If a home is burglarized, and police obtain the stolen goods via civil asset forfeiture, are they required to return them?

Question

Through Civil Asset Forfeiture, the police can seize any property they think was involved in a crime, and use that property for pretty much any purpose they wish, including parties etc.

Suppose burglary, theft, and related unauthorized takings are illegal in a US state, with the exception of when the government does it through civil asset forfeiture.

Suppose Alice broke into Bob's house and stole items (e.g. cash, jewelry, electronics, etc.) which the police later obtain from Alice via civil asset forfeiture, where the crime the property was accused of being involved in was the burglary at Bob's house (assuming they were forced into giving a specific justification at all). Do the police have any obligation to return that to Bob, or can they use it for whatever other purpose they wish?

Does this align incentives such that the police are financial beneficiaries of the taking, and thus have an incentive to contribute to conditions that make it more likely, or even facilitate it, so long as they believe they'll likely be able to get the property after it's been taken from the original owner?

Answer 1

It depends on the jurisdiction (naturally). The answer for Washington is "No, not exactly". RCW 9a.83.030 states that "The attorney general or county prosecuting attorney may file a civil action for the forfeiture of proceeds". The police can seize real property, but must file a lis pendens regarding the property. The bar that has to be cleared for forfeiture is "probable cause". The Institute for Justice has an extensive analysis of civil forfeiture, especially with a state by state summary (they aren't positionally neutral on forfeiture, but they are legally respectable).

Then after a inevitable judgment (90 days if the judgment is sooner), the property is transferred. Notice is to be "served within fifteen days after the seizure on the owner of the property seized and the person in charge thereof and any person who has a known right or interest therein, including a community property interest", so they would notify Bob (assuming they know Bob is the real owner). Or, if Bob learns of the seizure that "If a person notifies the seizing law enforcement agency in writing of the person's claim of ownership or right to possession of property within forty-five days of the seizure in the case of personal property and ninety days in the case of real property, the person or persons shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard as to the claim or right". It is possible that Bob's property could be taken (nothing prevents it), especially if Bob's hands are unclean.