Skip to main content
Date Issued
Submitting OIG
Washington State Auditor
Agencies Reviewed/Investigated
State of Washington
Report Description

Civil asset forfeiture is a legal tool that allows police agencies to seize and forfeit (retain) property believed to be involved in or the proceeds of a crime. While property owners may file a claim to recover it, a performance audit in Washington found police agencies retained up to 90 percent of such property. This totaled nearly $40 million in forfeitures from January 2020 through December 2022. This published report examined eight police agencies to better understand forfeitures in the state, and included recommendations to strengthen transparency and protections for property owners.

Report Type
Inspection / Evaluation
Agency Wide
Yes
Location

United States

Professional Standard
GAO's Yellow Book, Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS)
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0

Washington State Auditor

WA
United States