'Even when there are no criminal charges'
By WND Staff September 15, 2019
A newspaper's fight for information about a state's property-confiscation program has been given a huge boost by a judge. The Institute for Justice, which representing the media group LNP and reporter Carter Walker, said Thursday that Lancaster, Pennsylvania, County Judge Leonard Brown decided that forfeiture records are subject to a Pennsylvania Right to Know Law request.
The judge determined, however, the newspaper's request wasn't detailed enough to get a response from the Lancaster District Attorney's office. Walker and LNP said they would immediately refine their petition and resubmit it.
They want to see the receipts for expenses paid out of the district attorney's forfeiture fund.
Civil forfeiture is not a well-known process. It allows governments to take private property, sometimes without even filing charges. The requirements vary from state to state.
The Supreme Court recently ruled against Indiana's plan to confiscate a $40,000 Land Rover for a minor drug offense.........To Read More....
My Take - The fact states keep ignoring the Supreme Court's plain and understandable rulings against this kind of corruption is, at least in my mind, a clear indicator of how lucrative it's been. This is out and out thievery, and the courts need to say so.
If someone is charged with a crime and is found guilty that's a different issue. To allow government to confiscate people's property based on the speculatory judgment of police officers is outrageous. We already know they don't have any evidence that allows them to charge them, or insufficient evidence, or they would have done so. So, are we really willing to accept the idea a police officer's speculations are sufficient allowing them to steal personal property? And steal is the right word.
This is an outrageous violation of clearly stated Constitutional rights. If the Constitution is the law that governs government, and it is, then that document needs some serious defenders, and those government officials who violate it need to receive the most severe rebuke possible. Some serious lawsuits are in order. When the cost of corruption outweighs the benefits of corruption, the corruption stops. Especially if someone goes to jail.
I'm glad to see Ohio has put a stop to this.
The judge determined, however, the newspaper's request wasn't detailed enough to get a response from the Lancaster District Attorney's office. Walker and LNP said they would immediately refine their petition and resubmit it.
They want to see the receipts for expenses paid out of the district attorney's forfeiture fund.
Civil forfeiture is not a well-known process. It allows governments to take private property, sometimes without even filing charges. The requirements vary from state to state.
The Supreme Court recently ruled against Indiana's plan to confiscate a $40,000 Land Rover for a minor drug offense.........To Read More....
My Take - The fact states keep ignoring the Supreme Court's plain and understandable rulings against this kind of corruption is, at least in my mind, a clear indicator of how lucrative it's been. This is out and out thievery, and the courts need to say so.
If someone is charged with a crime and is found guilty that's a different issue. To allow government to confiscate people's property based on the speculatory judgment of police officers is outrageous. We already know they don't have any evidence that allows them to charge them, or insufficient evidence, or they would have done so. So, are we really willing to accept the idea a police officer's speculations are sufficient allowing them to steal personal property? And steal is the right word.
This is an outrageous violation of clearly stated Constitutional rights. If the Constitution is the law that governs government, and it is, then that document needs some serious defenders, and those government officials who violate it need to receive the most severe rebuke possible. Some serious lawsuits are in order. When the cost of corruption outweighs the benefits of corruption, the corruption stops. Especially if someone goes to jail.
I'm glad to see Ohio has put a stop to this.
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