The nation’s police seem to feel uncomfortable with the fact that they are now under constant scrutiny. The scrutiny they are under is not by their internal investigations departments or by their supervisory agencies, but by the public. We do…
Author: John Floyd
2016
Category: Appeals | Federal Criminal Law
There are more than 10,000 registered sex offenders in the State of Colorado.
In 1992, lawmakers in Colorado created the Sex Offender Management Board (“SOMA”), charging it with the task of developing and implementing “standards” for the assessment, evaluation,…
2016
The current presidential election campaign has awakened the racial divide in this country. And it’s not a pretty sight. The latest example of this divide is the controversy swirling around the “fist salute” given by 16 graduating African-American female cadets…
2016
Category: Cyber Crimes | Internet Sex Crimes | terrorism
Let us make one thing clear: law enforcement does not, nor will it ever, respect an individual’s right to privacy. The police in this country, and throughout the world, believe they have an inherent right—one rooted in the need to…
2016
Category: Criminal Law | DWI
Currently pending before the Supreme Court are consolidated cases from Minnesota and North Dakota—under the title of Birchfield v. North Dakota—that could significantly change the way states deal with suspected drunk drivers.
The question before the Court is this:…
2016
Category: Federal Criminal Law | federal Sentencing | Weapon Crimes
The Armed Career Criminal Act of 1984 (“ACCA”) is the federal equivalent of the “three strikes” or “repeat offender” laws now in place in at least 28 states in this country. The ACCA was enacted during the Reagan administration which…
2016
You know there is a need for “reform” when all sides of the political spectrum join forces in demanding it. The staggering expense of incarceration has compelled both liberal and conservative elected officials and advocacy groups to stand together in…
2016
Category: Federal Criminal Law | federal Sentencing | Immigration Crimes
Federal sentencing is a complex process.
The U.S. Supreme Court on April 20, 2016 was forced to confront a conflict among the federal circuits in their review of federal sentences. Their decision was handed down in the case of…
2016
Category: Criminal Law
We recently posted a piece about bail which is an essential component of our criminal justice system but which is too often abused by those in charge of running it. What we did not discuss in that piece are the…
2016
Category: Appeals | White Collar Crime
Corruption came into being the moment mankind learned that a few men could hold sway over most other men. It became known as power—the powerful few controlling the lives, even the very existence, of the powerless majority. It didn’t take…