HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 6 NARCOTICS SEIZED 06-02-86 lnterlCom
DATE: HAY 27, 1986
TO:
~0~:
WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGAER
POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: RECEIPT AND EXPENDITURE OF NARCOTICS ASSETS SEIZED~
Recommendation:
That Council approve the attached resolution authorizing the
establishment of a "Narcotics Seizure Fund" with the following
guidelines:
1. That we place assets derived from state or federal
narcotic investigations in the "Tustin Police Narcotics
Seizure Fund" which is held in a trust in agency account.
That we utilize funds from the "Tustin Police Narcotics
Seizure Fund" for improving and developing narcotic
enforcement programs in the city of Tustin as provided
for in the California Health and Safety Code.
That we direct staff to make disbursements from this
account in conformance with pre-written warrant
procedures for the purpose provided in the California
Health and Safety Code. This action is to take place at
the direction of the Chief of Police.
4. That we direct the Finance Director to establish an
account in order to receive and distribute these funds.
Both the Police Department and the Finance Department officers
have met and have agreed that proper internal accounting controls
will be put into place to ensure accurate accounting and
documentation of expended funds. The monies will be used to
purchase equipment, resources, or items deemed necessary in
narcotic investigations. Those purchases could include
communication equipment, undercover vehicles, surveillance
equipment, and, in some case, overtime generated from these
extensive investigations. During major narcotics investigations,
a portion of the funds may be withdrawn and utilized as a "quick
flash roll." This term relates to the display of cash during an
investigation. That portion of the fund will then be returned to
the account in total. Because of the nature of the usage of these
funds, rapid disbursement may be necessary during emergencies.
Background
Within the past few years, the State of California has passed into
law, sections of the California Health and Safety Code designed to
impact the economics of organized drug trafficking. Even more
Page 2
Receipt & Expenditure of Narcotics Assets Seized
5/27/86
recently, the federal government has amended title 21, section 881
of the U. S. Code to allow for "equitable distribution of seized,
forfeited assets." These laws were designed to attack the profits
generated by organized drug trafficking. The recovered funds are
then intended to be directed to narcotic law enforcement as
resources to be used in combating drug activity.
Both laws seek the same results, to strengthen narcotic law
enforcement and to remove profits from drug trafficking
organizations. The law is very specific as to the intended
purpose of such funds. Section 11489 (b) (2) (B) states that
funds shall be distributed to local government entities for costs
incurred in connection with forfeiture proceedings and underlying
criminal convictions. Those types of violations must be
represented in section 11470 (e) (see attachment A).
All funds disbursed to a local governmental entity shall be used
solely for investigation, detection and prosecution of criminal
activities (section 11489 (b) (2) (B)) This section also states
that the monies are not intended to supplant any local funds
already designated for narcotic enforcement (see attachment B).
This topic was specifically addressed by the author of the
legislation, Senator Kenneth Maddy, in a memo to the Orange County
District Attorney's Office (see attachment C)~ Section 11493 of
the Health and Safety Code also gives direction as to the
availability of fund assets to support "narcotic law enforcement
efforts" (see attachment D). It is also the intent of the federal
government that seized funds be directed toward the enhancement of
municipal narcotic enforcement. This is noted in correspondence
from the U. S. Attorney General Edwin Meese' staff in a memorandum
reference "equitable distribution of seized assets" (see
attachment E). Also noted is a quote by Attorney General Meese
(see attachment F) found in the Crime Control Digest. In this
article, Mr. Meese relates the federal government's intention for
the use of these funds.
Conclusion
Law enforcement has finally been given a tool that has 'the
potential of significantly impacting the major drug violators in
our community. This resource should be utilized to its fullest,
but compliance with federal and state guidelines should also be
strictly adhered to.
Chief of Po?ice
CRT:dh
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
RESOLUTION NO. 86-69
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA,
AUTHORIZING APPLICATIONS FOR TRANS-
FER OF FORFEITED PROPERTY TO THE
TUSTIN POLICE DEPAI~TNENT AND ESTAB-
LISHING GUIDELINES AND CONTROLS RE-
LAT IVE T~RRETO.
