TED Talks Daily How "policing for profit" undermines your rights | Dick M. Carpenter II
Apr 28, 2020
Dick M. Carpenter II, a legal researcher, sheds light on the alarming practice of civil forfeiture, where the government can seize your belongings without convicting you of a crime. He discusses the ethical pitfalls of 'policing for profit', detailing troubling cases, including an innocent motel owner losing property. Carpenter advocates for reform, urging a shift to criminal forfeiture and the elimination of financial incentives that drive these actions, ultimately emphasizing the need to protect individual rights.
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Cash Seizure Example
- Imagine getting pulled over with $3,000 cash for a Craigslist purchase.
- The officer seizes the cash, suspecting it's drug money, via civil forfeiture.
Property vs. Person Conviction
- Civil forfeiture allows the government to seize property without charging the owner with any crime.
- The property itself is charged and convicted, as in United States v. One 1990 Ford Thunderbird.
Carol Thomas's Car
- Carol Thomas's car was seized via civil forfeiture because her son committed a minor drug crime while using it.
- Thomas herself was innocent but lost her car, highlighting the injustice of civil forfeiture.