For those who aren't aware, civil asset forfeiture is a process by which law enforcement, local, state or federal, could claim a particular item, amount of cash

For those who aren't aware, civil asset forfeiture is a process by which law enforcement, local, state or federal, could claim a particular item, amount of cash, vehicle, piece of real estate, on the basis of a suspicion that it was involved in criminal activity, and then sell or use that item, even if the individuals suspected of criminal activity were never charged, much less convicted. Further, since this was a civil matter, there was no right to an attorney, and it is often more costly to seek recompense, return or reimbursement then to simply let the matter go. As well, some individuals have had their child custody threatened as a way to get them to agree to give up items, though to be clear, they don't have to agree, cash or whatever can just be taken. There is a perverse incentive in that the law enforcement department often was the recipient of the item or some of the proceeds of the sale of the item, and there have been numerous cases of provably innocent people getting stuff taken without ever being charged for a crime.