WHEREAS, State and Federal statutes authorize the for-
feiture of property seized in connection with narcotic activi-
ties and the transfers of such property to law enforcement
agencies which have been involved in effecting the seizure of
such property, and
WHEREAS, said State and Federal statutes prescribe
regulations and controls which must be observed in connection
with the use of property which has been transfered pursuant
thereto,
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Tustin,
California, does hereby resolve that the following procedures,
regulations and controls are hereby adopted relative to the'
seizure, application for transfer and use of forfeited prop-
erty, as follows:
1. Whenever property has been seized which may qual-
ifY for forfeiture, notification by the Tustin Police Depart-
ment shall be given:
A. To the United States Drug Enforcement
Administration, to ascertain if the property or monies seized
qualify to be processed Federally, or
B. To the Orange County District Attorney's
Office to ascertain if the property or monies seized qualify
to be processed through the State of California.
(1) If Drug Enforcement Administration is to
process the matter , it will take physical custody of all
property and money.
(2) If the District Attorney is to process
the matter, Tustin Police Department will retain all proper.ty
and money unless otherwise instructed by the District Attorney
or court.
'1
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
2. Funds received from the State of California rela-
tive to forfeited property will generally only be equal to
amounts the Tustin Police Department has expended during the
investigation of a particular case. Such monies shall be
returned to the fund or funds which the expenditures were paid
for which the reimbursement is made, e.g. Overtime Fund,
General Fund, etc.
3. Funds received from the Federal Government shall
be maintained by the Finance Department in a trust and agency
account. Thd Director of Finance of the City of Tustin is
authorized and directed to receive such monies and is directed
to see that such funds are used only in compliance with this
resolution, not for any other City purpose and not in lieu of
other funds which would otherwise be spent for law enforcement
purposes.
A. Withdrawal of said funds will be made by the
Finance Director upon receipt of a written request from the
Tustin Police Department
B. Monies from such account shall only be used
to purchase equipment, resources, or items deemed necessary in
narcotic investigations, except as specified below, and for no
other purposes.
C. During major narcotics investigations, a
portion of such funds may be withdrawn and utilized as a
"flash roll".
(1) Such money shall be returned to the
Finance Department as soon as possible for redeposit into the
fund.
(2) If the Finance Department is closed when
such monies are available for redeposit such money shall be
kept in a safe within the confines of Special Investigations
until the Finance Department is open.
(3) A log will be maintained by the Tustin
Police Department to track the monies that have been removed
from the fund. This log will contain date, time, and name of
persons in possession of said funds.
(4) A memorandum shall be submitted by the
Tustin Police Department to the Finance Director for any funds
requested, stating the intent of said funds.
(a) A copy of such memoranda shall be
retained in a file within Special Inves-
tigations' files.
(b) The memorandum shall require two
(2) signatures, one being that of a
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Captain or the Chief of Police, the
second being the Investigation Lieuten-
ant or Special Investigations Sergeant.
4. All property, monies and funds relative to seized
and/or forfeited property shall be dealt with in full and
strict compliance with the provisions of this resolution and
all applicable statutes, laws, rules and regulations of %he
State of California and the United States of America.
PASSSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City
Council of the City of Tustin, California, held on the
day of May, 1986.
ATTEST:
MAYOR
CITY CLERK
JGR:se :D: 05/27/86 (62)
58 U×IFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT
shah be paid out of the funds appropriated or made available by law for
the support or use of the Department of Justice.
CHAPTER 8. SEIZURE AND DISPOSITION
11470. The £ollowing are subject to forfeiture:
fa) All controlled st, bstanees which have been manufactured,
distributed, dispensed, or acquired in violation of this division.
(b) All raw materials, products and equipment of any kind which are
used, or intended tbr use, in manufat~turing, compounding, processing,
delivering, i,nporting, or exporting any controlled substance in violation
of this division.
(c) All property which is used, or intended for use, as a container for
property described in 'subdivision (a) or (b).
(d) All books, records, and research products and materials, including
formulas, microfilm, tapes, and data which are used, or intended for use,
in violation of this division.
