[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.94,0:00:04.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Picture yourself driving\Ndown the road tomorrow,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:04.21,0:00:08.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,heading somewhere to buy an item\Nyou found on Craigslist,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.02,0:00:12.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,perhaps a nice mountain bike\Nfor 3,000 dollars.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.41,0:00:15.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At that price, it's probably\None of those bikes
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.65,0:00:17.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a little electric motor on it --
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.47,0:00:18.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.52,0:00:20.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe some streamers from the handlebars.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.61,0:00:21.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.09,0:00:25.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The seller has declared this\Na cash-only deal,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.03,0:00:29.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so you have, in the console\Nof your car, 3,000 dollars.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.44,0:00:32.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Suddenly, you are pulled over.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.16,0:00:35.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,During the stop, the officer asks,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.34,0:00:40.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Do you have any drugs, weapons\Nor large amounts of cash in your car?"
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.27,0:00:43.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You truthfully answer, "Yes,"
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.81,0:00:45.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not to the drugs or to the weapons,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.62,0:00:47.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but to the cash.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.69,0:00:50.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the blink of an eye,\Nyou are ordered out of your car.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.96,0:00:55.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The officer searches it\Nand finds your cash.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.38,0:00:58.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the spot, he seizes it,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.26,0:01:01.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he says he suspects\Nit's part of a drug crime.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.25,0:01:03.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A few days later,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.43,0:01:07.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the local district attorney files\Npaperwork to keep your money --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.39,0:01:08.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,permanently.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.22,0:01:10.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And all of this happens
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.39,0:01:14.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without you ever being charged\Nor convicted of any crime.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.20,0:01:16.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, you might be saying,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.54,0:01:19.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Ah, this would never happen\Nin the United States."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.29,0:01:23.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.22,0:01:27.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Incidents like this occur\Nevery day in our country.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.94,0:01:31.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's one of the most significant threats\Nto your property rights
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.03,0:01:33.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,most people have never even heard of.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.31,0:01:36.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's called "civil forfeiture."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.11,0:01:40.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Most of you are generally aware\Nof criminal forfeiture,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.13,0:01:42.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,although the term itself\Nmight be a little unfamiliar,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.74,0:01:44.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so let's begin with forfeiture.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.21,0:01:47.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When we forfeit something,\Nwe give up that thing,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.81,0:01:49.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or we're forced to give it up.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.09,0:01:51.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In criminal forfeiture,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.79,0:01:54.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,someone is charged\Nand convicted of a crime,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.89,0:01:59.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and therefore, they have to give up\Nproperty related to that crime.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.20,0:02:04.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, suppose you use your car\Nto transport and deal drugs.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.24,0:02:06.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're caught and convicted;
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.58,0:02:09.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,now you have to give up\Nor forfeit your car
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.65,0:02:11.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as part of the sentencing.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.66,0:02:13.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's criminal forfeiture.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.100,0:02:20.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in civil forfeiture,\Nno person is charged with a crime --
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.51,0:02:25.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the property is charged\Nand convicted of a crime.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.05,0:02:26.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.34,0:02:27.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You heard that correctly:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.95,0:02:32.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the government actually convicts\Nan inanimate object with a crime.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.63,0:02:36.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's as if that thing itself\Ncommitted the crime.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.23,0:02:41.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's why civil forfeiture cases\Nhave these really peculiar names,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.98,0:02:47.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like, "The United States of America\Nv. One 1990 Ford Thunderbird."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.57,0:02:49.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.71,0:02:55.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or "The State of Oklahoma\Nv. 53,234 Dollars in Cash."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.08,0:02:56.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.20,0:02:58.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or my personal favorite:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.21,0:03:02.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"The United States of America\Nv. One Solid Gold Object
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.09,0:03:04.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the Form of a Rooster."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.04,0:03:07.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.03,0:03:09.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, you're thinking:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.20,0:03:11.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How does something like this happen?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.66,0:03:15.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's exactly what I said when\NI first learned about civil forfeiture
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.27,0:03:17.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while on a road trip with my wife.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.82,0:03:19.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No, we did not get pulled over.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.58,0:03:20.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.64,0:03:23.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was reading about\Nthe history of civil forfeiture
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.14,0:03:26.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as part of my work as a research\Ndirector at the law firm,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.60,0:03:29.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I came across\None of the cases I just mentioned,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.52,0:03:33.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"The United States of America\Nv. One 1990 Ford Thunderbird."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.08,0:03:38.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In that case, Carol Thomas\Nloaned her car to her son.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.35,0:03:42.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,While in the car, her son committed\Na minor drug crime.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.51,0:03:45.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Carol didn't commit any crime,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.02,0:03:49.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so law enforcement couldn't\Nconvict her and take the car,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.76,0:03:52.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they could -- and did --
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.77,0:03:57.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,use civil forfeiture\Nto "convict the car" and take it.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.58,0:04:02.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Carol was completely innocent,\Nbut she lost her car nonetheless.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.08,0:04:03.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In other words,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.25,0:04:06.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she was punished for a crime\Nshe did not commit.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.67,0:04:11.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I read this, I was gobsmacked.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.43,0:04:13.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How could this occur?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.61,0:04:15.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How is this even legal?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.79,0:04:19.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It turns out, it began in our country\Nwith maritime law.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.64,0:04:23.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Early in our republic, the government\Nsought to fight piracy --
