The Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution states “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” While it is most commonly brought up in the context of the death penalty and the prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment, the Eighth Amendment is also hotly debated in criminal law, particularly when it comes to defining what constitutes “excessive” bail or fines. And nowhere is this more contested than in the area of asset forfeiture. Continue reading “The Hidden Cost of Asset Forfeiture in Criminal Cases”