New Polling Shows Ohioans Overwhelmingly Support Reforms to Civil Asset Forfeiture Process

Ohio is often seen as a standard-bearer for national change, and in the case of civil asset forfeiture reform, it is no different. Our new poll show that Ohioans overwhelmingly support an overhaul of the process, with a majority saying they would vote for a legislator who shared their desire for reform.

Civil asset forfeiture is the practice through which law enforcement can seize personal property from citizens based only on the suspicion that the property has been involved in criminal activity – and without ever having to charge the owner with a crime.

• 81% of Ohioans agree that the current laws require major reforms. While most Ohioans are not familiar with the process, after learning more about the civil asset forfeiture, an overwhelming majority of respondents would support reform, including 83% of Republicans, 87% of Democrats and 74% of independents.

• After hearing both sides of the argument, support grew to 90% in Ohio.

• Supporting civil asset forfeiture reforms can help legislators in the next election: Legislators who support civil asset forfeiture reform could expect broad support from voters, as 25% of poll respondents said that they’d be much more likely to re-elect a representative willing to reform the current laws and 54% said they’d be more likely.

Fixing the civil asset forfeiture process it will be a significant step toward making the criminal justice system smarter, fairer, and more effective.