Philadelphia Trial Lawyers: Proposed Civil Asset Forteiture Ban

Proposal to Ban Civil Asset Forfeiture to Come Before Pennsylvania State Senate Committee

In July of 2015, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill requiring prosecutors to convict an individual of a crime before the State could take his/her property permanently through civil forfeiture. Civil asset forfeiture is used by police and prosecutors to take property from individuals suspected of a crime. Previously, this meant that the state could take property from an individual, even if that individual had never been convicted. Types of forfeitable property include cash, cars, homes, and other personal property.

Sentiment has been moving away from Pennsylvania’s use of civil forfeiture. In November of 2012, Judge Dan Pellegrini of Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court stated that Pennsylvania’s civil asset forfeiture law amounted to “little more than state-sanctioned theft.”

The Philadelphia Trial Lawyers at Sidkoff, Pincus & Green Represent Individuals Suspected of a Crime

If you or a family member is suspected of a crime and need experienced legal representation the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers at Sidkoff, Pincus & Green can help.  For more information contact us online, or call 215-574-0600.