Homecoming is a time to cut loose, cheer on your school's football team and show your school pride at campus events and private parties. No one thinks it will end with criminal charges and possible expulsion from college. Unfortunately for some college students, that...
Month: October 2015
New DHS policy guideline raises issue of privacy in criminal investigations, P.3
We've been discussing in our last couple posts the recent change in policy announced by the Department of Homeland Security concerning the use of cell site simulator devices. With the change in policy, investigators must now--at least in most cases--demonstrate to a...
New DHS policy guideline raises issue of privacy in criminal investigations, P.2
Last time, we began speaking about a change in the Department of Homeland Security's policy regarding cell site simulators. Specifically, investigators are now required to obtain warrants to use the devices. The policy is certainly an improvement over previous...
New DHS policy guideline raises issue of privacy in criminal investigations, P.1
Law enforcement officers and agencies have a great deal of power when it comes to investigating suspected criminal activity. As we frequently point out, though, there are definite limits on investigators’ ability to search persons and property and to seize...
“Retrograde extrapolation” in DUI prosecution, P.2
In our previous post, we began speaking about a technique sometimes used by prosecutors to estimate the blood alcohol content of a drunken driving defendant. As we mentioned, accurate retrograde extrapolation of blood alcohol content depends on a number of...
“Retrograde extrapolation” in DUI prosecution, P.1
For police officers, time is of the essence when it comes to getting an accurate reading of a suspected drunken driver’s blood alcohol content. Because alcohol dissipates in the blood, officers ordinarily work to get a suspect tested as soon as possible after arrest....
When mental illness is a factor in criminal defense, P.2
In our last post, we began speaking about the issue of mental illness as a factor in criminal cases, and potential ways to resolve cases in light of mental illness. As we mentioned, the criminal system in Maryland can and does make use of programs aimed at addressing...
Keep Your BAC In Check During The Baltimore Craft Beer Festival
The seasons are changing, and Oktoberfest and Halloween are upon us. It's also the time of year when many craft beer celebrations are held in Baltimore and throughout the state - this Saturday is the annual Baltimore Craft Beer Festival.While it's the perfect time of...
When mental illness is a factor in criminal defense, P.1
It is no secret that prisons in the United States are filled with people who struggle with various mental illnesses. In a way, this is unfortunate. It isn’t necessarily that those with mental illnesses should never be incarcerated. Truly, in a certain percentage of...
Baltimore Police Department wrapped up in stop-and-frisk debacle, P.2
In our last post, we mentioned the recent news that documentation of a stop-and-frisk cited as a model example by Commisioner Anthony Batts back in 2013 is now missing. As we noted, there is currently an internal investigation to determine what happened to records of...