This is a podcast episode transcript from "Collateral Damage," a production of The Intercept. The topic discussed in this episode is the case of Donald Scott, a man who was killed by Los Angeles County police during a raid on his property in 1992. The episode explores the circumstances surrounding Scott's death and its impact on his family, particularly his wife Frances Plante, who inherited his land but not his wealth.
The episode highlights issues with asset forfeiture laws, which allow law enforcement agencies to seize property without a conviction, and how this can lead to corruption and abuse of power. The host, Radley Balko, discusses the case as part of a broader conversation about police accountability and reform.
Some key points from the transcript include:
* Donald Scott was killed during a raid by Los Angeles County police, who claimed he had a gun in his hand.
* Frances Plante, Scott's wife, inherited his land but not his wealth, which led to her falling behind on property taxes.
* The IRS seized Plante's remaining property, including Trail's End Ranch, which had been the scene of Scott's death.
* Asset forfeiture laws have been criticized for allowing law enforcement agencies to seize property without a conviction, and leading to corruption and abuse of power.
* The case has sparked reform efforts, including the passage of new laws in several states that limit or ban asset forfeiture.
Overall, this episode provides a detailed exploration of the circumstances surrounding Donald Scott's death and its impact on his family, as well as the broader issues with asset forfeiture laws and police accountability.
The episode highlights issues with asset forfeiture laws, which allow law enforcement agencies to seize property without a conviction, and how this can lead to corruption and abuse of power. The host, Radley Balko, discusses the case as part of a broader conversation about police accountability and reform.
Some key points from the transcript include:
* Donald Scott was killed during a raid by Los Angeles County police, who claimed he had a gun in his hand.
* Frances Plante, Scott's wife, inherited his land but not his wealth, which led to her falling behind on property taxes.
* The IRS seized Plante's remaining property, including Trail's End Ranch, which had been the scene of Scott's death.
* Asset forfeiture laws have been criticized for allowing law enforcement agencies to seize property without a conviction, and leading to corruption and abuse of power.
* The case has sparked reform efforts, including the passage of new laws in several states that limit or ban asset forfeiture.
Overall, this episode provides a detailed exploration of the circumstances surrounding Donald Scott's death and its impact on his family, as well as the broader issues with asset forfeiture laws and police accountability.
. I mean, can you believe he was killed by the cops just because they thought he had a gun in his hand? It's crazy that his wife Frances is still dealing with all this trauma 30 years later 
. And what really gets me is that asset forfeiture laws are still allowing this kind of thing to happen, taking people's property without even a trial. It's like, what's the point of having laws if they're just gonna be ignored? 
I think it's great that the case has sparked some reform efforts, but we need to keep pushing for better change 
.
Asset forfeiture in the US has resulted in over $3.4 billion in seized assets in 2022 alone! 
That's like, a small country's GDP 
And it's all because of laws that allow cops to take property without even a conviction! 
It's just not right. Frances Plante's story is so heartbreaking - she lost her husband, inherited his land, but didn't get the wealth to pay off taxes? 
The system failed her and her family. And then the IRS took everything else? 
That's like, a tiny percentage! I mean, who do they think is gonna come forward and claim it? 
Anyway, this podcast episode is like, super informative - it highlights the need for reform. We gotta make sure our law enforcement agencies are held accountable for their actions. 
. It's not just a matter of having more power, it's a huge abuse of trust and basically a way for them to get rich off the backs of innocent people 
.
. I get why people are speaking out against this and pushing for reform... we need more transparency and accountability in our system, stat 
No wonder people are fighting back against these laws, it's just not right.