The Acting Chief of Police for the Houston Police Department recommends City Council approve a motion authorizing HPD to disburse court-awarded asset forfeiture funds to the Jones County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Office.
As background, HPD’s Narcotics Division conducted joint criminal investigation operations with other participating law enforcement agencies wherein assets were seized. Under Chapter 59 of the Texas Penal Code, the Harris County District Court awarded asset forfeiture proceeds to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
Because HPD is the lead law enforcement agency, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office directly paid HPD asset forfeiture proceeds resulting from these joint operations to administer proportional disbursements to other participating agencies. The Jones County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Office participated in the joint investigation operations. HPD seeks City Council approval to make a proportional payment of court-awarded asset forfeiture proceeds in the amount of $40,448.87 to the Jones County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Office.