Section 31-27-3 - Definitions.
31-27-3. Definitions.
As used in the Forfeiture Act:
A. "conviction" or "convicted" means that a person has been found guilty of a crime in the trial court whether by a plea of guilty or nolo contendere or otherwise and whether the sentence is deferred or suspended;
B. "crime" means a violation of a criminal statute for which property of the offender is subject to seizure and forfeiture;
C. "law enforcement agency" means the employer of a law enforcement officer that has made a seizure of property pursuant to the Forfeiture Act;
D. "law enforcement officer" means a state or municipal police officer, county sheriff, deputy sheriff, conservation officer, motor transportation enforcement officer or other state employee authorized by state law to enforce criminal statutes, but "law enforcement officer" does not include correctional officers;
E. "owner" means a person who has a legal or equitable ownership interest in property;
F. "property" means tangible or intangible personal property or real property;
G. "property subject to forfeiture" means property described and declared to be subject to forfeiture by a state law outside of the Forfeiture Act; and
H. "secured party" means a person with a security or other protected interest in property, whether arising by mortgage, security agreement, lien, lease or otherwise; the purpose of which interest is to secure the payment of a debt or protect a potential debt owed to the secured party.