The Department of Justice's Asset Forfeiture Program is a
nationwide law enforcement program that continues to be an effective and
powerful strategy in the fight against crime.
Purpose: The primary mission of the Department of Justice Asset
Forfeiture Program is to employ asset forfeiture powers in a manner that
enhances public safety and security. This is accomplished by removing
the proceeds of crime and other assets relied upon by criminals and their
associates to perpetuate their criminal activity against our society.
Asset forfeiture has the power to disrupt or dismantle criminal organizations
that would continue to function if we only convicted and incarcerated
specific individuals.
Scope: The Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Program encompasses
the seizure and forfeiture of assets that represent the proceeds of, or
were used to facilitate federal crimes. Forfeiture may proceed under either
administrative or judicial processes.
Further, the DOJ program applies only to cases developed by enforcement
officials in certain agencies of the Federal Government.
State and local government agencies and some international law enforcement
agencies may have similar efforts, operating under the authority of international,
local or state laws. Those efforts are not part of the US Department of
Justice Asset Forfeiture Program.
Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2000
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