#FundThePolice

    Tennessee should continue to build a smart on crime, soft on taxpayer criminal justice system. Law enforcement is a proper role of government and should be fully funded through a transparent budget process. They should not be forced to violate anyone’s constitutional rights in order to fund their departments. It’s time to Fund the Police and End Civil Asset Forfeiture.

    Right now, Tennessee law enforcement can seize and keep the property of its citizens, without convicting them of a crime and keep up to 100% of the proceeds. Convicted criminals should have their property forfeited; however, seizing people’s property without charging them with a crime creates perverse incentives and damages community relations, making an officer’s job harder in the long run.

    Our law enforcement officers should not have to rely upon a process that threatens Tennesseans’ property and due process rights to fund their budgets. They should be fully funded through a transparent budget process backed by the voice of the people. It’s time to properly #FundThePolice and End Civil Asset Forfeiture.

    To help make their job easier, and make citizens safer, I urge you to support the following policies next year:

1. Explore utilizing budget surpluses to properly fund all law enforcement through a transparent budget process.
2. Remove the draconian requirement for an individual to pay $350 per item seized to have their day in court.
3. Require a criminal conviction before anyone’s property is fully forfeited to the state. End Civil Asset Forfeiture – allow for criminal asset forfeiture.

    Thank you for your consideration and service to our state. Let’s make sure law enforcement is fully funded through a transparent budget process while protecting the constitutional rights of future generations.