Tag: legal analysis
In recent years texting has become one of the main means of communications for millions of people. The expansion of texting apps and social media has also led to a whole new raft of cyber crimes and a headache for law enforcement. But while it can be obvious if a text constitutes harassment or stalking,…
Police in Dallas are investigating whether to charge Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel over allegations that he hit, kidnapped and threatened to kill an ex-girlfriend in Dallas last month. The Dallas Morning News reported that police in hope to wrap up their investigation soon, but they are not sure whether they would immediately arrest the…
Texas’s new “open carry” law came into effect on Jan 1, 2016, sparking considerable discussion about how it will affect the criminal law and the safety of citizens. The new law permits concealed handgun licensees to openly carry a holstered firearm, making Texas the largest state to have this kind of law on its statute…
If you watch any TV show about true crimes or a drama, you’ll often see references to polygraph tests. Given that the criminal justice system relies so heavily on people telling the truth, many people wonder why lie detectors are not used routinely in most cases. However, in Texas as most states, polygraph results are…
A damning report into the way crime is handled in Ferguson, MO., has confirmed that not all local criminal justice systems are equal and some are riddled with bad practices. This month the Justice Department called on Ferguson, Mo., to “overhaul its criminal justice system, declaring that the city had engaged in so many constitutional…
In 2012, there was an angry demonstration in Dallas, Texas when police shot and killed James Harper. Harper, an African American, was shot dead at drug house in the 5300 block of Bourquin Street while, according to Dallas Police Chief David Brown, police were responding to a kidnapping call. These kinds of scenes have dominated…
A summer of civil disturbance in Ferguson, Missouri, after the fatal shooting of a black teenager by a white police officer, appears to have had an effect on how the public view the criminal justice system. A recent survey by the Public Religion Research Institute found Americans of all backgrounds are more likely to see…
As everyone with a passing interest in politics now knows, a special prosecutor in Texas has charged Governor Rick Perry with two felony charges. Those charges are “abuse of official capacity” and “coercion of a public servant.” Because those are not everyday criminal charges like burglary or assault, it is worth taking a look at…