Author Profile

Michael Haugen

Staff writer, Texas Public Policy Foundation

Michael Haugen is a policy analyst in the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and its Right on Crime initiative.

Latest Columns

The suspect practice of civil asset forfeiture

Civil asset forfeiture is a tool of law enforcement whereby the suspected fruits of criminal activity can be seized and repurposed to combat future criminal activity. “Suspected” is a key term, as current Texas law doesn’t require government to prove in court that criminal activity actually took place — or even to arrest someone for such crimes.