Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 1 Episode 22 Episode 22

In this episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, the host takes a deep dive into the issue of civil asset forfeiture. Oliver starts off by providing viewers with a brief history lesson, explaining how civil asset forfeiture began as a way to seize the assets of drug kingpins and organized crime syndicates. However, it has evolved into a tool used by law enforcement to seize property from innocent individuals, including those who have not been charged with a crime.

Throughout the episode, Oliver highlights some shocking examples of civil asset forfeiture, including a case in which the Teneha, Texas police department routinely pulled over out-of-town drivers, accusing them of minor traffic violations, and then pressuring them to sign over their assets, often without even charging them with a crime. In another case, a Michigan man had $16,000 seized from him by police, who suspected that he was involved in the drug trade (he wasn’t).

Oliver also talks about the perverse incentives that exist in civil asset forfeiture. Since law enforcement agencies are often allowed to keep the assets they seize, it provides them with a financial incentive to prioritize asset seizure over other aspects of police work. This can lead to situations in which law enforcement officers become “bounty hunters,” seeking out lucrative seizures instead of focusing on their primary duty of upholding the law and keeping communities safe.

In addition to highlighting the problems with civil asset forfeiture, Oliver also suggests some potential solutions. He notes that some states have passed laws that require a criminal conviction before assets can be seized, and argues that this is a more just approach to the issue. Oliver also suggests that there should be more transparency around civil asset forfeiture, and that law enforcement agencies should be required to report how much they are seizing, and from whom.

Overall, this episode of Last Week Tonight provides a sobering look at a little-known issue that has major implications for individual rights and freedoms. As always, Oliver’s approach is both informative and entertaining, and he manages to inject some humor into a topic that is often dry and technical. For anyone interested in criminal justice reform or civil liberties, this episode is a must-watch.