Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting

Kentucky law says seized money must be used for direct law enforcement purposes. A KyCIR review of $3.7 million in spending records shows agencies take varied interpretations of that law.

A bill proposed in Kentucky would withhold some funding from law enforcement agencies unless they report details on their asset forfeiture activity every year. The move follows a KyCIR investigation.

In Kentucky, just 11 percent of police agencies report how much money and assets they seize every year. The full extent of assets seized statewide is unknown.