Victims of civil forfeiture call it frustrating, corrupt and unfair. This first-of-its-kind survey describes the experiences of victims of one civil forfeiture program, Philadelphia’s. It finds victims typically came from disadvantaged communities, and they had extreme difficulty trying to fight the forfeiture of their property, even when innocent. It also suggests the program did little to fight crime: Not only did police often seize small amounts of cash and low-value cars—hardly the stuff of drug kingpins—but the city often forfeited property from people never proven guilty of anything. These victims’ experiences provide a cautionary tale for forfeiture programs nationwide.
Frustrating, Corrupt, Unfair
