For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 27
3
Time Limits for Securing the
Return of Seized Property
Need Clarification
After seizing property from citizens on the alleged
basis that it is connected to a drug crime, law enforcement authorities often retain the property for their own use without taking any further
steps, particularly in the case of cash forfeitures.31
They hold on to seized property without bringing
criminal charges against the owner or, if they do
file charges, they sometimes retain the property
even after criminal charges are dismissed or nolle
prossed. Perhaps most troubling, they retain seized
property even when they do not file a civil forfeiture petition seeking court authority to transfer
ownership to them and the time period for such a
filing has passed.32 In short, law enforcement authorities appear to exploit a loophole in Pennsylvania law that does not provide for the automatic
return of seized property when a forfeiture order
is not obtained by prosecutors.
Without a forfeiture order, law enforcement
authorities are custodians of seized property and
not owners.33 Arguably, without a forfeiture order,
they are required to comply with Pennsylvania's
Disposition of Abandoned and Unclaimed Property Act (DAUPA)34 which requires that they return
property to the owner or, if unclaimed, transfer
the property to the state treasurer within DAUPA's
time requirements.35 The failure to comply with
this state law only deepens conflict of interest concerns that law enforcement agencies purposely retain property for their own budgets while evading
court oversight.36
Without a provision for the automatic return of
seized property, the burden falls to property owners to take affirmative steps to obtain the return of
their seized property.37 Rule 588 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure outlines the procedural steps needed to accomplish this task and satisfy post-deprivation due process requirements.38
But questions remain as to what is the proper time
requirement for filing a motion to return seized
property under Rule 588 and whether the Rule's
procedures satisfy due process concerns.
In Commonwealth v. Allen,39 the Pennsylvania
Supreme Court held that an accused's failure to file
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27
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017
Table of Contents
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 1
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 2
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - Table of Contents
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 4
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 5
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 6
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 7
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 8
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 9
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For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 19
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 20
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