Civil Asset Forfeiture in Indiana

Civil asset forfeiture allows police to seize property linked to alleged criminal activity without charging the owner with a crime, undermining the presumption of innocence.

It is referred to as 'policing for profit' because law enforcement agencies retain a portion of the seized assets, creating a financial incentive to conduct seizures.

The example provided involves a Mississippi man who had $42,300 seized by police while he was en route to buy a second semi-truck for his business.

<p>Indiana police routinely seize cash from FedEx packages they consider 'suspicious' based on broad criteria.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A package that is taped on all seams and a new box are two attributes that may be deemed 'suspicious.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Shipments paid by credit card, possibly by cash, or by 'unknown means' may trigger suspicion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It undermines the cornerstone presumption of innocence, as property can be seized without proof of wrongdoing by the owner.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The high volume of packages at the FedEx hub allows police to easily identify and seize cash from packages that they label as suspicious.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>K-9 dogs are used by police to detect potential illegal substances in packages; if a dog alerts on a package, police can obtain a warrant to open it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Civil asset forfeiture is a legal process where law enforcement can seize property suspected of being connected to crimes, such as cash in FedEx packages without proving a crime has occurred.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Henry and Minh Cheng had $42,825 confiscated without any specific legal violation cited, but later the Marion County prosecutor's office agreed to return the money.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The title indicates that the property itself is put on trial rather than a person, emphasizing the unique and often criticized nature of asset forfeiture laws.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Victims often face a daunting legal process with costs that can lead them to give up fighting to reclaim their seized property.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The lawsuit claims that the police seizures of FedEx packages violate both the US Constitution's due process guarantees and Indiana's law against prosecuting crimes that occur outside the state.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Indiana police may seize cash based on a presumption that the money could be linked to drug-related activities or other crimes, despite lacking concrete evidence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The source states account for approximately 29% of the US population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>FedEx's logistical algorithms sometimes route packages through Indiana, making them targets for police seizures without any crime being committed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Henry Cheng expresses disbelief that such seizures can happen in America, reflecting a broader concern about the fairness of the system.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Seizing property without specific allegations can be seen as a violation of due process and raises ethical concerns about the abuse of law enforcement powers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The prosecutor's office returned the funds, possibly to mitigate the impact of the ongoing class action lawsuit challenging their practices.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It places the burden on victims to prove that their seized property is not connected to a crime, which is often a complex and costly process.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Police usually allege that the seized currency was intended for use in violation of a criminal statute or is traceable to such a violation.</p> Signup and view all the answers