BALTIMORE (AP) - Data show Baltimore police have kept around 84 percent of the cash seized during drug and gambling investigations over the past five years, despite the fact that conviction rates are much lower.
The Baltimore Sun reports data presented to the city council this week outlined the figures. From 2013 to 2017, police seized more than $10.3 million, but only returned about $643,000.
Maryland law allows police to seize money found during investigations. People who are cleared can seek to get the money back.
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But Jennifer Egan, an assistant public defender, says people often give up because the process is so burdensome.
The newspaper reports money that’s not returned goes to the city’s general fund.
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Information from: The Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com
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