Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act (CAFRA, 2000)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (18 U.S.C. § 983)

2) Why It Was Done
Civil asset forfeiture allowed law enforcement to seize property suspected of being connected to crime, often without charging the owner. CAFRA was passed to strengthen due process protections for property owners while preserving forfeiture as a law enforcement tool.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
Forfeiture practices pre-date CAFRA and were widely criticized for violating Fifth Amendment due process and Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable seizures. CAFRA added procedural safeguards.