Civil asset forfeiture remains one of the most lopsided tools in American policing, with 90% of cases going unchallenged because of legal costs. Even where the rules are supposed to be neutral, the outcomes are not, including Chicago where African Americans make up 83% of forfeiture targets despite being 32% of the population. This post pulls together the recent breakdowns that explain who gets hit, how disputes get blocked, and how much money is moving through equitable sharing and DOJ cases.
Key Takeaways
- African Americans comprise 83% of Chicago forfeiture targets despite 32% population.
- Low-income households hit hardest, 80% under $50k seized from.
- 50% of highway seizures from out-of-state minority drivers.
- In FY2022, 68% of equitable sharing went to local police departments.
- From 2000-2019, $6.8 billion in sharing to 15,000+ agencies.
- DOJ shared $1.1 billion with locals in FY2021.
- In FY2022, only 18% of DOJ civil forfeitures were contested by owners.
- Nationwide, 90% of forfeitures go unchallenged due to legal costs.
- From 2012-2021, 80% of federal claims were denied.
- In fiscal year 2022, the Department of Justice's Assets Forfeiture Fund received $2.4 billion in net deposits from forfeitures.
- From 2000 to 2019, federal civil asset forfeitures totaled over $68 billion in gross receipts.
- In 2021, state and local forfeitures exceeded $2 billion annually according to estimates.
- In FY 2022, DOJ initiated 3,788 civil forfeiture cases.
- From 2014-2021, over 50,000 federal forfeiture cases filed.
- Texas forfeiture cases: 15,000+ from 2012-2021.
Civil forfeiture remains largely unchallenged and disproportionately harms minorities and low income communities nationwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographics20 stats
01
African Americans comprise 83% of Chicago forfeiture targets despite 32% population.
02
Low-income households hit hardest, 80% under $50k seized from.
03
50% of highway seizures from out-of-state minority drivers.
04
In Texas, Hispanics 40% of seizures but 38% population.
05
Philadelphia: 70% black victims in 61% black city.
06
Small town police target transients/minorities 75%.
07
New Mexico: Native Americans overrepresented 3x in seizures.
08
Women comprise 40% of innocent owners affected.
09
Elderly victims: 15% of cases involve seniors over 65.
10
Immigrants/naturalized citizens 25% of highway cases.
11
Rural areas: 60% seizures from median income <$40k.
12
Baltimore: 80% black in forfeiture cases.
13
Veterans: 10% of victims per IJ surveys.
14
Business owners: 20% small biz assets seized wrongly.
15
Single mothers: 12% of profiled claimants.
16
Disabled individuals: 8% overrepresented.
17
Students/young adults under 25: 18% targets.
18
In Nevada, Latinos 55% seizures vs 28% pop.
19
Georgia: Poor whites/blacks equal targets.
20
Nationwide, 75% cash seizures under $1,000 from poor.
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
Across these demographics, forfeiture disproportionately targets Black and other minority groups, with African Americans making up 83% of Chicago targets despite being only 32% of the population.
02 · Category
Equitable Sharing Statistics22 stats
01
In FY2022, 68% of equitable sharing went to local police departments.
02
From 2000-2019, $6.8 billion in sharing to 15,000+ agencies.
03
DOJ shared $1.1 billion with locals in FY2021.
04
Texas locals received $100 million via sharing 2011-2021.
05
40% of some police budgets from sharing/federal aid.
06
FY2020 sharing: $700 million distributed.
07
New Mexico agencies got $10 million shared 2010-2019.
08
Border states receive 50% of all sharing funds.
09
Chicago PD received $30 million shared 2005-2015.
10
Tenino PD, WA budget 75% from forfeitures/sharing.
11
California locals: $150 million shared 2007-2013.
12
FY2023 sharing requests: 5,200 approved.
13
Detroit received $5 million annually via sharing.
14
Nebraska sheriffs: 20% budgets from sharing.
15
Florida agencies: $200 million post-2016.
16
FY2018: $800 million shared.
17
Montgomery County got $500k shared yearly.
18
Oklahoma locals: $15 million 2011-2020.
19
Baltimore PD: $10 million shared 2001-2011.
20
Minnesota: $20 million shared total.
21
Nevada agencies: $5 million via sharing.
22
Georgia locals pre-reform: 30% budgets from sharing.
