Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill earlier this month tightening the state's restrictions on when police can seize cash and property from suspected criminals, as well as giving property owners a right to an attorney in forfeiture cases.
Colorado now has some of the strictest laws in the country governing police's use of civil asset forfeiture, a practice that typically allows law enforcement to seize property suspected of being connected to criminal activity, even if the owner isn't charged with a crime. Colorado is also now the second state to create a right to legal access in forfeiture proceedings.
