Forfeiture Reform Activists: Support Resources
Forfeiture Reform Activists:
Support Resources
By: Leon Felkins
Created: 8/16/99, Revised 01/30/00
Notice: This page is very much incomplete!
The purpose of this page is to provide resources to volunteer activists that
are fighting for Forfeiture Reform. Specifically, the page will provide
links to supporting organizations, individuals, and information.
Resources
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Organizations
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F.E.A.R (Forfeiture Endangers
American Rights)
This organization has been in the forefront of Forfeiture Reform for many
years now. The web site is a great resource of useful material, including laws,
legislation, victim support, briefs, and an archive of forfeiture articles.
- The Drug Policy Foundation's "Public Policy: Civil Asset Forfeiture"
This organization is very active in the fight for forfeiture reform. Their site has
several high quality documents on-line and others that can be purchased at a nominal
cost.
-
Auction Action
by the Liberty Activist
A web site suggesting ways to protest the auctions of looted property that
the government conducts on a regular basis.
-
Bill Of Attainder Project
A civil liberties organization started by the Libertarian Party of
Oklahoma. The project contacts political activists, organizations and others to
forward the cause of preventing laws that plunder life, liberty, and property.
-
The Liberty Project
Another forfeiture reform organization. They are "working to support
meaningful reform that would lessen the harshness of civil asset forfeiture laws".
-
MAP (The Media
Awareness Project)
These folks, as a small part of their major effort of drug reform, support
the FEAR email lists. They provide an excellent source of current news articles
about these issues. Just type "forfeiture" in the search field to see the
latest articles on forfeiture.
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Their page on Forfeiture Reform has a list of "Action" links.
- Cato Institute
See their page on the conference they sponsored May 3, 1999, "Forfeiture Reform: Now, or Never?"
- [to be continued . . .]
-
-
Activists:
Attorneys:
- California:
Jason K. Singleton
- Florida:
Montgomery Blair Sibley
(Sells a "Federal Forfeiture Practice Manual". Offers some free
consultation. Other info at his "Center For Forfeiture Law" web site.)
- New York:
Steven L. Kessler
(Expert in asset forfeiture. Has several good articles on-line.)
- Florida:Wm. Daniel Ravenscroft, Officer of F.E.A.R., and Brenda Grantland, President of F.E.A.R. are members of the Florida Law Association.
- [to be continued . . .]
Government
- Contractors
-
DynCorp
A "Beltway Bandit" that works for DOJ -- to help manage the loot (mostly
computer inventory stuff) -- and lots of other government agencies.
- EG&G
Services
These folks are typical of government contractors in that they provide a
service of doing the routine work that would never get done if left up to the
"Civil Servants". They work for DOJ, Customs, and other agencies and their
specialty is taking care of the loot. According to the DOJ Asset Forfeiture
manual, they are not authorized to do the actual looting.
- [to be continued. . .]
- Agencies
- Politicians
Others
Background and History of Modern Forfeiture:
-
An introduction and primer to the asset forfeiture procedures. Helpful to those
who need to defend themselves or to help others. Offers other material for a
price.
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This is actually an OIG report that reviews the DOJ report. OIG is a "watchdog"
agency under the DOJ.
-
-
While there are many laws that invoke forfeiture, this is the biggy. This
one is about drugs and was the one that started it all.
-
My introductory article on forfeiture originally written in 1996.
This page was written to specifically support the current effort to get the Forfeiture
Reform bill passed, now in the Senate
Legislation Online
GAO Reports
Here are links to GAO reports regarding forfeiture, seizure, etc. These reports are online at the GAO site, but are listed and linked to here for your convenience. Note also, that paper versions of GAO reports are available free or at a minimal cost.
- Seized Drugs and Firearms: FBI Needs to Improve Certain Physical Safeguards and Strengthen Accountability (Letter Report, 12/16/1999,
GAO/AIMD-00-18) -- (
Text, PDF, or Summary)
- IRS Seizures: Needed for Compliance but Processes for Protecting Taxpayer Rights Have Some Weaknesses (Chapter Report, 11/29/1999, GAO/GGD-00-4) -- (Text, PDF, or Summary)
- IRS Seizures: Limited Progress in Eliminating Asset Management Control Weaknesses (Letter Report, 11/29/1999, GAO/GGD-00-5) -- (Text, PDF, or Summary)
- Seized Drugs and Weapons: DEA Needs to Improve Certain Physical Safeguards and Strengthen Accountability (GAO/AIMD-00-17) -- (PDF)
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Other
On-line Hand-out Materials, Brochures, etc.
Email Lists and Forums
Other Forfeiture Resource Sites
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Back to the Politics page.