Justice Department defers Asset Forfeiture Program

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced that it will no longer provide equitable sharing payments to state, local and tribal partners and transfers of any items for official use under its Asset Forfeiture Program (AFP).

Through the AFP, local agencies like the City of Dallas receive up to 80 percent of the asset value of items forfeited in federal investigations. The AFP has the power to disrupt or dismantle criminal organizations that would continue to function if DOJ only convicted and incarcerated specific individuals.

The recent action is the result of DOJs loss of $1.2 billion in funding allocated over the last two federal budgets. The DOJ is continuing the program and states that, “should the budget picture improve,” they will “reinstate sharing distributions as soon as practical and financially feasible.”

To view a copy of the DOJ’s deferment letter visit: http://www.justice.gov/afp.