In jurisdictions across the country, police are allowed to employ a tool called civil asset forfeiture, whereby they can seize money and property based simply on the assumption that it has been used for criminal activity. No conviction is necessary, and often, the police are allowed to keep some, if not all, of the property for themselves. Sounds like the perfect setup for overzealous policing and corruption, right?
In a long segment from This Week Tonight, John Oliver takes on the dubious practice and the behavior it encourages and calls for a reevaluation of the system. He also calls for a reworking of Law & Order and its ilk to “make them a lot more representative of what is actually happening,” drawing on the wonderfully deadpan assistance of Jeff Goldblum.
Previously
Watch John Oliver’s Take on Ferguson and the Police
Libertarians Are Fighting for Justice in Philadelphia