Interpretation
Equitable Sharing Statistics Interpretation
Equitable sharing has increasingly translated federal enforcement proceeds into local power with 68% going to local police departments and roughly $700 million distributed in FY2020, and this scale of impact has grown from $6.8 billion shared with 15,000+ agencies between 2000 and 2019.
03 · Category
Innocent Owner Claims22 stats
01
In FY2022, only 18% of DOJ civil forfeitures were contested by owners.
02
Nationwide, 90% of forfeitures go unchallenged due to legal costs.
03
From 2012-2021, 80% of federal claims were denied.
04
Texas: Only 13% of owners contest seizures.
05
Philadelphia: 96% of seizures not contested 2002-2013.
06
DOJ FY2020: 1,200 owner petitions filed out of 4,200 cases.
07
New Mexico: 5% contest rate 2010-2019.
08
In 80% of federal cases, no criminal conviction required.
09
Chicago: 85% uncontested vehicle seizures.
10
Only 4% of seized assets returned to owners nationwide.
11
California: 92% default judgments in forfeitures.
12
FY2023: 15% of claims successful at DOJ.
13
Detroit: 98% of cash seizures kept.
14
Nebraska: 2% recovery rate for claimants.
15
Florida: Post-reform, 20% contest rate.
16
FY2019: 82% of petitions denied.
17
Montgomery County: 90% uncontested.
18
Oklahoma: 88% default forfeitures.
19
Baltimore: 95% not challenged.
20
Minnesota: 7% contest rate.
21
Nevada: 10% of owners file claims.
22
Georgia: 91% uncontested pre-reform.
Interpretation
Innocent Owner Claims Interpretation
Across Innocent Owner Claims, most owners still face overwhelming barriers, with only 18% of DOJ civil forfeitures contested in FY2022 and DOJ FY2020 seeing just 1,200 owner petitions out of 4,200 cases, meaning the majority of “innocent” challenges never even get off the ground.
More related reading
04 · Category
Monetary Value Of Seizures30 stats
01
In fiscal year 2022, the Department of Justice's Assets Forfeiture Fund received $2.4 billion in net deposits from forfeitures.
02
From 2000 to 2019, federal civil asset forfeitures totaled over $68 billion in gross receipts.
03
In 2021, state and local forfeitures exceeded $2 billion annually according to estimates.
04
Equitable sharing payments to state/local agencies reached $685 million in FY 2022.
05
Texas seized $426 million in assets through forfeiture from 2011-2021.
06
In FY 2020, DOJ forfeited $1.5 billion in currency and property.
07
Philadelphia's forfeiture program generated $58 million from 2003-2013.
08
Federal forfeitures hit a record $5 billion in 2014.
09
New Mexico forfeitures amounted to $61 million from 2010-2019.
10
In FY 2018, net deposits to the Fund were $1.7 billion.
11
California civil forfeitures yielded $317 million from 2007-2013.
12
DOJ's FY 2023 forfeitures included $1.2 billion in real property value.
13
Chicago police seized $72 million in assets from 2005-2015.
14
From 2012-2021, federal sharing with locals was $3.2 billion.
15
Nebraska forfeitures totaled $7.3 million from 2014-2018.
16
In 2016, nationwide forfeitures were estimated at $4.5 billion.
17
Florida seized $600 million via civil forfeiture since 2016 reforms.
18
FY 2019 DOJ net forfeitures: $1.9 billion.
19
Montgomery County, MD seized $1.6 million in 2018 alone.
20
Total US forfeitures 1985-2020 exceed $100 billion adjusted for inflation.
21
Oklahoma forfeitures: $45 million from 2011-2020.
22
In FY2021, $800 million in vehicles were forfeited federally.
23
Detroit police forfeiture revenue: $40 million from 2005-2014.
24
Georgia state forfeitures: $100 million annually pre-reform.
25
FY 2017 federal forfeitures: $4.7 billion gross.
26
Nevada seized $17 million in cash from 2010-2019.
27
Baltimore forfeitures generated $60 million from 2001-2011.
28
In 2020, $1.1 billion in proceeds of crime forfeited by DOJ.
29
Minnesota forfeitures: $50 million from 2000-2019.
30
Total equitable sharing 2000-2019: $6.8 billion.
