Groups: End police confiscation of assets if no conviction

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Two groups from opposite sides of Michigan's political spectrum want to end law enforcement's ability to seize and take ownership of cash, homes and vehicles from people who aren't convicted of crimes.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy released a report Tuesday saying civil forfeiture — a process by which prosecutors can go to civil court to permanently confiscate assets thought to be associated with criminal activity — should be outlawed. The state should only allow forfeiture through the criminal court system after there is a conviction, the organizations said.

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