Hawaii lawmakers look to audit civil asset forfeiture unit
In response, they're considering a resolution to ask for an audit to figure out how law enforcement and prosecutors are using money made from selling seized property.
Hawaii has one of the worst asset forfeiture laws in the nation because innocent owners bear the burden of proof to show they had nothing to do with the crimes, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii.
The laws were first seen as a way for law enforcement to fight large-scale criminal organizations and drug kingpins by seizing property such as cash and cars.
Rep. Joy San Buenaventura, who introduced the resolution, said the state's asset forfeiture law disproportionately affects low-income residents who don't have the money to hire an attorney to get their property back, even if they're innocent.
