When undergoing litigation, criminal defendants are given the power to invoke and use their constitutional right to cross-examine accusers. This is a right that is specifically stated in the Confrontation Clause. This clause is quite logical since it is understood that when an individual is put on trial, his future and freedom are at riskRead More
Category: Legislation
Prison Escapees and the Right to Use Deadly Force
An incident involving two convicted New York prisoners who escaped from a maximum security jail brought much attention to the issue on how far an enforcer’s right to use deadly force against escapees could go. Out of the two escapees mentioned above, one ended up dead after being shot by the pursuing officers. The otherRead More
Jailhouse Informant Testimony: Issues on Evidence Admissibility
When defendants are declared guilty of committing a capital crime, they are either sentenced to live the rest of their lives in prison, or they are quite literally killed by the state. There is so much at stake involved in capital crimes. A jury must therefore exercise utmost care in pronouncing a defendant guilty, especiallyRead More
Is There a Need for Internet Access in Prisons?
Without access to the internet, convicts released from their prison sentence find it hard to integrate themselves back to a community that continued to exist without them. Their participation in the civilian community is put in jeopardy because they are made so unaware of changes in the world. Deprived of the online world, these prisonersRead More
Crawford v. Marion County Election Bd., 128 S. Ct. 1610 | Case Brief
CASE: Crawford v Marion County Election Board. 553 U.S . 181 (2008) FACTS: An Indiana statute of 2005 required voters voting in person to produce a photo ID on the election day. In case a voter failed to meet this requirement and wanted their votes counted, then they had to cast a provisional ballot andRead More
Sponsored Legislation By The Foundation For Advancing Alcohol Responsibility
The Foundation For Advancing Alcohol Responsibility is an organization that seeks to eliminate drunk driving in America. It is involved in research and policy development regarding underage drinking, teen driver safety and healthy lifestyles. In addition, they hold community events to campaign against driving while under the influence of alcohol. The Foundation also participates inRead More
Drivers Must Possess “Actual Knowledge” of a Motor Accident to be Found Guilty of Charges in a Hit-and-Run Case
The Florida Supreme Court recently ruled that drivers must possess “actual knowledge” of a motor accident to be found guilty of charges in a hit-and-run case. Zachariah Dorsett hit a teenager with his heavy pickup, after the teen fell off a skateboard into the road. Mr. Dorsett was pulled over and arrested by police roughly threeRead More
What Kinds of Testimonial Privileges Do We Have In a Criminal Case?
Do we have any privileges that will prevent people from testifying against us in a criminal case? While most people are aware of, or partially understand the rights afforded to them, including the protection from self-incrimination, it is less commonly known that there are laws that can aid an individual in preventing others from testifyingRead More
Oklahoma Senator Proposes New Law Banning DUI Offenders from Purchasing Alcohol
DUI – “Alcohol Restricted”? Senator Patrick Anderson of Oklahoma, has recently introduced a new bill allowing courts to ban those individuals who have been convicted of DUI from purchasing any form of alcohol for a certain amount of time. If this law is passed, those caught and convicted of DUI will have to carry aRead More
Additional 3 Months for Beach Place
Fort Lauderdale declared Beach Place, a popular outdoor mall in front of the beach on A1A, a nuisance to the city due to reported drug dealing and various other criminal activities in and around the bars and outlet shops of Beach Place. Lee Feldman, the Fort Lauderdale City Manager, threatened possible closure of the retail complexRead More