Civil asset forfeiture in Philly, Pa., and nationwide

Guests: Bobby Allyn, Louis Rulli

Civil asset forfeiture is a policy which allows the police to seize the property of suspected drug criminals and their associates, sometimes before they have been convicted. Even when a suspect has been cleared of any wrongdoing, the process of getting their seized property back is long and arduous. Many just give up. The practice gained national notoriety a few years ago when lawmakers of both political parties began to complain about its abuses. Today, we’ll speak with University of Pennsylvania professor of law, LOU RULLI, about how and why police were using civil forfeiture in the first place, and what changes have been made in jurisdictions across the country. But first, we’ll get the local picture with Keystone Crossroads’ BOBBY ALLYN, who will tell us about Berks County’s get- tough approach to asset forfeiture and the reforms Philadelphia has made in recent years.