September 25, 2015

71% of Americans Think Civil Asset Forfeiture Is Wrong

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Julian Sanchez draws my attention to a YouGov poll from last month about civil asset forfeiture, the practice of confiscating money that police merely believe to be connected to a crime. What do Americans think of this?

I suppose I should be happy: 71 percent of the respondents think that police should only be able to seize your money if you’ve been convicted of a crime. But what about the other 29 percent? It’s sort of discouraging that nearly a third of the country doesn’t think that conviction is necessary.

Then again, I’ve seen polls showing that a third of Americans don’t really believe in free speech or fair trials or other bedrocks of democracy, so maybe this isn’t bad. Now if we can just mobilize that 71 percent to care enough to make it an issue, maybe this poll will actually mean something.

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Investigative journalism, like the story you just read, takes time to do. Months of research. Weeks of writing, editing, and fact checking—and putting together the photography, art, video, and audio that tell the stories in a new way, illuminating new perspectives and voices

We can afford to take that time because we don’t report to an oligarch or corporation with a special agenda. We report to you, and for you. That’s why we unabashedly pursue the truth and relentlessly shine a light into the darkness.

In this month’s Summer Membership Drive, we’ve got to raise $200,000 to support more crucial investigations. This is a pivotal moment in our nation, with democracy on the line, and we can only do this work because readers like you step up. Every donation, of any amount, makes a difference here. We cannot do this work without you.

So, we’re asking: Will you support independent journalism that demands those in power answer for their actions?

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