The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "illegal searches" ...
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Alleged Illegal Drug Searches and Unlawful Marijuana Arrests by NYPD
A two-part investigative series on marijuana arrests and illegal searches by the New York City Police Department and a look into the city's "Stop and Frisk" policy.
Tags: Marijuana; New York City Police Department; NYPD; Stop and Frisk
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Alleged Illegal Searches & Unlawful Marijuana Arrests by NYPD
The story takes a look into the NYPD's "stop and frisk" policy. The "stop and frisks" are street encounters carried out almost exclusively blacks and Latinos in the city's poorest neighborhoods. The investigation shows that NYPD is likely making false arrests for marijuana possession after recovering marijuana through illegal searches during "stop and frisks."
Tags: stop and frisks; NYPD; police; drugs; radio
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Go Army or Go to Jail
The Commanding General over recruiting for the entire United States Army had made a promise to KHOU: the overly aggressive, even illegal tactics the station uncovered three years earlier would be corrected. The station believed him. Sadly, they discovered they were sorely mistaken. "Go Army or Go to Jail" is a follow-up story but it also broke new ground in the investigation. The investigators uncovered new and illegal tactics the Army uses to force unwilling teenagers to join its ranks and solve a new problem: the number of participants in something called the delayed entry program had dwindled to an all-time low. Some recruiters' solution? To bully, threatened and lie to teenagers and their families in hopes of making mission and meeting quota. Their findings spurred the station to search for and discover what some believe is the very root of Army recruiting abuses that have gone on for years. The investigation contends that the U.S. Army has, quite simply, ignored recommendation after recommendation from the investigative arm of Congress on how the Army could reform.
Tags: U.S. Army; recruiting; investigation; follow-up; Houston; Texas; U.S. Government Accountability Office
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Stripped of Dignity
A reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle, investigates an incident where two women were strip searched at the San Francisco County jail. The women were then held naked in a cold cell for 12 hours. The reporter found out that the sheriff's department was conducting such unwarranted strip searches for years.
Tags: prisoner rights; illegal strip searches; San Francisco Sheriff's Department; Deborah Flick; Mary Bull; San Francisco County jail; safety cell policies
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Strip-Searched
An investigation by WAGA-TV revealed that "a north Georgia sheriff, in one of the state's most popular tourist areas, routinely strip-searched every person brought into his jail, violating the Fourth Amendment rights of thousands of local citizens and tourists. (WAGA-TV) found people strip-searched who hadn't even committed a crime or committed minor traffic violations ranging from no proof of insurance to an improper mudflap."
Tags: Georgia; sheriff; strip-searches; illegal searches; Fourth Amendment; crime; county sheriff; traffic violations; jail; TAPE; TRANSCRIPT.
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Subject to Inspection: Belleville's Housing Code Enforcement
A Belleville News-Democrat investigation revealed that "a Belleville housing code enforcement officer and an armed police officer routinely show up for occupancy permit inspections without a search warrant. When residents refuse to let them enter, the residents are issued tickets, a violation of the Fourth Amendment guarantee against illegal search and seizure. In some cases, these inspections are used as a cover to search for drugs or other criminal activity."
Tags: housing code enforcement; warrant; law; seizure; violation; Fourth Amendment; illegal; search; drugs; crime; search warrant; occupancy permit inspections; Belleville; Illinois
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Soft on Crime Fighters
Crogan investigates the case of L.A. County Deputy District Attorney Richard Ceballos, who is suing his supervisors and former D.A. Gil Garcetti in federal court "claiming they retaliated against him after he alleged that L.A. County Sheriff's deputies made up information to obtain a search warrant in an auto-parts theft case." Ceballos goes on the say that there is a "historical custom and practice in the D.A.'s office to protect and cover up police officer who engage in misconduct." The suit stems from a 1999 incident in which a defense attorney alleged that several sheriff's deputies lied on a search warrant affidavit in the auto-parts case which they subsequently discovered narcotics. Trouble began for Ceballos after he investigated the incident further and took his information to his supervisors. Ceballos claims his supervisors neglected his investigation and "kowtowed" to the department's fear of civil litigation. Ceballos' supervisors maintain they did nothing unethical or illegal and that Ceballos was upset over a missed promotion.
Tags: Criminal Justice; Los Angeles; corruption
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NYPD Strip Searches: Though illegal, practice continues
"A year after the city began keeping records, documents show at least 20 people have sued the city for wrongful strip searches, claiming $57 million in damages. Those strip-searched include people arrested for offenses like driving with a suspended licenses and running a red light.
Tags: radio; CASSETTE TAPE; police; lawsuit; discrimination; civil rights; victims' rights; Dept. of Corrections; illegal strip searches
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NYPD Strip Searches
WNYC-AM/FM reports that "Despite a court ruling outlawing the practice, there is evidence that the New York City Police Department is continuing to illegally strip search New Yorkers who are arrested for misdemeanors. ... Four Fordham University students who were strip searched after jumping a subway turnstile, and ... dozens of lawsuits for illegal strip searches. "
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Probable Cause
This ten-month investigation revealed "how some Louisiana police departments targeting out-of-state motorists for unconstitutional and illegal traffic stops, illegal searches and seizures. The report showed how police were abusing the state's drug asset forfeiture law by using it against innocent people. .. Hidden cameras ... showed how police stopped drivers that had not committed traffic violations then lied about the reason. (The story) uncovered hundreds of cases where police searched and detained motorists without cause, strip-searched women traveling alone, and held some in jail for days. Victims, in particular women and minorities, lost money, property and even their cars while police profited from the seizures. ..."