Bills to reform Michigan’s civil asset forfeiture laws are headed to the state Senate.

Currently, police departments in Michigan can seize and keep the property of someone even if there is no conviction, which critics say incentivizes seizures.

Holly Harris of the group Fix Forfeiture says the law is an affront to everything the criminal justice system is supposed to stand for.

The reforms would increase reporting and evidentiary standards.

But Detective, Sergeant Jason Kern, of the Albion Department of Public Safety says they don’t need increased evidentiary standards.  He says there needs to be better training of police officers in determining when to seize property.

 

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