Tag: police

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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,…

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Jails are often labelled mental health facilities because so many people with psychological problems are incarcerated in them. More than half of all of the prisoners in the United States suffer from a mental health problem, according to a 2006 Justice Department study. Among female inmates, the figure is almost three-quarters. Jails are not 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…

The behavior of police officers has come under scrutiny in recent months in Missouri, New York and Baltimore. While Texas has not seen high profile cases like these places, there is no shortage of scandals involving police in the Lone Star State. Recently, the Star-Telegram reported on how a former Grapevine police officer who admitted…

In Texas skipping school can be a criminal offense for students. However, that may change if a bill approved this month by the Senate makes it onto the statute books. The Star-Telegram reported on how skipping school in Texas would no longer be a crime for students if a bill which was approved 26-5 by…

police brutality

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…

police brutality

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…

Public officials can face numerous criminal charges that would not be brought against members of the public. But there is often a gray area in these matters as demonstrated recently when Texas Governor Rick Perry was indicted by a grand jury on abuse of power charges. He strongly denied the charges. City Council members can…

GPS tracking devices were used in stolen phones to track down two robbery suspects in Dallas, according to media reports. The Dallas Morning News reported a robbery at an AT&T store in the 8500 block of Abrams Road, when police are said to have tracked the suspects and apprehended a car. The suspects were accused…