(e} The interest of any registered owner of a boat, airplane, or any.
vehicle other than an impiem~nt of husbandry, as defined in Section 36000
of the Vehicle Code, which has been used as ah instrument to facilitate the
possession for sale or sale of 28.5 grams or more of Schedule I controlled
substances except marijuana, peyote or psilocybin: 10 pounds dry weight
or more of marijuana, peyote or psilocvbin: or 28.5 grams or more of any
Schedule II controlled substances and 'the defendant has been convicte~i
of a violation of Section 11351, 11352. 11353. 11359. 11360. 11361. 11378.
11378.5. 11379. 11379.5. or a conspiracy to commit any st,ch violation and
the vehicle was used in the commission of the crime for which the
conviction was obtained. No interest in a vehicle which may be lawfully
driven on the highway with a class 3 or class 4 license, as l~rescribed ih
Sectioi~ 12804 of the Vehicle Code, ma)' be forfeited under this subdivision
if there is a community property interest in the vehicle by a person other
than thc defendant and the vehicle is the sole class 3 o{' class 4 vehicle
available to the defendant's immediate family.
(f) All moneys, negotiable instruments, securities, or other things of
v:due furnished or4ntended to be furnished by any person in exchanze for
a controlled substance in violation of Seetio/a 11351, 11352, 11355, i-1359,
11360, 11378, 11378.5, 11379, 11379.5, or 11382 of this code, or Section 182
of the Penal Code, insofar as the offense involves manufacture, sale,
possession for sale, offer for sale, or offer to manufacture, or conspiracy to
commit at least one of' those offenses, all proceeds traceable to such an
exchange, and all moneys, negotiable instruments, and securities used or
intended to be used to facilitate any violation of Section 11351, 11352,
11355, 11359, 11360, 11378, 11378.5, 11379, 11379.5, or 11382 of this code, or
Section 182 of the Penal Code, insofar as the offense involves manufacture,
sale. possession for sale. offer for sale or offer to manufacture, or conspiracy
to commit at least one of those offenses, provided that the individual is
arrested and convicted, for any of the offenses enurnerated in this
subdivision, and provided further' that, the exchange, violation, or other
conduct which is the basis for the forfeiture occurred within five years of
ATTACHMENT A
70 UXlFOIa.X! CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT
Section 11473.2 which a law enforcement agency may place in its own
name for use in its law enforcement program, shall be sold at public
auction by the Department of General Services or by the local
governmental entity which shall provide notice of such sale by one
publication in a newspapc: published and circulated in the city,
community, or locality where the sale is to take place.
(e) The proceeds of sale l~ursuant to subdivison (b) shall be first
distributed in accordance with the provisions of Section 11489.
11488.7. For the purposes of Sections 11488 to 11488.6, inclusive, "local
governmental entity" means a,ny city, county, or city ancl county in this
state.
11489. Nowithstanding Section 11502 and except as otherxvise
provided in Sections 11473 and 11473.2, in all cases where the property is
seized pursuant to this chapter and forfeited to the state or local
governmental entity and, where necessary, sold by the Department of
General Ser~Sees or local governmental entity, the money forfeited or the
proceeds of sale shall be distrib::ted by the state or local governmental
entity as follows:
(a) To the bona fide or innocent purchaser, conditional sales vendor,
or mortgagee of the property, if any, up to the amount of his or her interest
in the property, when the court declaring the forfeiture orders a
distribution to such person.
(b) The balance, if any, to accumulate, and from time to time, as the
proceeds become sufficient, to be distributed as follows:
(1) To the Department of General Services or local governme~,:a!
entity for all expenditures made or incurred by it in connection with the
sale of the property, including expenditures for anf,' necessary repairs,
storage, or transportation of any property seized unaer this chapter.
(2) (A) Fifty percent of the remaining funds shall be allocated to the
Department of Mental Health for primary prevention programs in
accordance with Chapter 1083 of the Statutes of 1981.
(B) The remaining 50 percent shall be distributed to the local
governmental entity or the state for all expenditures made "r incurred by
the local governmental entity's law enforcement and pros~catorial agency
or by the D~epartment of Justice, or any other state agency, in connection
with the forfeiture proceedings and underlying criminal conviction,
including, but not limited to, personnel costs, expenditures for witness'
fees, reporters' fees, transcripts, printing, tray=ling, un,:ertakings, and
im'estigation. An)' remainder shall be distributed to the Controller for
deposit into the Narcotics Assistance and Relinquishment by Criminal
Offender Fund as provided in Section 11493.
