State's civil asset forfeiture law flawed, lawmakers told

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s civil asset forfeiture laws need a major overhaul, lawmakers were told Wednesday.

The House Committee on the Judiciary and Civil Procedure heard combined requests for studies on civil asset forfeiture laws.

Under Oklahoma’s law, a person’s property can be seized and forfeited if it is believed to be used on a crime. No conviction is required.

Dan Alban, an attorney with the Institute for Justice, said his organization recently issued a report, “Policing for Profit: The Abuse of Civil Asset Forfeiture,” which gave Oklahoma a D-minus.

Read more: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/capitol_report/state-s-civil-asset-forfeiture-law-flawed-lawmakers-told/article_16865c78-b855-547f-abd5-ccd5c974ef54.html