MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has reignited criticism of Alabama’s civil asset forfeiture practices, describing them as racially biased and economically devastating. The report, Ending Business as Usual: The Need for Alabama Civil Asset Forfeiture Data Transparency, reveals that law enforcement disproportionately targets Black communities while profiting from seized assets, often without criminal charges being filed.
The SPLC found that in fiscal year 2023, Alabama law enforcement seized over $9.4 million in assets, yet only 1% of cash and 6.3% of vehicles were returned to their owners. In Jefferson County, residents in majority-Black neighborhoods were far more likely to have property taken, with cash seizures in predominantly Black judicial circuits increasing by 42.6% since 2021. “This policy ties up Alabamians, particularly people of color, in legal webs that drain their resources and leave them with little recourse,” said Delvin Davis, an SPLC senior policy analyst.
Civil asset forfeiture allows police to seize property suspected of being connected to a crime without requiring a conviction—or even an arrest. The practice is rooted in centuries-old legal precedents where property itself was treated as the offender, a concept that critics argue is absurdly outdated. This legal quirk has led to egregious abuses, such as the case of Greg and Teresa Almond in Randolph County. In 2018, their home was raided over $50 worth of marijuana allegedly belonging to their adult son. Police seized their cash, personal belongings, and even wedding rings, forcing the couple into foreclosure and homelessness. Although they later won a lawsuit against the county, most victims lack the resources to fight back.
The SPLC report also highlights how forfeiture incentivizes predatory policing by allowing agencies to keep proceeds from seized property as revenue. Critics liken this to a “policing-for-profit” scheme that disproportionately impacts marginalized communities. In Alabama, 87.2% of forfeiture cases in 2023 ended in default judgments because victims could not afford to challenge seizures in court.
Advocates are calling for increased transparency and reform. The SPLC argues that public access to detailed data on forfeitures is essential for accountability. “This practice harms more than it helps,” Davis said. “It’s time for Alabama to end this predatory system.”