Americans for Prosperity Foundation Unveils New Report Analyzing Civil Asset Forfeiture Data in Kansas
TOPEKA, KS – Today Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFPF) released an updated report analyzing civil asset forfeiture data in Kansas. The report follows a U.S. District Court’s judge’s recent opinion accusing the Kansas Highway Patrol of “waging war” on motorists. The court ruled unconstitutional the “Kansas Two Step,” a technique the Kansas Highway Patrol had been using to search motorists’ vehicles and seize their property in violation of Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.
AFPF-Kansas Deputy State Director Jonathan Lueth:
“The court’s ruling and data make clear Kansas’ current forfeiture laws permit law enforcement to unconstitutionally confiscate people’s property with minimal chance of recovery. We will continue to fight to protect people’s rights to privacy, property, and due process.”
The latest findings are an update to last year’s report on forfeiture activities in the Sunflower State. AFPF analyzed all reported forfeiture actions from July 1, 2019, to December 31, 2022.
AFPF’s analysis finds:
- Kansas law enforcement reported seizing $25.3 million in money and property from people in the state—about $17,000 per day on average.
- KBI annual reports omit one-third of the total value of assets forfeited, flouting transparency laws.
- Owners of seized property in the Kansas Asset Seizure and Forfeiture Repository have recouped just 10% of the value of their seized assets.
- For those few fortunate people who were able to recover their seized property, it took them an average of 413 days to do so.
- For most people whose property has been seized by Kansas law enforcement, the cost of recovering their property in court is greater than the value of the property seized.
Download the full report HERE.