All funds distributed to a local governmental entity under this
subparagraph shall be distributed by that entity only to its law
enforcement and proseeutorial agency to be used sololv for'investigation.
detection, and prosecution of criminal activities. All funds distributed to
the state under this subparagraph shall be allocated to the Department of
Justice for invesr(gation, detection, and prosecution of criminal activities.
The first priority for the fund shall be to support financial investigator
~i'i'ACHMEN'r B
UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT ' 71
positions within the Department of Justice which will be utilized to
support financial investigation undertakings by local or state law
enforcement agencies. Funds distributed under this subparagraph shall
not supplant any local funds that would, in the absence of the provisions
of this subparagraph, be made available t¢ support the law enforcement
and prosecutorial ei~orts ot local agenczes.
(3) Each governmental agency seeking reimbursement under this
subdivision shall notify the district attorney or the Attorney General
prosecuting the forfeiture of the nature and amount of its claim. The
prosecuting agency shall petition the court for these costs and the court
shall order the forfeiture proceeds distributed to the local governmental
enti[F or the state for any agency expenditures. Should the amount
forfeited be insufficient to pay all t~xpenditures claimed, the court shall
order the funds distributed on a pro rata basis.
(e) For the purposes of this section, "local governmental entity" means
any city, county, or city and county in this state.
11490. The provisions of this division relative to forfeiture of
vehicles, boats, or airplanes shall not apply to a comtnon carrier, or to an
employee acting ~vithin the scope of its.employment in the enforcement
of this division
11491. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to extend or change
decisional law as it relates to the topic of search and seizure.
11492. (a) Concurrent with, or subsequent to, the filir~g of the
petition, the prosecuting agency may move the superior court for the
following pendente lite orders to preserve the status quo of the propert;,'
alleged in the petition of forfeiture.
(1) An injunction to restrain all interested parties and enjoin them from
transferring, encumbering, hypothecating or other~vise disposing of tha,
property.
(2) Appointment of a receiver to take possession of, care for, manage,
and operate the assets and properties so that such property ma)' be
maintained and preserved.
(b) No preliminary injunction may be granted or receiver appointed
without notice to the interested parties and a hearing to determine that "
such an order is necessary to preserve the property, pending the outcome
of the criminal proceedings, and that there is probable cause to
that the property alleged in the forfeiture proceedings aze proceeds and
property interests forfeitable under subdivision (e) or (f) of Section 11470.
ttowever, a temporary restraining order may issue pending that hearing
pursuant to the provisions of Section 527 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(c) No~vithstanding any other provision of law, the court in granting
these m:*.ious may order a surety bond or undertaking to preserve the
property interests of the interested parties.
I1493. There is hereby created in the General Fund the Narcotics
Assistance and Relinquishment by Criminal Offender Fund. The fund
shall be administered by an advisory committee which shall be appointed
by the Attorney General and which shall be comprised of three police
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
DATE:
AWL~CHME~ C
KENNETH L. MADDY
Edward R. Munoz
Peter F. Bontade Joint Conunittee on Revision of the
Penal Code
SB 532 (Maddy) - Chapter 948
February 22, 1984
Pursuant to our phone conversation of February 21, 1984, the only
section of the bill which speaks to the question of the use of
funds gained through forfeiture, is the last sentence of
Section 11489 (B) which reads, "Funds distributed under this
subparagraph shall not supplant any local funds that would, in
the absence of the provisions of this subparagraph, be made
available to support the law enforcement and prosecutorial
efforts of local agencies."
This langJage was clearly intended to clarify that the money
obtained through forfeiture would be available in addition to
other resources for furthering narcotics law enforcement,,not
to replace funds currently being spent in these areas. However,
there is no requirement that a separate account b~ maintained.
I hope this information will be helpful to ybu.
PFB:cp
72 UNIFOHM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT
chiefs, three sheriffs, two district attorneys, one private citizen, and the
Director of the Division of Law Enforcement of the Department of Justice
who shall serve as the executive officer.
The money in the fnnd shall be available, upon appropriation bv the
Legislature, tbr distribution bv the advisory committee to local and stat~
law entoreement azeneies in support of ger{eral narcotic law enforcement
efforts.