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.25,0:04:24.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,yes, actual pirates.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.58,0:04:29.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The problem was the government\Noften couldn't catch the pirates,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.21,0:04:33.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so instead it used civil forfeiture\Nto convict the pirates' property
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.09,0:04:34.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and take it,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.28,0:04:37.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and therefore deny the pirates\Ntheir illegal profits.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.04,0:04:41.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Of course, the government could've simply\Ntaken and kept the booty
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.21,0:04:43.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without necessarily\Nusing civil forfeiture,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.72,0:04:45.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but doing so would have violated
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.44,0:04:48.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,our most basic due process\Nand property rights.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.60,0:04:54.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, the government rarely used\Ncivil forfeiture until the 1980s
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.48,0:04:57.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the war on drugs.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.00,0:05:02.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We expanded civil forfeiture law\Nto cover drug crimes
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.68,0:05:04.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then later, other types of crime.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.49,0:05:08.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Canada and the European Union\Nadopted similar provisions
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.97,0:05:14.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that now all kinds of people\Nare ensnared in the forfeiture web,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.06,0:05:16.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people like Russ Caswell.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.09,0:05:22.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Russ Caswell owned a small budget motel\Nin Tewksbury, Massachusetts.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.97,0:05:28.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His father built the motel in 1955,\Nand Russ took it over in the 1980s.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.18,0:05:32.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,During the years\Nthat Russ owned the motel,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.02,0:05:34.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from time to time,\Npeople would rent rooms,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.96,0:05:36.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they would commit drug crimes.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.52,0:05:39.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Russ didn't condone the activities --
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.74,0:05:43.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in fact, whenever he found out about it,\Nhe would immediately call police.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.69,0:05:46.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Russ was entirely innocent of any crime,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.99,0:05:51.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but that did not stop the US Department\Nof Justice from seizing his motel
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.64,0:05:55.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,simply because other people\Ncommitted crimes there.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.41,0:05:58.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But Russ's case was not alone.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.03,0:06:02.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Between 1997 and 2016,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.07,0:06:08.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the US Department of Justice\Ntook more than 635,000 properties.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.87,0:06:11.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This means each year,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.38,0:06:13.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tens of thousands of people\Nlose their properties
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.78,0:06:17.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in cases in which they're never charged\Nor convicted of any crime.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.28,0:06:21.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we're not necessarily talking about\Nmajor drug kingpins
Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.99,0:06:25.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or headline-grabbing financial fraudsters
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.24,0:06:28.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whose cases involve hundreds of thousands\Nif not millions of dollars.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.25,0:06:32.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Many of these seizures and forfeitures\Ninvolve just everyday people
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.99,0:06:34.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like Russ Caswell
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.40,0:06:35.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or you
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.58,0:06:36.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or me.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.47,0:06:38.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it gets worse.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.74,0:06:40.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Are you wondering:
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.02,0:06:44.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Where does all this cash\Nand property end up?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:45.52,0:06:48.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In most places, law enforcement keeps it.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.77,0:06:51.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they use it to buy equipment
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.64,0:06:54.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or pay for building repairs
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.13,0:06:56.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or even pay salaries and overtime.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.03,0:07:00.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a clear conflict of interest.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.52,0:07:05.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It creates a perverse profit incentive\Nthat can distort law enforcement.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.47,0:07:09.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is a problem that's not lost\Non those in law enforcement, either.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.86,0:07:13.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Former chief of police in Rochester,\NMinnesota, Roger Peterson,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.03,0:07:16.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,described the choice\Nthat police officers often face.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.93,0:07:18.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As he described it:
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.11,0:07:20.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,suppose I'm a police officer,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.38,0:07:21.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I see a drug deal.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.72,0:07:24.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now I face a choice:
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.24,0:07:30.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do I go after the buyer\Nand remove from the street illegal drugs,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.57,0:07:34.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or do I go after the seller
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.36,0:07:37.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and get cash for my agency to use?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.46,0:07:42.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's easy to see why\Na police officer might go for the cash.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.00,0:07:44.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was just such a circumstance
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.87,0:07:50.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that compelled police officers\Nin Philadelphia to seize an entire house.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.26,0:07:58.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In 2014, Chris and Markela Sourovelis' son\Nsold 40 dollars worth of drugs
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.28,0:08:00.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,down the street from their house.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:01.13,0:08:03.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Forty dollars.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:05.15,0:08:07.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The police watched the deal go down.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.42,0:08:11.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They could've arrested the buyer\Nand confiscated the drugs,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.70,0:08:13.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they didn't.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.83,0:08:15.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They could've arrested\Nthe Sourovelises' son
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.01,0:08:17.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,right there on the street
