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Supreme Court Strikes Down Law Banning Sex Offenders from Social Media

Simply being accused of a sex-related offense is enough to derail their life. Sex offender registration laws vary from state to state, but they are almost uniformly tough and restrictive. In many cases, these laws dictate where an individual can live and work. Recently, one state attempted to stop registered sex offenders from using Facebook….

police officer fatality

Another fatal shooting of a police officer in San Antonio has highlighted violence against law enforcement officers in Texas. Last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state flags to be lowered to half-staff in San Antonio to honor Officer Miguel Moreno. He was killed in a shoot-out last Thursday and died a day later. Moreno…

Is the Automation of the Criminal Justice System a Good Thing

Technology often makes life easier, but is it always a good thing? Computers have become such an integral part of daily life that it’s hard to imagine life without them. It’s also hard to believe that just a few decades ago there was no email or internet. Today, however, technology plays a major role in…

Can You Be Charged with Failing to Report a Crime on Facebook Live

The question of mandatory reporting gets murkier when the alleged crime takes place online. The brutal sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl on Facebook Live in March 2017 is raising important questions about whether individuals who view a live stream of a criminal act should be held criminal responsible for failing to report it. According…

Should Texas “Raise the Age” of Criminal Responsibility to 18

Criminal justice experts have stated that treating teenagers as adults in the criminal justice system is detrimental for both the young people involved and the states. In Texas, along with a handful of other states, 17-year-olds accused of criminal offenses are automatically tried as adults. Texas lawmakers have introduced two bills that propose raising the…

fort worth texas logo

Violent crime has been rising in many American cities over the last few years and Texas is no exception. Recent figures for Fort Worth found crime increased by 14 percent and murders were up 69 percent year-on-year. A report on Channel 5 compared crime figures in the first three months of 2017 with those in…

Orlando Fingerprint Examiner Suspended Over Possible Misconduct in 2600 Cases

Florida announced it has suspended a fingerprint examiner for “reasons that aren’t totally clear.” In recent years, the list of widespread misconduct in crime labs across the country has grown inconceivably long. According to a recent Washington Post report, there may be a new item to add to the list. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office…

Report Makes Recommendations for Use of Police Body Cameras

Many police departments have started wearing body cameras that record their encounters with citizens. In recent years, there have been numerous high profile incidents involving allegations of police misconduct that led to the death of a suspect. In response, many police departments have started wearing body cameras that record their encounters with citizens. But how…

victoria neave

A Texas state representative made headlines this month when she was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Dallas was arrested last week and charged with DWI, reported the Texas Tribune. The report said Neave was booked at the Dallas County Jail at 3:30 a.m. Four hours earlier, police received a call about a…

Lawyers Say Thousands of Colorado DUI Convictions Are Unlawful Due to Forgery

Accuracy must rely on the certificates signed by technicians authorized to test the machines and sign off on them. A DUI conviction can have an enormous impact on a person’s life. Getting convicted of drunk driving leaves an individual with a criminal record that follows them from job to job. For people in certain professions,…