Illinois Valley Times

Innocent Illinoisans will be better protected from unfair asset seizure thanks to a measure signed into law recently by Gov. Bruce Rauner, Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Rochelle) says on his website.

“Civil asset forfeiture reform is an important step to ensure the constitutional rights of Illinoisans are being protected,” Demmer, who co-sponsored House Bill 303, wrote. “This law protects property rights, reduces the chance for abuses of power and defends the rights of the individual. I’m proud to support this bipartisan initiative.”

According to Demmer, the law now will set up better transparency of forfeiture actions by collecting and making public forfeiture data and identifying abuse of the system. The burden of proof of guilt also now will be more in line with federal rules, requiring a preponderance of evidence for asset seizure rather than simple probable cause.

Gov. Bruce Rauner | www.illinois.gov

“Illinois residents should be protected from the unfair seizure of their private property,” Rauner said. “This legislation will enact needed reforms to prevent abuse of the civil asset forfeiture process while maintaining its importance as a critical tool for law enforcement to make our communities safer.”