TYT: Cops Can Legally Take Your Stuff Even If You're Innocent

[WhoIsNumberNone]

Lately, the police have used what they call "asset forfeiture" to take the implements or proceeds of crimes. This can include money, houses, cars, and much more. The problem is the cops can take it before the person has been convicted of a crime, and often can keep it even if the person isn't convicted. John Iadarola (Think Tank) delivers his Final Judgment on asset seizure.

[99th_Monkey]

1. The War on Drugs was the Police State's camel's nose under the Big Tent.

Which btw was championed by the Clintons
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/clinton-dynasty-horrific-legacy-more-drug-war-more-prisons

[truedelphi]

3. Bill Clinton and Janet Reno

Spent years of their lives harrassing a friend of mine - her crime was that she set up and organized the first Medicinal Marijuana Dispensary here in the state of Calif., shortly after Medicinal Marijuana was legalized by the citizens of this state.

They finally had that dispensary shut down. It was in the town of Fairfax California.

Not only that, but those two filed charges against Lynnette Shaw, and had every penny of her Social Security monies seized.

To date, she is the only American citizen who has had all their Social Security monies taken away from them. She has been unable to work, as her main field of employment was as an organizer and operator of med marijuana dispensaries. (Should she work in any other field, her wages would be garnered by the government to pay off fines assessed against her.) And the charges against her prevent her from setting foot inside any dispensaries.

Hopefully this month, a Judge Breyer in a Fed District Court will make a ruling that will restore her life to what it should be. My fingers are crossed, but I will never ever vote for a Clinton.

[Runningdawg]

2. It's not just recently

Back in the 90's some friends were boating. They saw a guy clinging to a wrecked boat and picked him up. They were headed to shore when the lake patrol came. The guy had stolen the boat and had a wad of cash and several forms of drugs on his person. Everybody goes to jail to let the judge sort it out. The police seize their boat, trailer and truck. The judge drops the charges, but they are told their stuff is now evidence and they can have it back after the other guys trial. He's found guilty, they receive a bill for close to 60K for transport, storage and "processing" of their property during the case. Here was a middle aged couple, enjoying the fruits of their hard work when they stopped to do a good deed and ended up filing for bankruptcy.
What a mess and this is what passes for justice?

[djean111]

5. Yes, this is what passes for justice. And it is done intentionally. n/t

[djean111]

4. Obama's new Attorney general, Loretta Lynch, LOVES asset forfeiture, will not touch Wall Street,

and is on the record as not wanting marijuana to be legalized.

Don't listen to what Obama says, watch what he actually does, who he actually appoints. Before the internet, we did not get to see who these people really are.

[Nay]

6. Assett forfeiture is not new; it's been going on for decades. The 60 Minutes news show

had an expose on it back in the 70's or 80's -- they featured (IIRC) a guy crossing a state line with $5000 cash to buy plants from a nursery, and other poor bastards who were rolled for their cash by local PDs. It's a cash cow. Then there are the old folks who, unbeknownst to them, have a marijuana plant growing somewhere on their 100 acres and -- bam -- the cops own their property without even bringing charges against them. It's been a travesty for a looooong time.