Civil asset forfeiture in Alabama lacks public accountability and tramples the property rights of thousands of people, as this Alabama Arise fact sheet explains. Hundreds of Alabamians lose cash, cars and other property under this practice every year. Many of them are never convicted of a crime – or even charged with one. And many people can’t afford to hire a lawyer to challenge these seizures in court.

In a needed effort to remedy these injustices, Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, has introduced SB 191. This bill would add several protections to help bring Alabama’s forfeiture practices in line with reforms in other states. Among the changes:

• A felony conviction would be necessary to subject property to forfeiture in most cases.
• The state would have to prove the property is connected to the crime by clear and convincing evidence, a higher standard than the current law.
• Law enforcement would have to sell property instead of keeping and using it.
• To ensure accountability, a public, searchable website would provide information about forfeitures, including details on how money from the sale of property is spent.

Use our form below to email your senator to tell them Alabama needs this reform passed quickly, with its strong protections left intact.

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