Under civil asset forfeiture, law enforcement can seize cash, vehicles, and other property — and in many cases keep it even when the owner is never convicted of a crime. Working with the office of Delegate Jackie Glass, CityWork analyzed the Commonwealth's seizure and forfeiture records to show how the practice plays out across Virginia.
We organized and cleaned the state's records, then mapped them county by county: what was seized, how often, what was forfeited, and how much was returned — including property forfeited by people who were never convicted. We ran statistical analyses on small-dollar seizures, and packaged the findings as an interactive briefing for legislative staff along with printed briefs for legislators' offices during session.
The research supported legislation to make the return of property automatic for defendants found not guilty, and to prohibit the smallest seizures. The bill advanced to committee, advancing an agenda for criminal justice reform and economic justice in Virginia.
The underlying data and deliverables from this engagement are internal to the client.