Month: September 2022
Could tech company spying on your data lead to criminal trouble?
Companies like Google, Apple and Facebook sometimes know more personal information about us than certain family and friends. And while big tech companies are quick to point out how they are keeping our data safe from others who may be trying to access it, they omit the fact that our...
How a DUI might impact your job prospects
If you are charged with driving while intoxicated in New Jersey, you may face a range of consequences. In addition to any legal sanctions that you might be subject to, a drunk driving conviction may also cause a significant interruption to your career. There are many ways in which being...
New Jersey’s highest court reaffirms Fourth Amendment protections
We have previously written on this blog about the protocol for conducting law enforcement searches. Generally speaking, for a search to be considered legal, police must obtain a search warrant, issued by a judge, based on probable cause that a crime has been committed. If police were allowed to search...
New Jersey Will Soon Enact Important Jury Selection Reforms
The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees anyone accused of a crime the right to a trial by a fair and impartial jury. Many believe that to be fair and impartial, the makeup of the jury (gender, race, socioeconomic status, etc.) should reflect the general population of the area....
Rethinking sex offender registries, especially for young offenders
In theory, sex offender registries are a useful and important tool for public safety. They are meant to make it easy for members of a community to know when a dangerous repeat sex offender is living among them. For this reason, sweeping legislation like “Megan’s Law” have widespread public support...
Brain science raises questions about charging young offenders
When does someone become an adult, capable of making adult decisions and fully responsible for the consequences when they make poor choices? In the United States, the number that we’ve chosen is age 18. This is the age of legal adulthood in most respects. But should it be? As brain...
Is body language a good crime-solving tool? Science says no.
You’ve likely watched police procedural shows in which a body language expert is able to tell that someone is hiding something. You may have seen books about “how to spot a liar,” or even TED Talks about how to use your own body language to control the messages you are...
Rates of speeding and risky driving remain high nationwide
Although The Covid-19 pandemic isn’t technically over, life has largely returned to normal for many Americans. But certain things associated with the pandemic haven’t gone away. It is still common to see people wearing masks. It is still protocol to sanitize surfaces in many public places. And, perhaps oddest of...
Judge sends mixed messages on use of controversial search tactic
The technology we all carry around in our pockets has made it easier than ever for businesses and the government to invade our privacy. One of the strongest examples of government privacy intrusion is what is known as a “geofence warrant.” Use of this investigative tactic has been controversial, and...
Prosecutors slowly move away from trying teens as adults in court
There are two criminal justice systems in the United States: one for adults and another for minors. The principle underlying the juvenile justice system is that children are still developing, which means they should be considered less culpable for the things they do wrong and more capable of reform. Unfortunately,...