If you're involved in a serious accident, it's important to seek and document medical care as soon as possible.
Medical evidence is crucial to the success of personal injury claims, and prompt treatment can improve medical and legal outcomes.
A person who is formally accused of a crime is generally entitled to certain evidence and information about the prosecution's case. This typically happens before trial, through a process called "discovery." But the prosecution's duty to disclose this material is usually ongoing, and doesn't end when a trial has begun. #CriminalLaw
Police and prosecutor misconduct that distorted evidence or undercut innocence contributed to 54% of false convictions that later resulted in exonerations, according to a report released Tuesday. https://bit.ly/32K5hDv
ABAJOURNAL.COM
Police and prosecutor misconduct contributed to over half of false-conviction cases, new study finds
A growing number of states and localities are exploring new ways to reduce or eliminate reduce or eliminate pretextual or pretext traffic stops. In a pretext stop, an officer pulls over a motorist for a minor traffic or equipment violation and then uses the stop to investigate a more serious crime. https://bit.ly/2Z3FQdO
PEWTRUSTS.ORG
Police 'Pretext' Traffic Stops Need to End, Some Lawmakers Say
Police increasingly ask Google and other tech firms for data about who was where, when. Two judges ruled the investigative tool invalid in a Chicago case. https://bit.ly/3lV8kR0
WIRED.COM
Creepy ‘Geofence’ Finds Anyone Who Went Near a Crime Scene
After months of closures, many of the country’s court systems are gradually reopening, having embraced technologies such as Zoom and YouTube to safely hold pleas, sentencings and even Supreme Court hearings. But the jury trial, which most feel can only happen in person, has remained largely stalled. https://wapo.st/3gFdzjR
WASHINGTONPOST.COM
Courts dramatically rethink the jury trial in the era of the coronavirus
Police dogs bite thousands of Americans each year, including innocent bystanders, police officers, even their own handlers. And there is little oversight, nationally or in the states, of how police departments use them. https://bit.ly/2SwRHgR
USATODAY.COM
‘Like I was being eaten’: When police dogs bite, no one is accountable
Nationwide, jail populations plunged by about 25% between March and June, according to a recent analysis. https://bit.ly/3lode7Z
SCIENCEMAG.ORG
Pandemic inspires new push to shrink jails and prisons
There were 145 offenders released in 2019 — about five times more than the year before, when 24 people were granted release, according to a report by the U.S. Sentencing Commission. https://cbsn.ws/2GZxrSx
CBSNEWS.COM
Compassionate release, once seldom used, offers some federal inmates hope
There are few things as revealing as a person's search history, and police typically need a warrant on a known suspect to demand that sensitive information. But a recently unsealed court document found that investigators can request such data in reverse order by asking Google to disclose everyone who searched a keyword rather than for information on a known suspect. https://cnet.co/3iSOu64
CNET.COM
Google is giving data to police based on search keywords, court docs show
A growing number of negligence suits are being filed across the country against nursing homes and other long-term care facilities by families whose relatives died from the coronavirus while living in such facilities. https://bit.ly/3m9LpAG
ABAJOURNAL.COM
Coronavirus-related deaths in nursing homes prompt lawsuits and questions about who's responsible
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether an officer can enter a garage without a warrant when in pursuit of a misdemeanor suspect. https://bit.ly/34npBeV
ABAJOURNAL.COM
Supreme Court will decide whether officer can enter garage after pursuit of misdemeanor suspect
At least 2,000 law enforcement agencies in all 50 states now have tools to get into locked, encrypted phones and extract their data, according to a new report. https://nyti.ms/2TB2Hu5
NYTIMES.COM
The Police Can Probably Break Into Your Phone
Having witnesses to back up your story can be valuable when pursuing a personal injury claim. Since memories fade quickly, it's best for witnesses to be contacted promptly after an accident. An attorney can help you track down witnesses, gather statements, or decide who to call.
Law enforcement is tapping the tech for low-level crimes like shoplifting, because there are no limits. But the tool often makes errors. https://cnet.co/37TIpnS
CNET.COM
Police are using facial recognition tech to fight petty crimes like shoplifting. Critics say the cost to civil liberties is too high
If you have been arrested and charged with a crime, remember you have important rights, including the right to remain silent, the right to have an attorney present at questioning, and the right to be free from unreasonable searches. #CriminalLaw
Over the past two decades, the law on juvenile sentencing has changed significantly. The Supreme Court — primed by research that shows the brains of juveniles are not fully developed, and that they are likely to lack impulse control — has issued a half dozen opinions holding that juveniles are less culpable than adults for their acts. And the court has also ruled that some of the harshest punishments for acts committed by children are unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment. https://n.pr/3lruM2q
NPR.ORG
Supreme Court Examines When Juveniles May Be Sentenced to Life Without Parole
A growing number of police departments are using facial recognition technology, but many view it as flawed technology that has the potential to cause serious harm. https://cbsn.ws/39sOJ6J
CBSNEWS.COM
Wrongful arrest exposes racial bias in facial recognition technology
For the first time, the US Supreme Court on Monday heard arguments surrounding a 34-year-old law on computer hacking -- examining how the terms of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act mean everyday activities like browsing Instagram on a work computer could be interpreted as a federal crime. https://cnet.co/3oy4ihN
CNET.COM
Supreme Court hears case on hacking law and its limits
As the use of geofence warrants has grown, so have controversies surrounding them. Defense attorneys argue they’re unconstitutional, and prosecutors say their use is a valid and valuable crime-solving technique. https://bit.ly/3gDr5WV
ABAJOURNAL.COM
Law enforcement is using location tracking on mobile devices to identify suspects, but is it unconstitutional?
