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Simple English definitions for legal terms
criminal forfeiture
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A quick definition of criminal forfeiture:
Term: Criminal forfeiture
Definition: Criminal forfeiture is when the government takes away things that a criminal got from doing a crime. This can include things like money, property, or other things that were used to commit the crime. The government can only do this if the criminal is found guilty of the crime. For example, if someone sells drugs and makes money from it, the government can take away the money if the person is found guilty of selling drugs.
A more thorough explanation:
Criminal forfeiture is a legal process where the government takes away property, assets, and money that a person obtained through criminal activity. This can only happen after the person has been convicted of a crime. The government must prove that the property, assets, or money are connected to the crime that the person was convicted of.
If a person is convicted of selling drugs, the government can take away the car they used to transport the drugs and any money they made from selling the drugs. This is because the car and money are connected to the crime of selling drugs. However, if the person is not convicted of selling drugs, the government cannot take away their car or money.
Another example is if a person is convicted of fraud, the government can take away any property or money they obtained through the fraud. This could include a house, car, or bank account.
These examples illustrate how criminal forfeiture works. The government can only take away property, assets, or money that are connected to the crime that the person was convicted of. This is different from civil forfeiture, which can happen even if the person is not convicted of a crime.