August 11, 1999

The Honorable Henry J. Hyde
Chairman
Committee on the Judiciary
United States House of Representatives
2110 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-1306

Dear Chairman Hyde:

On behalf of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), I am writing to express our profound concern over possible efforts to include the provisions of H.R. 1658, the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act, in the Juvenile Justice Conference Report. The IACP urges you to oppose any effort to attach these provisions to the Juvenile Justice Conference Report.

The IACP strongly believes that one of the most effective weapons law enforcement has in the drug war is the ability to deprive drug dealers of the proceeds of their illegal activities or the instruments used to commit their crime through the use of civil asset forfeiture proceedings. However, the provisions of H.R. 1658, if enacted, would effectively eliminate law enforcement's ability to use this vital tool.

Therefore, if the provisions of H.R. 1658 are included in the Juvenile Justice Conference Report, the IACP will have no choice but to strongly oppose this legislation. Such action would be unfortunate since the IACP supports many of the reforms of the juvenile justice system and needed prevention programs that are present in both the House and Senate versions of juvenile justice legislation.

Once again, the IACP urges you to oppose any effort to include the provisions of H.R. 1658 in the Juvenile Justice Conference Report.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions please contact me at 703/836-6767.

Sincerely,

Ronald S. Neubauer
President
International Association of Chiefs of Police

Related Links

H.R. 1658, the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act

Juvenile Justice Conferees: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT), Ranking Member Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT), Youth Violence Subcommittee Chairman Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Senators Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Strom Thurmond (R-SC), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry J. Hyde (R-IL), Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI), Representatives Bob Barr (R-GA), Howard L. Berman (D-CA), Howard Coble (R-NC), Barney Frank (D-MA), George W. Gekas (R-PA), Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Bill McCollum (R-FL), Representative Robert C. Scott (D-VA), and Lamar S. Smith (R-TX).