ATTACI-~5~NT D
r
CHAPTER 9. COLLECTION AND DISPOSITION OF FINES
11500. The district attorney, or any person designated by him, of the
county in which any violation of this division is committed shall conduct
all actions and prosecutions for the violation.
However, the Attorney General, or special counsel employed by the
Attorney General for that purpose, may take complete eh.~rge of the
conduct of such actions or prosecutions. The Attorney General may fix the
compensation to be paid for the service and may incur such other gxpense
in connection with the conduct of the actions or prosecutions as he may
deem necessary. No attorney employed as special counsel shall receive a's
compensation more than three thousand five hundred dollars (8:3,500) in
any' one year.
liS01. The State of California, or any political subdivision thereof, may
maintain an action against any person or persons engaged in the unlawf61
sale of controlled substances for the recovery of any public funds paid over
to such person or persons in the course of any investigation of violations
of this division. All proceedings under this sect'ion shall be instituted in the
superior court of the county where the funds were paid over, where the
sale was made, or where the defend;~nt resides. Notwithstanding Section
483.010 of the Code of Civil Procedure, in any action under this section,
a writ of attachment may be issued, without the showing required by
Section 485.010 of the Code of Civi! Procedure, in the manner provided
by Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 485.010) of Title 6.5 of Part :2 of
the Code of Civil Procedure to attach any funds paid over or any other
funds on the defendant's person at the tithe of his arrest.
11502. All moneys, forfeited bail, or fines received by any court under
this division shall as soon as practicable after the r~ceil~t thereof be
deposited with the county treasurer of the county in which such court is
situated. Amounts so deposited shall be paid at'least once a month as
follows: 75 percent to the State Treasurer by warrant of ~he connty auditor
drawn upon the requisition of the clerk' or judge of said court to be
deposited in the Slate Treasury on order of the State Controller; and ~5
percent to the city treasurer of the city, if the offense occurred in a city,
otherwise to the treasurer of the county in which the prosecution is
conducted.
Any money deposited in the State Treasury under the provisions of this
section which is determined by the State Controller to have been
erroneously' deposited therein shall be refunded by him, subject to
approval of the State Board of Control prior to the payment of such
refund, out of any money in the State Treasury which is available by law
for such purpose.
ATTACHMmNT E
U.S. Department of 3ustice
Office of the A.~-' oci?te A~te,-ne.,,' C-enera{
May 30, !9S5
?OR: ?.e?.~e~s of~t]%6.Fcrum for ~oo:erative Strate--v
D. ~Swell Jensen
Associate Attorney General
~;uide!ines Pertaining to the Transfer c~
Seized and Forfeited Property
The attached ~uidelines have been aooroved by the AtUorn_=v
:Teneral and are be~n: fo~-~arded for your'~nformat£on and actic~.
It is imoort~_n= to n~te, however, that the guidelines are
to review as the Department gains ex?erience in applying these
new provisions. Any further_ modif':-=*-:on' may be made after
Depar~,ent has had {ime to evaluate the prac{ical applica:ion .~f
· ;hese procedures.
The United States Attorneys, through the Law Enforcement
Coordinating Com~nittee program, will have a major role in inform-
~ng state and local law enforcement agencies as.to the prcceduras
for requesting an e~uitab!e transfer of forfeited prcperty,
helping facilitate t~e application for transfer of such property,
and seeing that the spirit and letter of the new forfeiture
provisions of the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 are
im~iemented in each federal district All Department of Justice
employees are charged with implementing the Department's asset
forfeiture program in a manner designed to promote cooperatlve
law enforcement efforts with state and local law enfcrcement
agencies. At the same time, Department personnel should ensure
that the disposition of all federally seized and forfeited
property is handled in a fashion resulting in an efficient and
~UalClOUS use of federal resources.
