District Attorney Kim Ogg announces increased contributions from asset forfeiture fund

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg has announced a significant increase in contributions to community organizations from the DA’s Asset Forfeiture fund. This announcement concludes a year of enhanced funding for services such as The Children’s Assessment Center, which received $760,000; the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, awarded $100,000; and the University of Houston, which obtained $63,235. A comprehensive list of all supported organizations was also released.

“These organizations fill a gap in services to victims of crime and offenders that our justice system does not address, and they are largely crime-prevention programs,” Ogg stated. “The money has to be used for law enforcement purposes, and the organizations that we’ve selected all provide some kind of crime-prevention service.”

Asset-forfeiture funds come from money and assets seized during criminal activities. These funds are held until official proceedings in civil court determine their disposition. Once forfeited legally, assets are first returned to victims who suffered financial losses. Remaining funds are divided among law enforcement agencies based on existing agreements.

Funds left over go into the DA’s Asset Forfeiture fund with legal restrictions on usage—for instance, they cannot cover salaries but must support law enforcement or nonprofits focused on reducing crime and aiding victims.

“These are lawful expenditures to great organizations doing very helpful things for our community,” Ogg said. “And I am happy we are increasing the amount we are able to donate this year.”

Since 2020, nearly $1.2 million has been donated by the DA’s Office using asset-forfeiture funds. In 2024 alone, donations amounted to $1.4 million.

Vivian King, chief of staff at the DA’s Office, highlighted changes under Ogg's administration regarding fund usage: “DA Ogg’s administration changed that, and now we give the funds back to the community for crime prevention and other authorized uses.” She added that asset-forfeiture funds undergo annual audits by Whitley Penn CPA firm with reports sent annually to the governor.

Ogg mentioned that more than $13 million is available in the pipeline for her successor taking office on January 1st: “Like any bank account...any inference that we are draining it before the new administration comes in is simply not true,” she explained.

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