Last year, Michigan tightened requirements for civil asset forfeiture.
That's the law that allows the government to seize property when someone is accused of a crime even if they're not convicted.
This started as part of the war against drugs. It's become a lucrative tool for cash-strapped police departments and prosecutors.
Laws passed last year require more transparency, but do not abolish civil asset forfeiture.
One group that's been calling for an end to civil asset forfeiture is the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
Mackinac Center policy analyst Jarrett Skorupsat down with us today to talk about how civil asset forfeiture has fallen out of favor since its introduction in 1980, and whether or not the practice should simply be abolished.
(Subscribe to the Stateside podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or with this RSS link)
