Criminal and Civil Forfeiture

When you are faced with jail or prison time as a result of drug charges, an attorney who has regularly advised and represented clients in criminal drug law matters can help you to achieve a cost-effective and timely resolution. To learn more, contact our firm to schedule a consultation and case evaluation with an experienced criminal defense attorney.

Learn More About Drug Crime Defense

Have you been arrested for drug possession, drug trafficking or any other drug offense? The charges you face can be intimidating, but you always have the right to a defense. At Brennan Law Offices, we provide people throughout the Philadelphia area with adept and knowledgeable criminal defense representation. We will work hard on your case to pursue a course of action that clears you from all criminal liability.

For more information, please visit our drug crimes practice area page.

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At Brennan Law Offices, we are focused on criminal defense. If you are facing drug crime charges, you can be assured that we will do everything in our power to protect your rights and your future.

Our staff of defense lawyers includes former Philadelphia prosecutors. This gives us a valuable perspective on the criminal defense cases we handle today. Knowing how the prosecution is likely to build a drug crime case against you, we are better able to fight back on your behalf.

Criminal and Civil Forfeiture

Forfeiture is the government seizure of property connected to illegal activity. Utilized by the federal and state law enforcement in the ongoing "war on drugs," the practice has not been without controversy. Law enforcement has asserted that it is a necessary and effective deterrent to drug crime, while opponents argue that existing procedural safeguards result in too many innocent parties having their property taken away, with little or no recourse for recovery. If your property or assets have been the subject of a criminal or civil forfeiture, it is important to consult with an experienced forfeiture defense attorney from Brennan Law Offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to understand your rights and options.

Property Subject to Forfeiture

Government authority to seize property connected to illegal activity comes from federal statutes, as limited by those laws and the Constitution. Authorizing provisions of state and local statutes tend to be similar to federal law. The United States Supreme Court in Bennis v. Michigan identified certain categories of property subject to forfeiture:

Contraband - property for which ownership itself is a crime (e.g. illegal drugs, smuggled goods)
Proceeds from illegal activity - property that results from, or can be traced back to, illegal activity
Tools or instrumentalities used in commission of crime - property used to commit a crime (e.g. cars, boats, real estate)

Two Forms of Forfeiture: Criminal and Civil

The government can take title to private property under criminal or civil law.

Criminal forfeiture is a punitive measure taken against a defendant after a conviction, where the government seizes property as a part of the sentence. Because it is a criminal proceeding, a defendant is afforded the protections of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments. While the crime has to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt, the forfeiture requires a lower burden of proof. The government only needs to show by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant obtained the property around the time of the crime and that it was unlikely it came from any other source. The burden then shifts to the defendant to prove this is not the case.

By contrast, civil forfeiture actions proceed against the property itself, which is the defendant in the case rather than the owner. A criminal charge or conviction is not necessary before the government can seize. Prior to the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2000, law enforcement only needed to show probable cause that the property was involved in a crime, usually through a search warrant, before the taking of the property. The 2000 Act raised this burden of proof to a preponderance of the evidence standard.

Not surprisingly, a vast majority of the forfeitures pursued by the government are civil. Forfeiture proceeds typically go toward funding law enforcement activity, such as payments to informants, buying equipment and building prisons, though some legislatures have specified other purposes like supporting public education. Because of law enforcement's strong financial incentive to use civil instead of criminal forfeiture, critics claim that the practice has moved from being a means to fighting drug-related crime, to being an end in itself. While provisions of the 2000 Act made it easier for innocent persons to challenge the seizure in court and get their property back, the practice remains controversial.

If Your Property Has Been Forfeited

Whether your property has been the subject of a criminal or civil forfeiture, defenses to the government's action exist, and there are ways to recover your property under the law. Consult with a knowledge forfeiture defense attorney today at Brennan Law Offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to discuss what options are available to you.

DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.

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