Colorado Delays Review On Police Forfeitures

DENVER (AP) — Colorado senators have delayed debate on a bill to direct Colorado to join other states in ratcheting back how law enforcement agencies from taking someone's property through the asset forfeiture process.

A bill up for its first vote Wednesday would allow asset forfeiture to take place only after a criminal conviction. But the committee delayed the hearing, with no make-up date announced.

Many states have imposed stricter standards before police are allowed to seize assets without a conviction. Critics complain that law enforcement sometimes uses the maneuver to take property and money from people who aren't charged with crimes, forcing them to a lengthy legal process to get their assets back.

A fiscal analysis prepared for Colorado lawmakers says that state forfeitures are "infrequent."

LINK: Senate Bill 6

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