Holder restricts federal government’s role in seizing assets

WASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric Holder is curbing the federal government’s role in a civil asset forfeiture program involving local and state law enforcement agencies.

Holder says federal agencies will no longer take possession of assets seized by local law enforcement, unless the property includes firearms or and other materials that concern public safety.

The Justice Department has long allowed local law enforcement agencies to turn over seized assets to the federal government and then share in the proceeds.

The program was developed at a time when most states didn’t have their own asset forfeiture laws and didn’t have legal authority to forfeit seized assets.

But Holder says because all states now have civil or criminal asset forfeiture laws, it’s no longer necessary for local law enforcement to turn over seized property.