Pubdate: Sun, 23 Jun 2013
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Contact:  http://www.ajc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28
Author: kelly Mccutchen

CIVIL FORFEITURE: INNOCENT PARTIES LOSE UNDER CURRENT LAWS

"Court of public opinion" (Opinion, June 16) highlights the 
questionable spending of forfeiture funds, but ignores the larger 
issue: Innocent property owners are losing their property.

Your property can be seized in Georgia even if you have not been 
convicted or even accused of a crime. Even worse, the burden of proof 
is on you - not on the state - to prove your innocence, and you must 
sue to retrieve your property. Questionable spending is worthy of 
concern, but the greater flaws in our civil asset forfeiture law are 
negatively impacting peoples' lives.

KELLY MCCUTCHEN, PRESIDENT, GEORGIA PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom