derek Cohen is a Policy Analyst with the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin, Texas.