Several points in particular should be noted. First,
z:Itheugh these guidelines are for the most part identical with
the policy seu forth in the "Handbook on the Comprehensive Crime
Contrcl Act of 1984 and Other Criminal Statutes Enacted by the
~"~-~.~ Congress," some changes to the Handbook have been made
through these guidelines. To the extent that there are
· a~e 2
CRIME CONTROL DIGEST
sheriffs and corrections personnel "get the most prison
space possible" with .tax dollars
"First, through the National Institute of Cor-
rections e NIC), we are providing a clearinghouse for
information on more cost-effective x'vays of building
prison facilities," Meese said. "Using modular con-
struction, we have found that it is possible .to build
at the rate of Sl 6,000 per secure cell. This compares
very favorably to the S 100.000 per cell that has been
paid in some localities, namely the District of Colum-
bia ."
DOJ is also providing off-the-shelf architectural
plans to state and local governments. Meese said. In
addition, the Federal Government is making available
surplt, s Federal land to be used ,'or correctional facility
construction.
Warrants And Extradition
According to Mcese, the U.S. Marshal's Service Fugitive
Investigation Strike Team { FIST) program has been saving
local governments money, since the FIST operation, when
it moves into an area, tracks down the most wanted warrant
fugitives.
"The results have been dramatic," he said. "A FIST
operation in the Boston-Baltimore region recently arrested
3.500 suspects, of which 70 percent were given sentences
and incarcerated. The final results of a Florida FIST strike
are expected to top that number. While the cost of the Mar-
shal's Service is SI million per action, local law enforcement
pays very little."
Another program being undertaken by NIJ is a study
of extradition problems which face sheriffs, Meesa said.
"As you know, the transportation of a prisoner from
Kansas City to Los Angeles requires two deputies and pro-
bably two days-that's a manpower and money drain," he
siad. "We hope that we'll be able to offer some solutions
in the near future."
"Police Your Own Ranks"
Speaking to' the sheriffs about the problem of narcotics
trafficking and abuse, which the Justice Department considers
to be its "number one priority," Meese said sheriffs and police
chiefs must police their own ranks to weed out corrupt officers
and administrators.
The corruption of public officials, he told the sheriffs,
ia "a problem which undermines our efforts to control drug
trafficking and which undermines the public confidence as
well."
ATTACHMENT F
July '1, 1985
As an example, he cited a case in Henry County, Georgia,
in which a county police chief received S30,000 to allow a
plane-load of drugs to land in his jurisdiction.
"When the chief went to a motel room to pick up the
payoff from the drug dealers (who were in fact undercover
agents), he was accompanied by the county probate judge,"
Meese said. "Both were arrested immediately.
"The chief and the judge then agreed to cooperate
with the agents and made a phone call to their co-conspira-
tors, who it turns out were the sheriff and the airport man-
ager. These two asked, 'tlave you got the money?' They
were arrested that night. All four were convicted in 1982
and given sentences ranging from 20,to 35 years."
After mentioning corruption cases involving DEA
agents and police vice officers, Meese said there are several
"sad points" that must be made about these cases.
"The first is that the Department of Justrite will not
tolerate law enforcement officials going over to the other
side," he told the sheriffs. "We owe it to the great major-
ity of honest law enforcement personnel who resist temp-
tatio~ to prosecute turncoats to the fullest extent of the
law.
"Second," he added, "an imbalance exists between
the deservedly vigorous prosecution and sentencing of law
enforcement personnel and the permissive attitude which
too many judges and prosecutors are taking toward drug
pushers and smugglers.
"Finally," the Attorney General said, "law enforce-
ment, like any profession, must take responsibility for
policing its own ranks. A sheriff's or a policeman's col-
leagues are frequently the first to know when he has taken
a walk. The responsibility of sheriffs does not stop at the
county line."
Meese advised sheriffs to take advantage of the asset
forfeiture provisinns of the Comprehensive Crime Control
Act of 1984 as a legal way to obtain money from narcotics
trafficking.
State and local governments are entitled to share in
forfeiture proceeds with the Federal Government if the
state and local agencies have cooperated x~ith the Justice
Department in the case yielding the assets {for background.
see, "Need Extra Money For Your Department?" CCD, Vol.
19, No. 15, April 15, 1985, page 6).
But there's a catch to the sharin~ process~ Meese
warned the shertlfs.
