Pubdate: Fri, 29 Mar 2002 Source: Gazette, The (CO) Copyright: 2002 The Gazette Contact: http://www.gazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/876 Author: Don Powers Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n542/a06.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture) On Target ASSET SEIZURES WITHOUT CONVICTIONS ARE WRONG This is regarding Wayne Reynolds' March 22 reply to The Gazette's March 20 Our View, "Spoils of war" ("Gazette's arguments against asset forfeiture show flawed thinking," Letters). Reynolds claimed The Gazette is seriously flawed in its position that property seizure should not be allowed unless an arrest led to a conviction. Funny, I thought that was one of strongest points made in the original column. Like it or not, we still live in a country where the accused are innocent until proven guilty, regardless of the inequities in the system. Penalties, to include asset seizures/forfeitures, should follow convictions, not precede them. The Gazette provided many good reasons why this is a bad policy, and it needs to change. A few years ago, in his noble but overzealous attempt to curb drunk driving in New York, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani proposed seizure of automobiles belonging to drivers charged with an alcohol-related offenses, regardless of the outcome of the trial. That sort of mindset is similar the asset seizure law at hand. It puts too much power in the hands of law enforcement, is arguably unconstitutional, and it's wrong. Don Powers Colorado Springs - --- MAP posted-by: Beth