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January 20, 2015

Holder Issues New Rules on Civil Asset Forfeiture 
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Attorney General Eric Holder has unveiled changes to the federal
government's role in civil asset forfeiture — a controversial
practice where police seize property that belongs to people suspected of
crimes, even if they are never convicted. The new rules prevent federal
agencies from taking property seized by local and state police, with
exceptions for items like guns and child pornography. In a statement,
the American Civil Liberties Union called the move "a significant
advancement to reform a practice that is a clear violation of due
process that is often used to disproportionately target communities of
color."

 

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