News & Information
Leaf Blower Movie Theater Prank Could Lead to Criminal Charges
Falsely yelling “fire” in a crowded movie theater is one of the few items not covered under free speech laws in the U.S. This act could cause an entire audience of people to act in fear and could bring great harm to movie-goers. But shouting “fire” isn’t the only act in a movie theater that could lead to criminal charges. Incidents of shootings at movie theaters have been in the…
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Are Drug-Sniffing Dogs Accurate?
Any time Timmy fell into the well, we could count on his dog Lassie to alert the proper people in order to save him. However, Lassie was a TV character. What happens when dogs are counted on when someone’s life is on the line in real life? The accuracy of drug-sniffing dogs used by police has come into question of late. A recent court ruling could help create the foundation…
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How Prison Realignment Gave Thousands the Right to Vote
When Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bills 109 and 107 in 2011, more commonly referred to as “prison realignment”, many expected sweeping changes in the way that California dealt with its prison population. The legislation was part of an effort to reform the way that non-violent and non-sex o ffenders are sentenced for their crimes, as well as how they are supervised post-release.1 There is a new, somewhat unexpected outcome…
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Orange County Crime Lab Using New Fingerprint Detection Technology
Recently, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Crime Laboratory began its official rollout of a new fingerprint identification system. Known as Morpho Biometric Identification Solution (or MorphoBIS), this technology can be used to identify people from not only fingerprints, but from palmprints and any other location on the hand. Developed by electronics company MorphoTrak, the MorphoBIS began as an entry in a government procurement competition. MorphoTrak already supplies the Federal Bureau…
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Orange County District Attorney’s Misconduct Could Change Use of Jailhouse Informants
According to a recent report by the Daily Journal, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office has decided to amp up oversight of the use of jailhouse informants. The criminal justice system in Orange County has been under a microscope the past few months. The District Attorney’s Office has come under fire recently for numerous possible legal and ethical violations that have been widely reported in the media. Orange County District…
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Failing Grades: Police Use of Deadly Force on the Rise
Mike Brown of Ferguson, Missouri. Tamir Rice and Tanisha Anderson of Cleveland, Ohio. Eric Garner of Staten Island, New York. Walter Scott of North Charleston, South Carolina. These are five names and five cities that you may have heard in the news over the last year. These people have one thing in common, and it is the manner in which they died – at the hands of law enforcement officers.…
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California’s Backlog of Mentally Ill Defendants
According to a recent report by the LA Times, California is experiencing a backlog of mentally ill and developmentally disabled defendants who have been ruled incompetent to stand trial. The problem is reportedly directly related to a lack of funding and resources to appropriately treat the mentally ill. There are simply not enough beds to house the hundreds of defendants declared mentally incompetent.1 As a result, many mentally ill and…
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New Initiative Would Fine Transgender People Thousands for Choosing the Wrong Public Toilet
A new ballot initiative in California could make using a public restroom awkward for most and very expensive for many. This trans-phobic initiative would force transgender people to choose a restroom in all public buildings, including public schools, colleges, and universities, based on their biological sex. If the transgender person uses a public restroom based on their gender identity, they could be fined a minimum of $4,000 by every individual…
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Should Water Wasters Be Hung Out to Dry?
If you have been living in California for the past few years, you know that one of the biggest problems in the state is a prolonged period of drought. While it may rain from time to time, these little showers are merely a drop in the bucket, and will not come close to solving California’s water crisis. The severity of the drought has gotten the attention of lawmakers. Governor Jerry…
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The Right to Die: Is California Next to Legalize Physician-Assisted Suicide? (PC 401)
It is a heart-breaking story. A 29-year-old woman learns that she has terminal brain cancer. Her doctors tell her that she has six months to live at most. Seeing a future filled with seizures and unbearable migraines, she decides that the best option is to decide that she will die on her own terms. The problem? Her home state of California does not give her the option of seeking the…
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