Individuals Involved in U.S. Capitol Breach Facing Multiple Criminal Charges
On January 6, 2021, a group of Americans stormed the U.S. Capitol building. Splashed across newspapers, websites and social media, photos cataloged their assault on the Capitol. By the end of the day, four people died, with a fifth (a Capitol Police officer) succumbing to…
Police Reform Discussions Continue Around the U.S.
As a former Minneapolis police officer was found guilty of the murder of George Floyd, many states across the country continue to propose policing reform bills. Over the past year, at least 36 states have signed measures that would reform police practices. These proposals include…
What Is the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act?
As former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in April, attention has shifted to focus on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Introduced during last year’s Congress session, the George Floyd Justice in Policing…
Virginia about to become first Southern state to ban death penalty
Amid growing debate over the use of the death penalty in the United States, Virginia has decided to abolish its use, joining 22 other states that never have or no longer execute convicted felons. This month, the Democrat-controlled state Senate and state House of Delegates…
Jail costs go up as crime goes down
Even as crime rates decreased and the numbers of people in jail went down, the costs of jails maintained by local governments increased, going over $25 billion in the latest available data, according to a recent report from The Pew Charitable Trusts. More recently, though,…
Is video surveillance Constitutional? Court opinions vary.
Video surveillance of the public on our streets, in our places of work, in stores and even from our front doors is becoming ubiquitous, and in the views of some, dangerous. The perceived threat to Constitutionally protected privacy rights are the focus of a growing…
Russian hack affecting federal courts
The massive Russian hack of government systems is having an effect on federal courts, where some are worried that steps taken in response may compromise public access to court proceedings, according to the Associated Press. Security experts have been warning that U.S. courts are vulnerable…
Coronavirus relief funds targeted by criminals
While people across the country struggled to pay their bills and lined up at food banks to feed their families, authorities say, some crooks struck it rich and took advantage of federal aid funds to buy luxury items and pay personal expenses. A COVID-19 relief…
Evidence of war crimes and more lost as social media companies scrub posts
Social media platforms work to remove offensive and criminal posts and photographs from their sites for obvious reasons. But in the process, these platforms are hindering the work of investigators seeking to prosecute war criminals, pedophile rings and other crimes against humanity, according to a…
Separate trials in George Floyd case could help co-defendants
The recent ruling by District Judge Peter Cahill to hold a separate trial for Derek Chauvin, the ranking Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd’s death, may make a subsequent trial more favorable for the other three officers involved. The move, a reversal from an…