Pubdate: Fri, 20 May 2016
Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2016 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.utsandiego.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/386
Note: Seldom prints LTEs from outside it's circulation area.
Author: Jeff McDonald
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)

OFFICIALS: SEIZED-ASSET ABUSES NOT SEEN LOCALLY

Watchdog

OFFICIALS: SEIZED-ASSET ABUSES NOT SEEN LOCALLY

San Diego County's top three law enforcement agencies issued 
statements Thursday saying none of the abuses cited in an American 
Civil Liberties Union analysis of the federal asset forfeiture 
program occurred locally.

The agencies, the San Diego police and sheriff's departments and the 
District Attorney's Office, participated in more seized-asset cases 
over the past 14 years than any other law enforcement organization in 
California, the ACLU report said.

"None of the alleged cases of abuse in the ACLU report involve a law 
enforcement agency from San Diego County," the District Attorney's 
Office statement said. "The U.S. Department of Justice has determined 
that the San Diego County DA's Office complies with the national code 
of professional conduct for asset forfeiture, which states the 
Constitution and federal statutes prohibit the improper use of 
personal characteristics such as race, color, national origin, gender 
or religion to target individuals for law enforcement action."

The ACLU report concluded that 85 percent of seized assets returned 
to local agencies went to communities where a majority of the 
residents are racial minorities. The San Diego police and sheriff's 
departments issued a joint statement noting that many communities in 
California are populated by a majority of various minorities.

"The allusions to forfeiture occurring more frequently in 
'communities of color' is an attempt to depict law enforcement's 
efforts, and the accompanying asset forfeitures, as racially biased," 
the statement said. "In fact, they are a comment on the changing 
demographics of California."

The statement said it is well-known that crime is higher in 
low-income communities.

"As a result, a majority of our enforcement efforts are concentrated 
in those areas to limit the victimization of the many law-abiding 
citizens who live there," it said. "Therefore it is not surprising 
that seizures are more prevalent in those areas, because drug 
activity is more prevalent there.

"One's presence in these communities does not equate to being 'at 
risk' of civil forfeiture proceedings," the statement concluded, 
"engaging in criminal behavior does."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom