Author: Mick Mickelsen
There are a host of famous — or infamous, depending on your perspective — RICO Act cases throughout U.S. legal history. The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act is a federal statute that has been around since 1970. It makes headlines every now and then in the news when federal law enforcement officials and…
There are definite possible outcomes and it’s important to be aware of them. No matter what kind of case you’re facing, being charged with a crime is a scary experience. It’s normal to have a lot of questions, and to worry about the possible outcomes in your case. Will this affect your career? Will you…
The company behind police tasers is introducing a body camera that will enable police to “anticipate criminal activity.” Several years ago, Steven Spielberg made a movie called “Minority Report,” in which police officers in the future used technology to predict crimes. They were able to “see” crimes before they happened, and they arrested the future…
This is not the first time investigators have used technology to discredit a suspect’s story. Fitness trackers like the Fitbit have become popular in recent years. People use them to monitor their heart rate, keep track of how many steps they take, and help them get more restful sleep. Recently, a woman’s Fitbit may have…
Is taunting police officers a criminal offense? Most people know what’s legal and which types of behavior will get you arrested. If you rob a bank, for example, you’re going to get charged with theft. If you punch someone in a bar, you can count on being taken into custody for assault. However, some allegedly…
Just a handful of states have specific laws that address looting. The flooding and devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey will affect Houston and greater Texas for years to come. As people slowly begin to return to their homes and rebuild, prosecutors in Harris County and the surrounding areas have already pursued looting charges against 14…
This would give police departments the authority to use drones outfitted with weapons which they could use to inflict deadly force on citizens. It may sound like something out of a science fiction movie, but weaponized drones may soon be hitting the skies — at least in Connecticut. Lawmakers in Connecticut have introduced a bill…
In a recent New York case, the court ruled against social media giant Facebook over bulk search warrants. There is no question that the internet has forever changed privacy rules. Because the pace of technology moves much faster than the law, courts are often challenged to make decisions about how the law applies to internet…
Many officers aren’t aware Tasers have the potential to kill. Tasers are often touted by police as a lower level of force than handguns, however, a 2017 Reuters report reveals that Tasers have caused over 1,000 deaths in the United States. Although many people use “Taser” and “stun gun” interchangeably, only stun guns require direct…
Is DNA evidence the most foolproof way to determine if someone has committed a crime? If you watch a lot of crime dramas on television, or you’re a fan of detective novels, you might believe that DNA evidence is the most foolproof way to determine if someone has committed a crime. Furthermore, you wouldn’t be…