WTF
What's the difference between criminal and civil forfeiture?
In criminal forfeiture, the taking of property is usually carried out after the owner is convicted of a crime. In civil forfeiture, the government seizes the property in this case, the currency without ever charging the person with a crime. The government must show by a preponderance of the evidence that the money is dirty; then it's up to the owner to prove that his cash is clean. To defend the money requires hiring a lawyer, who often charges more than the amount of the seized cash.
So.. the police in America can just say "yoink" and then you have to prove the money is not from a crime?
Doesn't that go against the whole guilty until proven innocent thing?
Not that I should talk. In Japan they can hold you for a maximum of
23 days without charging you.
http://www.debito.org/arrestperiods.html