Georgia Rep. Scot Turner,  R-Holly Springs (Courtesy photo)
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A Georgia lawmaker, who previously pushed legislation reining in what he describes as abuses of the state's civil forfeiture statutes, is once again waded into the fray with a multibill package aimed at the process.

Five pieces of legislation sponsored by state Rep. Scot Turner, R-Holly Springs, take aim at various aspects of civil forfeiture that allows prosecutors to seize money and property deemed to be the spoils of criminal activity, even though criminal charges do not result in convictions, or may not be pursued.

The bills would raise the burden of proof required before prosecutors can move to seize property and money, restrict the ability of local and state agencies to share in forfeiture proceeds seized by federal law enforcement and mandate annual disclosure of how much forfeiture proceeds come from cases with no convictions.