In prisons around the country, COVID-19 outbreaks have followed transfers of prisoners or prison workers. Many state prison systems had reduced or limited the number of prisoners they moved due to the pandemic, but some lifted those restrictions by September, worrying families of prisoners and correctional officers who work in the prisons. https://bit.ly/3nFV5UC
APNEWS.COM
COVID-19 spikes follow in prisons after inmate transfers
Police agencies from Hawaii to New York have used drones for years, but mostly in simple, manually flown ways. But the latest drone technology is raising civil liberties concerns, especially as drones gain the power to track vehicles and people automatically. https://nyti.ms/38oMjnv
NYTIMES.COM
Police Drones Are Starting to Think for Themselves
When a loved one dies due to the negligent, reckless or deliberate behavior of another, the surviving family members may be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit against that party. This type of lawsuit allows them to collect monetary damages for their loved one's untimely death. #PersonalInjury
THEBALANCE.COM
File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit for Compensation When a Loved One Dies
Most criminal systems in the US divide their crimes into different categories according to the seriousness of the offense. Felonies are the most serious classification of crimes, and may be punishable by prison sentences of a year or longer. A misdemeanor, however, is usually a crime with a jail sentence of a year or less. #CriminalLaw
If you slip and fall in a store, it's important to report the accident to a manager or employee, even if you don't think you were seriously hurt. The extent of your injuries is not always apparent immediately after an accident, and reporting your fall should produce documentation that could be helpful evidence in the event that you bring a personal injury claim.
Penalties for drug offenses vary - from prison time to no conviction at all. The punishment a defendant receives can depend on many factors, including the charge, the drug in question, and the quantity of drugs. A strong defense from an experienced criminal attorney can help you protect your rights and mitigate the severity of drug penalties.
The pandemic has pushed the criminal justice system to reimagine itself a bit, delivering cutting-edge changes that have been lifelines for incarcerated people craving contact with their families. But families of prisoners fear corrections officials will use the technology to replace in-person interactions even after the pandemic ends. https://nbcnews.to/2NqPNPD
NBCNEWS.COM
Zoom funerals, outdoor classes: Jails are evolving amid Covid, but what happens afterward?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result from an impact to the head. Though the signs of TBI may not be immediately apparent, the effects of brain injuries can be far reaching, and may permanently lessen your quality of life. This makes calculating the damages (monetary compensation) tricky for these types of injuries. You'll want to have an experienced personal injury attorney on your side to help make your case so you can recover the compensation you deserve.
If you're found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you could face consequences that include losing your license, paying a fine, or serving jail time. If you've been arrested or charged with impaired driving, a criminal defense attorney can help you decide on the best course of action.
Am I allowed to move if I am on probation or parole?
Before moving, a probationer or parolee must get permission from the court or their probation or parole officer, who considers the reasons for moving and whether the new location allows them to maintain supervision. #CriminalLaw
Typically, when you serve a period of supervised release, you must meet with your parole officer periodically, and abide by the conditions of your release. If you do not, your parole could be revoked, which means you would return to prison.
The Fifth Amendment’s double jeopardy clause prevents defendants from being put on trial more than once for the same offense. A key exception is that separate sovereigns can prosecute defendants for the same criminal acts. For example, if a person commits a single act that violates both federal and state laws, they could face trial in both federal and state courts. #CriminalLaw
Police forces across the U.S. made more than 20,000 requests last year for footage captured by Ring’s “video doorbells” and other home-security cameras, underscoring how the rapid growth of inexpensive home surveillance technology has given American law enforcement an unprecedented ability to monitor neighborhood life. https://wapo.st/38pRIeT
WASHINGTONPOST.COM
Home-security cameras have become a fruitful resource for law enforcement — and a fatal risk
Golf Carts carry “considerable risk of injury and morbidity” to drivers and passengers of all ages, especially kids and older adults, say researchers from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. https://bit.ly/2PuVq01
SAFETYANDHEALTHMAGAZINE.COM
Study finds golf cart-related injuries are common
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a major case testing whether police can enter a home without a warrant when pursuing someone for a minor crime. https://n.pr/3uyguTw
NPR.ORG
The Supreme Court Wrestles With 'Police Chase' That Wasn't
The surge in pet adoptions during the pandemic brought much-needed joy to many families, but doctors are worrying about a downside as well: more dog bites. https://nyti.ms/3sqwGnY
NYTIMES.COM
Got a Pandemic Puppy? Learn How to Prevent Dog Bites
Before a criminal case goes to trial, the prosecutor and the defense have the opportunity to make pretrial motions. These motions can affect many issues at trial, from what evidence can be introduced to which charges will be tried. An experienced attorney can suggest which motions could be useful to your case and file them on your behalf.
The Department of Justice told the U.S. Supreme Court that it thinks low-level crack cocaine offenders should be among the beneficiaries of a federal law that reduced certain prison sentences. #CriminalLaw https://reut.rs/3vLbnQn
REUTERS.COM
Biden reverses course in U.S. Supreme Court drug sentencing case