Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 18:27:16 -0400 (EDT)
Message-Id: <199905052227.SAA07061@belmonte.ne.mediaone.net>
From: belmonte@mit.edu (Matthew Belmonte)
To: CapuanoHR8@aol.com
Subject: support HR 1658

Dear Representative Capuano:

I write as your constituent to express my support for HR 1658, the Civil Asset
Forfeiture Reform Act of 1999.  This legislation would remove the presumption
of guilt in civil asset forfeiture proceedings, and thus make it more 
difficult for police to abuse the process of asset forfeiture.  Currently,
police and other state and federal agencies are able to seize assets alleged
to have been involved in the commission of a crime, even in cases in which the
owner of the asset had nothing to do with the crime.  Abuse of civil asset
forfeiture is a growing problem and must be curbed.  I hope that you'll
support HR 1658.