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.45,0:08:19.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and grabbed 40 dollars.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.02,0:08:21.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But they didn't.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.99,0:08:24.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They waited to arrest him at home,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.23,0:08:27.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because then they could seize\Ntheir entire house.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.57,0:08:31.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The house was worth 350,000 dollars.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.53,0:08:36.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That is what I mean\Nby a perverse profit incentive.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.67,0:08:40.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the Sourovelises' case was no outlier.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.70,0:08:44.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Philadelphia, the "City\Nof Brotherly Love,"
Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.82,0:08:46.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the "Athens of America,"
Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.22,0:08:49.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the "Cradle of Liberty,"\Nbirthplace to the Constitution,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.10,0:08:51.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,home to the Liberty Bell\Nand Independence Hall,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.52,0:08:53.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the "City that Loves you Back" --
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.77,0:08:55.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.59,0:09:00.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that Philadelphia was running\Na forfeiture machine.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.42,0:09:04.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Between 2002 and 2016,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:04.62,0:09:10.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Philadelphia took more than 77 million\Ndollars through forfeiture,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.31,0:09:14.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,including 1,200 homes.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.93,0:09:18.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Cars, jewelry, electronics --\Nall of it they sold,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.43,0:09:19.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the proceeds they kept.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.76,0:09:21.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they would have\Nkept right on doing it,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.86,0:09:24.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had it not been\Nfor a class-action lawsuit --
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.28,0:09:26.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,our team's class-action lawsuit --
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.89,0:09:33.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause and cheers)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:35.57,0:09:36.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.86,0:09:39.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We forced them to change\Ntheir forfeiture practices
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.43,0:09:41.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to compensate victims.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.48,0:09:46.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause and cheers)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.64,0:09:51.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When our team first began\Nresearching forfeiture in 2007,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.65,0:09:55.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we had no idea how much\Nforfeiture revenue there was.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.13,0:09:56.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, no one knew.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.18,0:10:00.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It wasn't until our groundbreaking study,\N"Policing for Profit,"
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.98,0:10:05.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we found federal law\Nenforcement agencies have taken in
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.11,0:10:08.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,almost 40 billion dollars --
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.46,0:10:10.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,billion with a B --
Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.30,0:10:12.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,since 2001,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.98,0:10:16.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more than 80 percent of that\Nthrough civil forfeiture.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.93,0:10:19.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Unfortunately, we have no idea
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.85,0:10:22.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how much state and local\Nagencies have taken in,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:22.22,0:10:25.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because in many states,\Nthey don't have to report it.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.51,0:10:28.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So until we reform forfeiture,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.74,0:10:32.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we'll never know how much\Nforfeiture activity actually occurs
Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.33,0:10:33.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the United States.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.72,0:10:36.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we desperately need reform.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.43,0:10:40.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Legislatures should abolish\Ncivil forfeiture
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.87,0:10:43.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and replace it with criminal forfeiture.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:43.86,0:10:47.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And all forfeiture proceeds\Nshould go to a neutral fund
Dialogue: 0,0:10:47.32,0:10:49.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,such as a general fund.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:49.64,0:10:53.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When forfeiture proceeds stop hitting\Nlaw enforcement budgets directly,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.84,0:10:56.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is when we will end\Npolicing for profit.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.48,0:11:03.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:11:05.06,0:11:07.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, as you can imagine,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:08.13,0:11:11.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,law enforcement officials\Ndon't love these recommendations.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.79,0:11:13.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:11:13.32,0:11:15.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They stand to lose a lot of money,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:15.79,0:11:20.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they believe civil forfeiture\Nis an effective crime-fighting tool.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.14,0:11:22.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The trouble is,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.64,0:11:23.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's not.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.76,0:11:27.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In June 2019, we released a study
Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.15,0:11:31.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that found forfeiture does not\Nimprove crime-fighting.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.89,0:11:33.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the report also found
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.63,0:11:37.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that law enforcement agencies\Npursue more forfeiture money
Dialogue: 0,0:11:37.45,0:11:39.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,during economic downturns.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:40.01,0:11:43.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So when city and county budgets are tight,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:43.06,0:11:46.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,law enforcement will use forfeiture\Nto find the money.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:46.84,0:11:48.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's no wonder, then,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.49,0:11:53.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that law enforcement officials\Npredict a criminal apocalypse --
Dialogue: 0,0:11:53.06,0:11:54.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.21,0:11:56.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if these reforms are adopted.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:57.02,0:11:59.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But some states have\Nalready implemented them,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.37,0:12:02.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we're pushing for reform\Nall across the country,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:02.15,0:12:05.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because until we reform forfeiture,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.93,0:12:08.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is something that could\Nhappen to any of us.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:08.71,0:12:10.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It can happen in the United States,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.61,0:12:12.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it can happen in the United Kingdom,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.80,0:12:15.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it can happen in countries\Nthroughout the European Union
Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.78,0:12:16.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and beyond.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:17.35,0:12:21.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People like you and me\Nand the Sourovelises and Russ Caswell,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:21.05,0:12:24.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just doing the everyday stuff of life,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:24.44,0:12:28.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can be caught in a scheme\Nwe never thought possible.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:28.73,0:12:32.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is time we end policing for profit
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.54,0:12:34.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,once and for all.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:34.96,0:12:36.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:36.15,0:12:39.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause and cheers)