Now it does. And that puts the wind behind the back of the bills making their way through Dogan’s committee. His bill would stop the practice in Missouri of state police agencies’ avoiding state jurisdiction by seeking asset forfeiture under guise of federal law, and keeping any seizures made in drug cases.

Under Dogan’s bill, which passed unanimously, such forfeitures would be done under the color of state law, and any money or assets taken would go to the state, reducing the profit motive of individual police agencies.

Next up was state Rep. Justin Hill’s bill, which would reduce the incentive for private probation companies to drug test defendants charged with misdemeanors that have nothing to do with alcohol or drugs.

“There is an incentive to keep (defendants) in the system so (the private probation companies) can keep getting monthly fees,” Hill said.

Indeed, testified Michael Barrett, head of the Missouri State Public Defender’s office, all of these elements of policing for profit work together to harm the criminal justice system and keep poor people buried in deep poverty.