Rodney C. is an interesting guy. He's a veteran who has a North Carolina concealed-carry permit who wanted to carve out an unusual position for himself in modern law enforcement. He apparently sees himself as a defender of the Constitution -- a "private attorney...
Month: February 2018
Report: Police using secret tips from feds and hiding the source
The respected non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch has just released a report claiming that federal agencies are tipping off local law enforcement with information obtained through constitutionally questionable techniques. And, since evidence obtained in...
AG Sessions opposes bipartisan sentencing reform bill
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has just made his opposition to a bipartisan sentencing reform bill clear. Calling the legislation a "grave error," he said the proposed changes would reduce the sentences of "a highly dangerous cohort of criminals."The primary...
Judge tosses Alford plea of wrongfully convicted man
Demetrius Smith always insisted he was not involved in the 2008 shooting he was convicted of. He never agreed to plead guilty. He entered what is known as an "Alford plea," which is essentially a no contest plea. The defendant maintains his or her innocence while...
Less time for drug crimes cuts criminal justice race disparities
An unfortunate fact about our criminal justice system is that minorities are frequently sentenced to more time for the same crimes as whites. In the U.S., African-Americans, for example, make up 13.3 percent of the population but account for 38 percent of people...
Some exonerees remain legally guilty due to ‘Alford’ pleas
When evidence of a convicted person's actual innocence comes forward, we imagine that prosecutors immediately ask a judge to void the conviction and release the defendant. We imagine the judge apologizing on behalf of the state. Later, depending on the circumstances,...
Recorded interrogations protect defendant’s rights
Journalist Robert Draper writes in the current issue of National Geographic about "surveillance creep," the seemingly unchecked proliferation of closed-circuit cameras by municipalities for law enforcement and security purposes. According to Draper, New York has...
Faulty forensic science contributes to improper convictions
Launched by CBS in 2000, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" has been called the most successful television series of all time. Between the original series, which ran for five seasons, and spinoffs that include "CSI: Miami," "CSI: NY" and "CSI: Cyber," the TV brand has...