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 - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom