Some Ecomomics and History of Civil Forfeiture

More than a decade ago, Adam Pritchard and I together wrote several articles on the uncivil practice of civil asset forfeiture.  Here's one that's available on line from the Independent Institute.  (Figure 1 is not included in this on-line version – my apologies.)  (I believe especially interesting is the section on the "The Legal Pedigree of Civil Forfeiture.")

Here are the paper's opening paragraphs:

Miguel Alvarez was arrested in October 1985 on a criminal drug charge. His bond was set at...