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Advocates: Time To Revamp PA Forfeiture Laws

By Tony Romeo

Harrisburg, Pa. (CBS) -- Some Pennsylvania lawmakers and other advocates say the time has come to revamp laws allowing for forfeiture of property in legal cases.

The way Pennsylvania law is now, you don't have to be convicted of a crime to lose assets seized by law enforcement.

Andy Hoover of the ACLU of Pennsylvania says criminal cases often end up in civil court, where the standard for forfeiture is lower than for conviction on criminal charges.

Hoover says a third of more than 350 forfeiture cases examined in Philadelphia over a two-year period were not supported by a criminal conviction.

He says the report also showed the median value of the assets forfeited was $192 dollars.

"You could spend $192 on the first hour that you have an attorney." said Hoover. "So it's really not worth it for people to chase after a couple of hundred bucks."

Hoover joined several state lawmakers at a capitol event to announce legislation that would require that forfeiture of assets be tied to a criminal conviction.

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