The state would have to obtain a conviction before police could keep and then sell property taken from those accused of a crime under legislation the Senate approved 22-10.
The bill, which now goes to the Assembly, also would require a court to find the property seized is proportional to the crime committed.
Now, law enforcement can seize property through a forfeiture proceeding that can impact anything that was directly or indirectly derived from or used for the commission of a crime.
