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United States · Law · HR

H.R. 1658 (106th)

Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2000

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

4 May 1999

Last action

—

Status

Became Public Law No: 106-185.

Sponsors

—

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

10 August 2026

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Summary

Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to establish general rules relating to civil forfeiture proceedings. Requires that, in any nonjudicial civil forfeiture proceeding under a civil forfeiture statute with respect to which the agency conducting a seizure of property must give written notice to interested parties, such notice be given within 60 days after the later of the date of the seizure or the date the identity of the interested party is first known or discovered by the agency, with an exception. Authorizes a person entitled to written notice to whom such notice is not given to void the forfeiture as to that person's interest in the property on motion unless the agency shows good cause for the failure to give notice or that the person had actual notice of the seizure. Directs the Government, if it does not provide notice, to return the property and not take any further action to effect the property's forfeiture. Authorizes any person claiming property seized in a nonjudicial forfeiture proceeding to file a claim with the appropriate official after the seizure within 30 days after the date of final publication of notice of seizure or, in the case of a person entitled to written notice, the date that notice is received. Requires that the claim state the claimant's interest in the property. Directs the Attorney General, within 90 days, to file a complaint for forfeiture in the appropriate court or return the property, except that a court in the district in which the complaint will be filed may extend the period for filing a complaint for good cause shown or upon agreement of the parties. Provides that if the Government does not file such a complaint it shall return the property and may not take further action to effect the forfeiture of such property. Allows any person to bring such a claim without posting bond. Provides that in any case where the Government files in the appropriate U.S. district court a complaint for forfeiture of property, any person claiming an interest in the seized property may file a claim asserting such person's interest in the property within 30 days of service of the Government's complaint or, where applicable, within 30 days of alternative publication notice. Requires a person asserting an interest in seized property to file an answer to the Government's complaint for forfeiture within 20 days of the filing of the claim. Authorizes the court to appoint counsel to represent that person with respect to the claim when the person filing a claim is financially unable to obtain representation by counsel. Directs the court: (1) in determining whether to appoint counsel to represent the person filing the claim, to take into account such factors as the claimant's standing to contest the forfeiture and whether the claim appears to be made in good faith or to be frivolous; and (2) to set the compensation for that representation, which shall be equal to that provided for court- appointed representation under the code. Authorizes appropriations. Places the burden of proof upon the Government, in all suits or actions brought under any civil forfeiture statute for the civil forfeiture of any property, to establish, by clear and convincing evidence, that the property is subject to forfeiture. Prohibits an innocent owner's interest in property from being forfeited under any civil forfeiture statute. Provides that, with respect to a property interest: (1) in existence at the time the illegal conduct giving rise to forfeiture took place, "innocent owner" means an owner who did not know of the conduct giving rise to forfeiture or who, upon learning of such conduct, did all that reasonably could be expected under the circumstances to terminate such use of the property; and (2) acquired after the conduct giving rise to the forfeiture has taken place, "innocent owner" means a person who, at the time that person acquired the interest in property, was a bona fide purchaser or seller for value or was a person who received an interest in property through probate and was, at the time of the purchase or receipt, reasonably without cause to believe that the property was subject to forfeiture. Provides that, where the property subject to forfeiture is real property, and the claimant uses the property as the claimant's primary residence and is the spouse or minor child of the person who committed the offense giving rise to the forfeiture, an otherwise valid innocent owner claim shall not be denied on the ground that the claimant acquired the interest in the property through dissolution of marriage or by operation of law, or as an inheritance upon the death of a parent and not through a purchase. Entitles a claimant to immediate release of seized property if: (1) the claimant has a possessory interest in the property; (2) the continued possession by the United States Government pending the final disposition of forfeiture proceedings will cause substantial hardship to the claimant; and (3) the claimant's likely hardship from such continued possession outweighs the risk that the property will be destroyed, damaged, lost, concealed, or transferred if it is returned to the claimant during the pendency of the preceding. Requires a claimant seeking release of property to request possession of the property from the appropriate official, setting forth the basis on which requirements of this Act are met. Authorizes the claimant, if within ten days after the date of the request the property has not been released, to file a motion or complaint in any district court that would have jurisdiction of forfeiture proceedings relating to the property setting forth the basis on which this Act's requirements are met and the steps the claimant has taken to secure release of the property. Directs the district court, if a motion or complaint is filed, to order that the property be returned to the claimant pending completion of proceedings by the Government to obtain forfeiture of the property, if the claimant shows that such requirements have been met. Authorizes the court to place such conditions on release of the property as appropriate to preserve the availability of the property or its equivalent for forfeiture. Requires the court to render a decision within 30 days after the date of the filing unless such period is extended by consent of the parties or by the court for good cause shown. (Sec. 3) Amends the Federal judicial code to authorize the use of funds in the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund for payment of: (1) court-awarded compensation for representation of claimants; and (2) compensation for property damages under the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act. Repeals provisions of the Controlled Substances Act regarding expedited procedures for seized conveyances. (Sec. 4) Makes the Federal Tort Claims Act applicable to claims based on the negligent destruction, injury, or loss of goods, merchandise, or other property while in the possession of any officer of customs or excise or any other law enforcement officer, if the property was seized for the purpose of forfeiture but the interest of the claimant is not forfeited. Authorizes the Attorney General, with respect to a claim that cannot be settled under tort claims procedures, to settle for not more than $50,000 in any case a claim for damage to, or loss of, privately owned property caused by an investigative or law enforcement officer who is employed by the Department of Justice acting within the scope of his or her employment, subject to specified limitations. (Sec. 5) Makes the United States liable for post-judgment interest upon entry of judgment for the claimant in any proceeding to condemn or forfeit property seized or arrested under any Act of Congress, but not for prejudgment interest, with exceptions.

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