A bill intended to reform Pennsylvania’s civil forfeiture practices has drawn sharp criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union and some lawmakers after compromises made at the behest of law enforcement eliminated several of its core features.
SB 869 cleared the Senate in a 42-8 vote on Sept. 28 and now moves to the House Judiciary Committee, where it is expected to gain traction. But after negotiations removed sections that would have required a property owner’s conviction prior to forfeiture, and prevented district attorney’s offices from directly profiting from the taking of cash, homes and cars, the bill would have “no measurable impact,” according to Andy Hoover, legislative director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania.
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