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Management and Disposition of Seized Assets

NCJ Number
116421
Author(s)
G P Gallagher
Date Published
1988
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This manual reports on a survey of seven law enforcement agencies to determine how they manage and dispose of seized assets and what they see as the liability issues involved in asset seizure and forfeiture.
Abstract
The seven agencies surveyed included the U.S. Marshals and Customs Services as well as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and police and sheriff's departments in South Florida and Detroit, Michigan. These agencies were selected because they have been dealing with large volumes of seized assets over a long period of time. The agencies reported that cash, automobiles, boats, planes, jewelry, and weapons account for 95 percent of all seized assets. Local agencies do not seize businesses or real property, while State and Federal agencies do so routinely. Major issues in the management and preservation of seized assets included appraisal, storage and mechanical maintenance, sales, and auctions. Staff requirements for managing the preservation and disposition of seized assets are also discussed. Liability concerns were not great among the agencies surveyed; Federal and State agencies pointed out the importance of the statutes controlling their work. All agencies surveyed reported that they evaluated assets before seizure to make sure they actually belonged to the suspect.