Criminal forfeiture is a legal process where the government can seize assets that are connected to criminal activity. This means that if someone is convicted of a crime, such as drug trafficking or money laundering, the government can take their property, money, or other valuables that were obtained through illegal means or used in the crime. The goal of criminal forfeiture is to deter crime and remove the financial benefits that criminals gain from their illegal actions. It is different from civil forfeiture, where property can be seized without a criminal conviction, focusing instead on the connection between the asset and the crime committed.