Supreme Court Divided on Police Property Seizures

The Supreme Court is considering a case that could have significant consequences for victims of civil asset forfeiture, a practice that allows police to seize and keep property allegedly involved in a crime, even if the owner has not been convicted or accused. The case involves two individuals in Alabama whose cars were seized by police during routine traffic stops. The state initiated civil asset forfeiture proceedings, and the individuals were unable to get their cars back for months. The justices expressed skepticism about the abuses of civil asset forfeiture and questioned the lack of procedural safeguards. A decision in favor of the victims could set boundaries on this controversial practice.