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ORDER NO.

PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN FEDERAL ADOPTIONS OF SEIZURES
BY STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

By virtue of the authority vested in me as Attorney General, including 28 U.S.C. 509
and 510, 18 U.S.C. 981 and 982, and the other civil and criminal forfeiture statutes enforced
or administered by the Department of Justice, I hereby direct that the following policy be
followed by all Department ofJustiee attorneys and components, and all participants in the
Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Program concerning the federal adoption of property
seized by state or local law enforcement under state law in order for the property to be forfeited
under federal law (?federal adoption"):

Federal adoption of property seized by state or local law enforcement under state law is
prohibited, except for property that directly relates to public safety concerns, including firearms,
ammunition, explosives, and property associated with child pornography. To the extent that
seizures of property other than these four specified categories of property are being considered
for federal adoption under this public safety exception, such seizures may not be adopted without
the approval of the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division. The prohibition on
federal adoption includes, but is not limited to, seizures by state or local law enforcement of
vehicles, valuables, and cash, which is defined as currency and currency equivalents, such as
postal money orders, personal and cashier?s checks, stored value cards, certi?cates of deposit,

travelers checks, and US. savings bonds.

This order does not apply to seizures by state and local authorities working together
with federal authorities in a joint task force; seizures by state and local authorities that are the
result of joint federal-state investigations or that are coordinated with federal authorities as part
of ongoing federal investigations; or (3) seizures pursuant to federal seizure warrants, obtained
from federal courts to take custody of assets originally seized under state law. This Order also
does not affect the ability of state and local agencies to pursue the forfeiture ofassets pursuant to
their respective state laws.

This order is effective January 16, 2015, and applies prospectively to all federal
adoptions. To the extent that prior Department of Justice orders, directives, and policies are

inconsistent with this Order, those orders, directives, and policies are superseded.

January 16, 2015 

Date Eric H. Holder, Jr. 
Attorney General