This book investigates the legal mechanisms and practical application of civil recovery as a tool for confiscating the proceeds of crime without the necessity of a criminal conviction. Author Colin King, a legal scholar, utilizes a combination of doctrinal analysis and empirical research to evaluate how these laws function within the jurisdictions of Ireland and England & Wales. By examining the gap between legislative intent and courtroom reality, the text provides a framework for understanding the efficacy and ethical implications of non-conviction-based asset forfeiture.

Legal scholars and practitioners identify this work as a significant contribution to the study of asset recovery due to its rare inclusion of empirical practitioner interviews. The text is noted for its academic rigor and is considered a primary resource for those studying the intersection of civil procedure and criminal law.