Forfeiture Progress, Fentanyl Counterfeits & More
"...the notice of a pending forfeiture... 'accused her of no crime and stated no facts connecting her to any crime.'"
The federal Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration (FAIR) Act unanimously passed the U.S. House Judiciary Committee this week. Aimed at eliminating the financial incentive for government agencies like the FBI to seize property or assets from individuals who may not ever be charged or accused of committing a crime, the bipartisan FAIR Act stops short of requiring a criminal conviction for forfeiture, but takes important steps to better protect people's property rights and rein in potential abuses.
"There's this iron law of prohibition that the harder you crack down on the supply, the more likely you are to get a more potent supply or a more dangerous supply."
Provisional data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released this week reveals that over 109,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2022. The slight increase in deaths compared to the previous year will undoubtedly bring increased calls for action from elected leaders and law enforcement agencies, but experts worry the policies that emerge may be counterproductive. Even if leaders resist criminalizing addiction, crackdowns on drug supplies, for instance, could inadvertently lead to the emergence of more potent and dangerous substances.
"Attorney General Matt Platkin said in a statement the reporting will help policymakers 'make informed decisions, craft policy, and build public trust.'"
A new online database meant to increase transparency and inform policy decisions in New Jersey has revealed alarming trends in the state's criminal justice system. Among other things, early data shows that first-time offenders are arrested twice as often as repeat offenders, drug offenses are the most charged crimes, and Black individuals face disproportionate arrest rates. How and when policymakers will put the insights to use remains to be determined.
"The most important unknown is probably how many people have died or had serious health consequences from it, and we don’t have any idea."
Building on earlier investigations, the Los Angeles Times reported this week that the availability of over-the-counter pills contaminated with dangerous substances like fentanyl and methamphetamine may be more widespread in Mexico's pharmacies than previously known. More than half of tested medications in the team's most recent investigation were tainted, and the problem was not isolated. Contaminated drugs were obtained from medications purchased across the country, from the crystal-clear beaches of Puerto Vallarta to the lively streets of Tulum, calling into question how many unsuspecting tourists may be ingesting potentially fatal drugs.
"It's not easy to reverse decades of systemic injustice. That’s why the new law will take effect in January 2025 — and only if lawmakers provide funding."
Louisiana is the latest state to tackle a streamlined expungement system in an effort to boost opportunities for those who have earned a second chance. Though the legislature did not institute a more robust automated Clean Slate system like those passed in Minnesota and New York this year, advocates say removing the state's staggering $550 fee and simplifying the process of seeking an expungement is a step in the right direction as the courts get their technology systems up to speed. Now, lawmakers need to fund the initiative to ensure it can be properly implemented.