Justice (courts/crime/law)
NYPD using counterterrorism tactics on lawful citizens
Adam Goldman and Matt Apuzzo, for the Associated Press, report that undercover NYPD officers attended meetings of liberal political organizations and kept intelligence files on activists who planned protests around the country, according to interviews and documents that show how police have used counterterrorism tactics to monitor even lawful activities.
Read MoreNew York’s Freedom of Information Law fails concerned parents
Elmira Star-Gazette reporter Jason Whong showed that despite having the benefit of the newspaper’s archives and knowing where to look and which dates to research, New York’s Freedom of Information and open records law couldn’t help him — or any parent — find much evidence of an accused sexual predator’s history of similar crimes and…
Read MoreJustice program fails to commit nation’s most dangerous sex offenders
Six years ago, the federal government set out to indefinitely detain some of the nation’s most dangerous sex offenders, keeping them locked up even after their prison sentences had ended. But despite years of effort, the government has so far won court approval for detaining just 15 men. Far more often, men the U.S.Justice Department…
Read MoreMilwaukee police fail to follow dept. policy
In an investigation by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reporter Gina Barton found that a Milwaukee man who was in need of medical attention while in police custody was ignored, until it was too late. “The man repeatedly told officers he couldn’t breathe, but no one called an ambulance until he lost consciousness, despite a department…
Read MoreUnregulated Florida summer camps leave children at risk
A six-month Palm Beach Post investigation into unregulated Florida summer camps has revealed that the state’s lax laws have allowed convicted child molesters to get jobs in Florida camps, where they went on to molest still more victims. For every child who was harmed, many more are at risk — especially in the state’s poorest…
Read MoreFlorida police officers face few penalties when they cause crashes
“An investigation by the Orlando Sentinel found that police cars in Florida are crashing at the astonishing rate of 20 a day, resulting, over a five-year period, in thousands of injuries and more than 100 deaths. The findings led to a three-part series, “Collision With the Law,” which began Sunday, Feb. 12.” “Rene Stutzman and…
Read MoreFlorida’s off-duty police caught speeding
“A three-month investigation by the Sun Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale found almost 800 cops from a dozen agencies driving 90 to 130 mph on Florida’s highways. The inquiry, using toll records, found that many officers weren’t on duty but commuting to and from work in their take-home patrol cars.” Following the Sentinel’s report, many police…
Read MoreWA state spends millions to help sex predators avoid lockup
“In a multi-part series, The Seattle Times has found that almost 300 sex offenders in the state of Washington are detained indefinitely in a civil-commitment program. The center protects society from these predators, but is has been plagued by runaway legal costs, a lack of financial oversight and layers of secrecy”
Read MoreSevere flaws in Ohio’s abuse laws
A Columbus Dispatch investigation of domestic violence in 2009 found flaws in Ohio laws and policies that created a culture of tolerance. Two years later, more agencies are reporting more abuse and deaths, yet reform legislation remains stalled.
Read MorePolice raking in thousands for questionable overtime
“The call it “piling on”: Police officers, looking to pad their paychecks with overtime, add their names to arrest reports and other investigative paperwork, no matter how minor their role. Then, when a case arises in court, they get called to testify – and possibly paid overtime.” The Philadelphia Inquirer has learned that this could…
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