DOJ Puts Forth Plan to Fix Problems at Crime Labs- But It’s Not Enough When prosecutors present evidence in court, the evidence should be accurate, as a defendant’s future hangs in the balance. Much of the evidence that prosecutors present comes from crime labs, which conduct testings of DNA, do hair analyses, and evaluate a […]
READ MOREUnderstanding Hate Crime Laws
It is a longstanding principle that people should not be punished for bad thoughts, but only for bad actions. A person can think about breaking the law, but should only be charged with an offense when a step is taken towards violating the law as people cannot be punished for thought crimes. There is, however, […]
READ MOREMADD Pushes for Nationwide Interlock Systems
The Associated Press notes today that Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has kicked off a campaign to encourage all states to pass laws requiring “breath-test interlock devices” in the cars of people who have been convicted once of drunken driving. “Only New Mexico has such a law for first offenders; 45 states and the District of Columbia […]
READ MOREI Believe: 100 Words on Why Drug Policy Reform Matters
Drug policy is a complicated issue. Is there anything anybody can say in 100 words that would make you change your mind about the way we deal with drugs? Here’s my stab at it. What’s yours? I believe that America needs to change the way it deals with drugs. The war on drugs has made America […]
READ MORE“Drowning baby” con: Grandfather robbed after heroism
A sickening and bizarre con duped a grandfather into wading for, what he thought was a drowning baby. The scam happened near Portsmouth in Hampshire, UK on Wednesday at 10:30 in the morning. Abandoning his coat to jump into the water the thieves made off with £100 and some tobacco. The grandfather, John White, 48, […]
READ MOREIllegal Gambling
Online Fantasy Sports Constitute Illegal Gambling in New York In the state of New York, Article 225 of the Penal Code addresses crimes related to gambling. Gambling is defined to include risking something of value upon the outcome of a future contingent event that is not under your control with the understanding that something of […]
READ MOREJamar Pinkney Sr. Shoots his teen son over alleged sex abuse of toddler
A Michigan father, Jamar Pinkney Sr, 37, is accused of killing his son after learning the 15-year-old teen may have sexually abused a 3-year-old toddler. The father played both judge, jury and executioner in this bizarre real life story. Jamar Pinkney Sr was enraged after learning his teen son Jamar Pinkney Jr. had, “inappropriate contact” […]
READ MOREThe Cato Debate Continues: Caulkins on Prohibition Alternatives
Jonthan Caulkins has a post up at Cato Unbound today responding to the essay on responsible psychoactive use I noted yesterday. It’s a defense of the status quo around drug law, but it’s quite thoughtful. Even so, I don’t think Caulkins is making a sincere effort to consider the alternatives to prohibition. He notes that […]
READ MOREPeople v. Timms: CA 2d on Voluntary Intoxication
California Penal Code section 22, which “sets forth the general principle in this state that a criminal act is not rendered less criminal because a person commits the act in a state of voluntary intoxication,” does not violate a criminal defendant’s right to due process, the California Second District Court of Appeal held Monday in […]
READ MOREOf Alcohol Inhalers and Strong Marijuana
What do “alcohol inhalers” – devices that allow individuals to inhale alcohol vapor, and thereby get drunk without experiencing any hangover – have to do with the much touted increasing strength of marijuana ? Just this: that our society has been able to draw a distinction between the legal and responsible use of alcohol, which […]
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