"Your local treasurers are prevented from ~ettine their
hands on confiscated cash or liquidated assets because local
July I, 1985
CRIME CONTROL DIGEST
"government must attest that the money will only be used for
law enforcement purposes," he said. "Properly used, forfeited
asscsts can give sheriffs a real boost in their battle with cash-
Page 3
rich drug traffickers." ·
DOLE PRAISES AWARENESS
PROGRAM ON DRUNK DRIVING
Secretary of Transportation Elizabeth'Hanford
Dole on June 12 praised "Project Graduation," a pro-
gram to increase teenagers' awareness of the dangers
of drunk driving, especially during the prom and grad-
uation season.
Named after a successful pilot program begun in
Maine in 1980, Project Graduation encourages high
school seniors to hold alcohol-free and drug-free cele-
brations during graduation week.
"Project Graduation has been tremendously
effective in increasing public awareness of the dangers
of mixing alcohol or drugs with driving. Although
the project is aimed particularly toward graduating
high school seniors, the message is important for
everyone: If you drive impaired by alcohol or drugs,
you imperil your own life and those of others," Dole
said.
Each year, an estimated 4,200 teenagers die in
alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes and another
110,000 are injured.
Enthusiastic, Widespread Interest
One of this year's most successful Project Graduation
events was at Monterey High School in Lubbock, Texas. Thc
graduating class raised over $2,000 and sponsored an all-night
event attended by 225 students. In addition, more than 200
door prizes were donated by parents, businesses and civic
dubs. From 10:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. the students swam,
played raquetball, basketball, handball, badminton and ping-
pong, viewed slide shows and clips from last year's sporting
events, and were served breakfast at 4:00 a.m.
Another particfilarly successful example of Project Grad-
uation is sponsored by the Washington Regional Alcohol Pro-
gram (WRAP), which encompasses Washington, D.C.. Virginia
and Maryland. The Fairfax County, VA, program has resulted
in two years of accident-free prom and graduation weeks.
Interest in the program has been enthusiastic and wide-
spread. This year, 43 states scheduled Project Graduation pro-
grams in their schools, and, in Texas alone, as many as 1,300
high schools planned alcohol-free activities. ·
CoD1Dtetl[arl' . . ·
DEALING WITH SERIOUS OFFENDERS
AND STATUS OFFENDERS: WHAT
SHOULD ',YE BE DOING7
The Juvenile Justice System Today
Needs "A Good Dose Of Fresh Air"
By Alfred S. Regnery, Administrator
Office Of Juvenile Justice And Delinquency Prevention
U.S. Justice Department
In this article I want to discuss serious juvenile
crime-the area where 1 think the bulk of the jr,yen-
fie justice system's resqurces should be lodged-and
the problem of status offenders, an area which has
traditionally exhausted a great deal of time and
energy and which remains a difficult and perplexing
issue to solve.
First, the serious juvenile offender.
The task of highest priority in tile field of
juvenile delinquency is to deal directly and deci-
sively with that small core of youth who are re-
sponsible for much of the nation's crime. If a c~oss
section of Americans were asked their greatest
concern about juvenile delinquency, they wot,Id
say, "We fear those youth who commit serious
crimes-who rob, burglarize, mug, terrorize, and
often kill."
Asked what the Federal Government should
do, they would shout: "Do something about youth
who are committing these most serious crimes!"
These are neither partisan questions nor partisan
answers. They do not vary froin poor to non-poor,
from white to non-white, or from Democrat to
Republican.
Last year, about one third of all arrests in tile
U.S. were arrests of juveniles. When we consider -
the fact that the juveniles arrested came from an
age group of only four or five years, and when we
consider the fact that the other two thirds arrested
made up the remainder of the population, we can-
not help but be amazed at the rate at which juven-
iles commit crimes. In fact, 16-year-old boys com-
mit crimes at a rate higher-by far higher-than any
other single age group in our population. And when
we consider the fact that a third of all of our crime
'victims must rely on our juvenile court system for
CHARLES THAYER, CHIEF OF POLICE
TO:
' C1~¥ ATTORNEY
DISTRIBUTION OF FORFEi~TURE FUNDS
$ US~ £CT:
Your office has requested an opinion to accompany your
request for equitable distribution of proceeds from forfeiture to
be sent to the U. S. Department of Justice showing state author-
ity for the Tustin Police Department to accept the subject funds
and commit to use them only for law enforcement purposes, for the
Chief of Police/Director of Finance to execute and transfer
documents on behalf of the Tustin Police Department and, for
Finance Director Rona~d Nault to receive payment on behalf of the
Ci ry.
