Well the $100k story was determined to not have any evidence/proof beyond police suspicion (you can find more details that were released after this was written - the cops didn't like that her eyes darted once during questioning, that she said the luggage was gray not black, the cops said they smelled weed even though there was none found, etc - that was sufficient justification to seize the cash and close the case without filing any charges) and the money was not returned

To get the money back, it must be fought in court. Legal fees are not returned if the case is won, and if lost, you must cover the defense fees. In Illinois the median forfeiture was about $1k, with many <$100 forfeitures clustered in the poorest neighborhoods, while lawyer fees are ~$3k for state/local police cases. Federal seizures are much more expensive to fight.

There's no process where the police further verify the provenance of the cash they seize and return it without it being fought for in court. It's taken and they celebrate it and move on. So as with most police oversight, the numbers you're asking for don't exist.

That is infuriating, to say the least. :(

The number also includes funds that were seized after criminal conviction.

Do you have a breakdown that distinguishes that?

Houses too? In that case the numbers don't say much.

Only house news I remember was the one that went to the supreme court, and that is more than a touch different. They didn't seize the house before court actions, but as a court action. Right? This is very different.

When I was arrested the cop took the money out of my wallet and asked if I knew he could just take it, he didn't seem to concerned about "verification of ownership or any other exonerating circumstances" such as I just took the money out of an ATM. You have to wonder what fantasy world you people are living in.