Law enforcement agencies in Michigan reported seizing $15.2 million in cash and property over 11 months of 2016. The figure is from a new report from the Michigan State Police. The report says that in about 10 percent of the 5,290 cases, no one was charged with the violation for which the forfeiture was authorized. The report says many of those accused of crimes "cooperated with authorities, resulting in criminal charges not being pursued."
Most of the cases were drug-related. The report covers all of 2016 except for January, because the new reporting system was put into place on Feb. 1, 2016. The report comes as Michigan lawmakers are making changes to forfeiture laws and considering further changes to those laws.