California Health and Safety Code Sections 11470, et seq.
complement the United States Code 21 USC_~i, providing for
seizure and distribution of controlled substances. Health and
Safety Code Section 11489(b) (.2) (B) provides, in connection with
the distribution of funds for sale of forfeited property, that a
percentage of the funds shall be distributed to the local govern-
mental entity for all expenditures made or incurred by the en-
tity's law enforcement and prosecutorial agency or by the Depart-
ment of Justice in con.nection with the forefeiture proceedings.
Under this law the entity shall distribute said funds to its law
enforcement and prosecutorial agency to be used ~ for inves-
tigation, direction and prosecution of criminal activities.
Under this statute the Tustin Police Department has clear
authority to receive forfeiture funds relating to the seizure of
controlled substances and is required to use such funds ~
for law enforcement activities; more specifically, narcotics law
enforcement efforts. (Health and Safety Code Section 11493.)
Although the Health and Safety Code does not specifically
name the individual within the local entity authorized to execute
transfer documents, inasmuch as the funds "shall be distributed
by that entity only to its law enforcement.., agency," it is our
opinion that the Chief of Police as head of the law enforcement
agency has the inherent authority under this law to execute the
transfer documents on behalf of the agency heads, or to designate
a person to execute the documents on his behalf.
Under the Tustin City Code, the Finance Director is under
the administrative direction of the City Manager and shall per-
form those duties required by law and provided by ordinance or
resolution. (Tustin City Code Section 1611 and City Council
Resolution No. 80-122 which appointed the Finance Director to
perform the duties of City Treasurer.) Government Code Section
41001 provides that Finance Director Ronald Nault acting as City
Treasurer shall receive and safely keep all money coming into his
hands as treasurer.
Ronald Nault, as Finance Director, is authorized by state
law to receive and deposit all monies coming into his hands as
Finance Director. Therefore, designation of Mr. Nault as the
official to whom payment of the forfeiture funds should be made
is consistent with his position and authority to so act on behalf
of the City of Tustin.
thi s
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact
office.
JGR: se :D: 0 5/13/86 (7)
cc: WH
NARCOTIC ASSET SEIZURE
Purpose
To establish departmental guidelines and controls for the handling
of assets that are seized as a result of narcotic related
investigations.
I. Procedure
A. Whenever assets have been seized, notification will be
made to:
Drug Enforcement Administration (D.E.A.) to ascertain
if the property or monies seized qualify to be
processed Federally or,
District Attorney's Office (D.A.) to ascertain if the
property or monies seized qualify to be processed
through the State.
a) If D.E.A. is to process, they will take physical
custody of all property or money.
b)
If the D.A. is to process, T.P.D. will retain all
property or money unless otherwise instructed by
the D.A. or court.
B. Disbursement of funds from the State.
Generally will only be what T.P.D. has expended during
the investigation of the particular case. Those
monies will go back into whichever fund they came out
o~, i.e. Overtime Fund, General Fund, etc.
C. Disbursement of funds from the Federal Government.
1. The fund will be maintained by the Finance Division in
a trust and agency account at a local bank.
ao
Withdrawal of funds will be done by the Finance
Director after receiving a written request from
the police department.
Monies from the account can be used to purchase
equipment, resources, or items deemed necessary in
narcotic investigations.
C®
During major narcotics invesigations, a portion of
the fund may be withdrawn and utilized as a "flash
roll".
1. This money shall be returned to the Finance
Division for redeposit into the fund.
If the Finance Division is closed this money
shall be kept in a safe within the confines of
Special Investigations until the Finance
Division is open.
A log will be maintained to track the monies
that have been removed from the fund. This
log will contain date, time, and name of
persons in possession of said funds.
d. A memo will be submitted for any funds requested
stating the intent of said funds.
1. A copy of these memos will be retained in a
file within Special Investigations files.
The memo will require two (2) signatures, one
(1) being that of a Captain or above, the
second being the Investigation Lieutenant or
Special Investigations Sergeant.