Date of Award
Spring 4-14-2016
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Abstract
Civil Asset Forfeiture is a tool to help law enforcement officials fight crime by taking away funding and property from organized crime. Citizens facing civil asset forfeiture do not have the same legal protection they afforded to them outside of a civil court. Citizens do not receive legal counsel, are not reimbursed for legal expenses, and do not even have to be found guilty of a crime for a seizure to go through. Numerous case studies and other peer-reviewed journals were used to evaluate the current status quo. Qualitative and quantitative research efforts and methodologies were initiated to lead to recommendations for reform. Reform of civil asset forfeiture is not a new idea and seemed strongly supported with the average citizen, but once it went to vote in state government, it failed miserably. Strong opposition from police unions and a high risk to the political career of those that supported reform make for a challenging political environment.
Recommended Citation
Katsaris, Matthew, "Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform in California" (2016). EMPA Capstones. 168.
https://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/capstones/168