In a tough year, some new Illinois laws to welcome

By Mindy Ruckman

11/26/2017

While 2017 was a bad year for Illinois taxpayers, there are bright spots among the bills that passed the General Assembly.

TAGS: civil asset forfeiture, expungement, Illinois General Assembly, IMRF: Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, local government consolidation, municipal pensions, pensions, record sealing

Rauner signs civil asset forfeiture reform into law

By Brendan Bakala

09/19/2017

The new law will transfer the burden of proof to law enforcement in forfeiture proceedings.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, civil asset forfeiture, criminal justice reform

U.S. House votes to crack down on civil asset forfeiture

By Brendan Bakala

09/15/2017

A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers, including members of the House Progressive and House Freedom caucuses, have put forth a measure to limit the use of federal dollars in certain civil asset forfeiture proceedings.

TAGS: civil asset forfeiture

Trump administration undermines Illinois civil asset forfeiture reforms

By Hilary Gowins

07/22/2017

The reinstatement of a federal asset forfeiture program marks a step backward for civil asset forfeiture reform.

TAGS: civil asset forfeiture, criminal justice reform, Jeff Sessions

Illinois legislature passes civil asset forfeiture reform

By Hilary Gowins

06/23/2017

Civil asset forfeiture reform has now cleared the Illinois General Assembly.

TAGS: civil asset forfeiture, criminal justice reform

New Hampshire legislature passes civil asset forfeiture reform

By Bryant Jackson-Green

06/27/2016

The New Hampshire legislature has passed an overhaul of asset forfeiture laws to protect rights of innocent property owners; Illinois should do the same.

TAGS: civil asset forfeiture, criminal justice reform

Police in Illinois can seize your property without convicting you of a crime

By Austin Berg

06/09/2016

Illinois police have taken in a total of $72 million in seized property over the past two years.

TAGS: civil asset forfeiture, criminal justice reform

It’s time Illinois ends civil asset forfeiture

By Bryant Jackson-Green

04/23/2016

Michigan, Minnesota and now Nebraska have reformed civil asset forfeiture – it’s time Illinois followed suit.

TAGS: civil asset forfeiture, criminal justice reform

Governments in Illinois can take your property without charging you with a crime

By Jeffrey Schwab, Bryant Jackson-Green

03/29/2016

A court decision involving the government’s seizure of more than $270,000 from two Chicagoans highlights major problems with civil asset forfeiture.

TAGS: civil asset forfeiture, criminal justice reform

Law enforcement now seizes more property from citizens than burglars

By Bryant Jackson-Green

11/25/2015

U.S. law enforcement took in more than $5 billion from the American public in 2014 through asset forfeiture, compared to the $3.5 billion lost nationally to burglary.

TAGS: civil asset forfeiture