The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Customs and Border Protection Agency are working together to combat a new trend of drug traffickers who fool seniors into becoming international drug mules. Traffickers either forge a relationship with seniors or promise inheritance or other monetary incentives. In targeting the elderly, traffickers hope that the drugs […]
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Recently, Governor Cuomo announced that he will be pardoning New Yorkers who were convicted of non-violent crimes when they were minors and have not committed another crime in a ten year period. Currently, 48 states in the nation have adopted the “Raise the Age Campaign,” a movement that purports 16 and 17 year olds should […] As many of us know, criminal law and the justice system is often depicted in popular television and movies. Viewers know what they will see: forensic experts and a bit of drama. Although it seems glamorous, real life is not as straightforward and trustworthy. In a criminal case, the expert’s knowledge must be examined. Attorneys […] Recently, more citizens are shooting video footage on their cell phones of police misconduct, showing use of excessive force when police interact with minorities. The police often claim that the use of unprovoked excessive force is an isolated incident caused by a few police officers. Currently, police data on use of excessive force is based […] The criminal justice system aims to be fair and protect citizens’ rights, but sometimes at the cost of violating their civil liberties. The criminal justice system starts with the police—the frontrunners in protecting the accused individual’s rights. These include the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney derived from the 5th Amendment […] In criminal prosecutions, it is the defendant’s choice whether he or she wishes to waive the right to a jury trial. This is a right constitutionally protected in both state and federal courts during criminal prosecutions. If a criminal defendant waives the right to a trial by jury, the trial will be conducted by a […] In order for the police to effect a valid arrest, they must first have what is referred to as “probable cause.” This means that a police officer has an actual reason to arrest a person. A mere “hunch” that the suspect committed a crime does not suffice. Instead, a police officer must conclude, given the […] |
