Fight Back Against Drug War Profiteers
- av: Drug Policy Alliance
- mottagare: U.S. Congress
Your money, your home, your car. They can all be taken from you. They can all be seized by local and federal police agencies even if you've never been charged with a crime. All in the name of the war on drugs.
It's called civil asset forfeiture, also known as 'policing for profit,' and it's another ugly relic of the failed drug war. It's mostly used against people suspected of drug law violations and, shockingly, these people do not even need to be charged or convicted of a crime for law enforcement to seize their property! But we're working with members of Congress on bipartisan legislation that will finally stop it.
The FAIR Act was recently introduced in Congress to end the perverse incentives that federal laws give police departments to take innocent people's property and run. It has strong bipartisan support in the House and the Senate. Now we need your help to make this important reform a reality.
The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is the nation's leading organization promoting drug policies like the FAIR Act. Together with our supporters, we are working to ensure that America's drug policies no longer arrest, incarcerate, disenfranchise and otherwise harm millions of people and devastate already vulnerable communities.
Join DPA and help us roll back the drug war. Urge your members of Congress to support the FAIR Act to end civil asset forfeiture.
It's called civil asset forfeiture, also known as 'policing for profit,' and it's another ugly relic of the failed drug war. It's mostly used against people suspected of drug law violations and, shockingly, these people do not even need to be charged or convicted of a crime for law enforcement to seize their property! But we're working with members of Congress on bipartisan legislation that will finally stop it.
The FAIR Act was recently introduced in Congress to end the perverse incentives that federal laws give police departments to take innocent people's property and run. It has strong bipartisan support in the House and the Senate. Now we need your help to make this important reform a reality.
The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is the nation's leading organization promoting drug policies like the FAIR Act. Together with our supporters, we are working to ensure that America's drug policies no longer arrest, incarcerate, disenfranchise and otherwise harm millions of people and devastate already vulnerable communities.
Join DPA and help us roll back the drug war. Urge your members of Congress to support the FAIR Act to end civil asset forfeiture.
Dear Member of Congress,
I urge you to support the FAIR Act (H.R. 540/S. 255), bipartisan legislation introduced in both houses of Congress that would reform federal civil asset forfeiture laws. American citizens who are merely suspected of being involved in a drug law violation or another crime can have their property and other assets seized by police without being convicted, or even charged with a crime. Existing federal laws enable - and often incentivize - police departments to seize cash and other property from citizens and then funnel the proceeds through a process facilitated by the Department of Justice's Equitable Sharing Program.
The FAIR Act would eliminate the Equitable Sharing Program. This is a critically important reform to reduce abuse and increase protections for innocent citizens. The FAIR Act also addresses concerns that federal law enforcement agencies may be adversely incentivized by seizure proceeds by requiring the deposit of all seizure proceeds received by the federal government into the Department of Treasury's general fund and ending the practice of placing such proceeds into the coffers of the Department of Justice for law enforcement purposes.
The FAIR Act also increases the federal government's burden of proof in civil forfeiture proceedings. Currently, federal law allows for preponderance of the evidence, which is the lowest standard of proof in a court of law. The FAIR Act would require clear and convincing evidence in civil asset forfeiture cases. This legislation also boosts legal rights granted to the property owner who may otherwise have no recourse to challenge a wrongful seizure. These reforms are sorely needed for many Americans who find that the cost of challenging civil asset forfeiture can exceed the value of the property seized.
Earlier this year, Attorney General Eric Holder issued an order prohibiting federal agencies from accepting certain civil asset forfeiture assets seized by state and local law enforcement agencies. However, Attorney General Holder's administrative reform does not go far enough to realize permanent civil asset forfeiture reform.
Strong bipartisan support already exists for this legislation and Congress has an enormous opportunity to end the perverse incentives that federal forfeiture laws give police to seize property from Americans without due process. Federal civil asset forfeiture laws are in urgent need of reform. Please show leadership on this issue and support the FAIR Act.
[Your comment here]
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
Signera petitionenSignera petitionenI urge you to support the FAIR Act (H.R. 540/S. 255), bipartisan legislation introduced in both houses of Congress that would reform federal civil asset forfeiture laws. American citizens who are merely suspected of being involved in a drug law violation or another crime can have their property and other assets seized by police without being convicted, or even charged with a crime. Existing federal laws enable - and often incentivize - police departments to seize cash and other property from citizens and then funnel the proceeds through a process facilitated by the Department of Justice's Equitable Sharing Program.
The FAIR Act would eliminate the Equitable Sharing Program. This is a critically important reform to reduce abuse and increase protections for innocent citizens. The FAIR Act also addresses concerns that federal law enforcement agencies may be adversely incentivized by seizure proceeds by requiring the deposit of all seizure proceeds received by the federal government into the Department of Treasury's general fund and ending the practice of placing such proceeds into the coffers of the Department of Justice for law enforcement purposes.
The FAIR Act also increases the federal government's burden of proof in civil forfeiture proceedings. Currently, federal law allows for preponderance of the evidence, which is the lowest standard of proof in a court of law. The FAIR Act would require clear and convincing evidence in civil asset forfeiture cases. This legislation also boosts legal rights granted to the property owner who may otherwise have no recourse to challenge a wrongful seizure. These reforms are sorely needed for many Americans who find that the cost of challenging civil asset forfeiture can exceed the value of the property seized.
Earlier this year, Attorney General Eric Holder issued an order prohibiting federal agencies from accepting certain civil asset forfeiture assets seized by state and local law enforcement agencies. However, Attorney General Holder's administrative reform does not go far enough to realize permanent civil asset forfeiture reform.
Strong bipartisan support already exists for this legislation and Congress has an enormous opportunity to end the perverse incentives that federal forfeiture laws give police to seize property from Americans without due process. Federal civil asset forfeiture laws are in urgent need of reform. Please show leadership on this issue and support the FAIR Act.
[Your comment here]
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
Se fler petitioner:
Du har JavaScript inaktiverat. Utan den skulle vår webbplats inte fungera korrekt.
genom att skriva under accepterar du användarvillkor för Care2 Du kan hantera dina epostabonnemang när som helst.
Har problem med att skriva under detta? Låt oss veta.