Commentary: Civil forfeiture is a useful tool in fighting crime

Over the past year, a great deal of unwarranted criticism has been hurled at the government’s lawful ability to forfeit the tools and ill-gotten gains of criminals. Although forfeiture’s critics are entitled to their own opinions, they are not entitled to their own facts.Forfeiture is the legal means the government uses to separate criminals from the tools of their trade and the proceeds from their crimes. In cases involving victims, property forfeited from criminals generally goes d