On Wednesday, Governor Doug Ducey signed landmark bipartisan civil asset forfeiture reform legislation intended to ensure innocent Arizonans do not have their property permanently forfeited without a criminal conviction.
RELATED ARTICLE: Arizona Legislature Passes Landmark Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform
House Bill 2810, sponsored by Rep. Travis Grantham, was approved by decisive majorities in the Arizona House and Senate. It becomes law 90 days after the Legislature adjourns.
Currently there is no requirement that the government prove that seized property is connected to a crime, which has resulted in property being taken from innocent people. This legislation protects Arizonans’ rights while maintaining law enforcement’s ability to hold criminals accountable.
The legislation requires that property can only be seized if it is evidence of a crime, has been abandoned, is subject to forfeiture, or it is illegal for a person to possess it. It also includes provisions that ensure that an innocent person has a process to get it returned.
