Civil Asset Forfeiture in Michigan: The Case for Reform and How to Get it

Perfectly legitimate grocery stores and restaurants having their bank accounts frozen. Red Cross workers losing their vehicles because police bizarrely mistook them for prostitutes. Law enforcement seizing and then joy-riding in someone’s beloved classic car that was never connected in any way with criminal activity. Hundreds of people every year being forced to forfeit their property to the government without even being charged with a crime. These extreme situations highlight some of the problems of civil asset forfeiture in Michigan.

But there’s more to the story. Seizure and forfeiture are important parts of the criminal justice system. In principle, this process is helpful for taking away assets from criminals and goods obtained illegally. But it’s easily abused, and Michiganders deserve to have their property rights protected.

This panel will feature points of views from law enforcement, researchers and legislators. The discussion will be on why Michigan should continue to reform its civil asset forfeiture system and how to get it right.

Senator Peter Lucido represents the Eighth District in the Michigan Senate. An attorney, he is the founder and president of one of Macomb County’s largest law firms and has been a relentless advocate for criminal justice reform in Michigan, including civil asset forfeiture. Lucido is the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Detective Sgt. Ted Nelson was a 25-year veteran with the Michigan State Police and patrol officer in Detroit. He was an instructor with MSP and also developed and taught a course to officers throughout Michigan on forfeiture procedures for narcotic and omnibus crimes. Nelson now works with the Law Enforcement Action Partnership on advancing justice and public safety solutions.

Jarrett Skorup is the director of marketing and communications with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He is co-author of the study “Civil Forfeiture in Michigan” which analyzed the laws in the state and helped lead to legislative reforms. Skorup has testified widely on the issue and has continued the decades of work the Mackinac Center has done calling for reforms.

Lunch is free for attendees who RSVP. Please register online here. 

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact us at 989-698-1905 or events@mackinac.org.