The St. Louis County Attorney is authorized by Minnesota statutes to handle forfeiture actions whereby property that has been used in or associated with criminal activity is forfeited to law enforcement. Forfeiture is a tool used by law enforcement to take property from individuals who have used that property to commit crimes or obtained the property from criminal profits. The forfeited property, or the proceeds from the sale of that property, are then used for crime prevention, public safety, or community law enforcement needs.
If the forfeiture is related to criminal activity other than driving while under the influence then the County Attorney handles the case no matter where it occurs in St. Louis County. These crimes are often associated with illegal controlled substance sale or use or with felony criminal violations. In addition, the County Attorney handles all forfeitures within the County arising from the use of dangerous weapons and criminal activity. Finally, the County Attorney handles vehicle forfeitures arising from DWI offenses in all cases wherein the County Attorney is the prosecuting authority.
The County Attorneys Office handles approximately 200 forfeiture matters each year with the litigation currently divided between two attorneys in the Civil Division. Representation includes giving advice and counsel to law enforcement, conducting training for law enforcement and court staff, administrative processing of all of the forfeiture matters we receive, and handling the litigation of the matter when appropriate. We strive to work cooperatively with law enforcement as we seek to remove property from the hands of those who use it for criminal purposes.
