Join The Texas Tribune in person or on our livestream for a conversation about how law enforcement agencies, cities and counties use civil asset forfeiture and why many states are restricting the practice. Law enforcement calls asset forfeiture a vital tool for seizing ill-gotten gains from criminals, while reformers argue that it gives officials too much power to take citizens’ money and property without requiring proof of a crime.

The panel features state Rep. Terry Canales of Edinburg, Harris County Assistant District Attorney Angela Beavers and Jacob Ryan, a reporter with the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting and will be moderated by Texas Tribune criminal justice reporter Jolie McCullough. Both Ryan and McCullough contributed stories to "Taken," a collaborative, investigative reporting effort supported by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. McCullough was the lead writer for a Tribune investigation on asset forfeiture in Texas that published June 7.

Details

This event is free and open to the public. Coffee, breakfast tacos (while they last!) and networking begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by the conversation at 8 a.m.

The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Learn more and become a member at texastribune.org.

This event is presented by The Texas Tribune and The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Breakfast and coffee provided by Tacodeli and Caffe Aragona.

Tribune events are also supported through contributions from our founding investors and members. Though donors and corporate sponsors underwrite The Texas Tribune events, they play no role in determining the content, panelists or line of questioning.