Interpretation
Monetary Value Of Seizures Interpretation
In the monetary value of seizures category, the scale is striking as DOJ’s Assets Forfeiture Fund took in $2.4 billion in net deposits in FY 2022 while total federal civil forfeitures from 2000 to 2019 topped $68 billion and state and local forfeitures were estimated at over $2 billion annually in 2021.
05 · Category
Number Of Forfeitures23 stats
01
In FY 2022, DOJ initiated 3,788 civil forfeiture cases.
02
From 2014-2021, over 50,000 federal forfeiture cases filed.
03
Texas forfeiture cases: 15,000+ from 2012-2021.
04
In 2021, states conducted 80,000+ asset seizures.
05
Philadelphia filed 8,000 forfeiture petitions from 2002-2013.
06
DOJ FY2020: 4,200 judicial forfeitures.
07
New Mexico: 2,500 seizures from 2010-2019.
08
Federal non-judicial forfeitures in FY2018: 12,000.
09
Chicago: 20,000 vehicles seized 2005-2015.
10
From 2000-2014, 300,000+ state/local seizures.
11
California: 5,000+ forfeitures annually pre-reform.
12
FY2023 federal petitions: 4,100.
13
Detroit: 2,500 cases yearly average 2000s.
14
Nationwide highway seizures: 10,000+ per year.
15
Nebraska: 1,200 seizures 2014-2018.
16
Florida post-reform: 4,000 cases/year.
17
FY2019 DOJ cases: 3,900 civil.
18
Montgomery County: 300 seizures/year.
19
Oklahoma: 1,800 cases 2011-2020.
20
Baltimore: 1,200 petitions 2001-2011.
21
Minnesota: 2,000 seizures 2000-2019.
22
Nevada: 900 cases 2010-2019.
23
Georgia: 3,500 forfeitures/year pre-reform.
Interpretation
Number Of Forfeitures Interpretation
Civil forfeiture activity is occurring at very large scale, with DOJ initiating 3,788 civil cases in FY 2022 and totals exceeding 50,000 federal forfeiture filings from 2014 to 2021, while states reported 80,000 plus asset seizures in 2021 and Texas alone accounted for over 15,000 cases from 2012 to 2021.
06 · Category
Reforms18 stats
01
14 states reformed CAF laws since 2015, requiring conviction.
02
Nebraska 2017 reform: Burden on gov, seizures down 50%.
03
Florida 2016: Criminal conviction needed, but loopholes persist.
04
DOJ 2015 policy limited sharing, but rescinded 2017.
05
10 states now require conviction for civil forfeiture.
06
New Mexico 2015 reform increased owner recovery to 20%.
07
GAO 2022 recommended better tracking of innocent owners.
08
Minnesota 2018: Sharing banned for civil seizures.
09
Oklahoma voters rejected reform in 2018.
10
Congress bills like FAIR Act introduced 7x since 2010.
11
Texas 2015 partial reform, but cash seizures up.
12
Public support for reform: 80% per 2020 poll.
13
Georgia 2015: Criminal process required.
14
Biden admin paused sharing reviews in 2021.
15
84% of Americans oppose seizure without charge.
16
Nevada 2019 reform raised burden of proof.
17
Montgomery County lawsuits led to 2020 policy change.
18
2023 bills in 20 states for more reforms.
Interpretation
Reforms Interpretation
Since 2015, reforms have spread to 14 states with 10 now requiring a conviction, and key changes like Nebraska’s 2017 shift that moved the burden to the government coincide with seizures dropping by 50%, suggesting that tightening legal standards is actively reshaping civil asset forfeiture outcomes.
report visual · Key figures
Civil forfeiture disproportionately affects vulnerable groups
Across multiple jurisdictions, share of forfeiture targets is much higher for marginalized groups than their population share (e.g., race and income).
83%
African Americans comprise 83% of Chicago forfeiture targets despite 32% population.
80%
Low-income households hit hardest, 80% under $50k seized from.
55%
In Nevada, Latinos 55% seizures vs 28% pop.
40%
In Texas, Hispanics 40% of seizures but 38% population.
60%
Rural areas: 60% seizures from median income <$40k.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Min-ji Park. (2026, February 13). Civil Asset Forfeiture Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/civil-asset-forfeiture-statistics
MLA
Min-ji Park. "Civil Asset Forfeiture Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/civil-asset-forfeiture-statistics.
Chicago
Min-ji Park. 2026. "Civil Asset Forfeiture Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/civil-asset-forfeiture-statistics.
Sources & references
12 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level