criminal law

A disturbing sex trend called 'stealthing' is on the rise

A disturbing sex trend called ‘stealthing’ is on the rise ‘Stealthing’ is the non-consensual removal a condom during sex. Alexandra Brodsky’s article in the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law [PDF] is powerful, nuanced and well-presented. And I, too, can be powerful, …

New Orleans: an unethical District Attorney and an overworked Public Defender

Prosecuted by her legal counterpart: ‘It destroyed my life in so many ways’ This DA should resign, now: At least six defense attorneys and investigators say they faced threats of criminal charges by the Orleans parish district attorney for doing their jobs, the Guardian has found. Since …

Mentally incompetent Utah man dies in hospital after jail episode left him paralyzed

Mentally incompetent Utah man dies in hospital after jail episode left him paralyzed Is this the kind of country where we let mental illness go untreated to the point where someone in jail for fighting with a couple of cops is effectively allowed to commit suicide, while on suicide watch? Jail video …

U.S. directs agents to cover up program used to investigate Americans

U.S. directs agents to cover up program used to investigate AmericansJohn Shiffman and Kristina Cooke, reporting for Reuters Washington bureau: The undated documents show that federal agents are trained to “recreate” the investigative trail to effectively cover up where the information originated, …

Christmas in jail

Christmas in jailJohn Futty, reporting for The Columbus Dispatch in Ohio: Judge Michael J. Holbrook placed Young on probation yesterday for five years and ordered that she spend a minimum of three days in jail each Christmas while on probation. This made me smile. Now, crime is bad, and Christmas …

Norwegian rape victim Marte Deborah Dalelv "pardoned" by UAE

Norwegian rape victim Marte Deborah Dalelv “pardoned” by UAEI wrote yesterday about Ms. Dalelv’s 16-month sentence for sex outside marriage, among other absurd charges to levy against a victim of rape, in the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. I’m happy to report that, according …

Dubai: Where rape is only a crime if you're the victim

Dubai: Where rape is only a crime if you’re the victimUpdate: she has been “pardoned.” A Norwegian woman was raped, reported it to police, and was charged and convicted of extramarital sex, drinking alcohol, and perjury. She was sentenced to 16 months in jail. For being raped. And that’s three …

Witness intimidation reform on the horizon in Philadelphia

Witness intimidation reform on the horizon in PhiladelphiaThe Philadelphia Inquirer’s Craig R. McCoy reports on a recent special commission report on the problem and some suggested solutions. In a city where street wisdom warns that “snitches get stitches,” this is an encouraging development.

Nebraska court strikes down restrictions on internet use for sex offenders on free speech grounds

Nebraska court strikes down restrictions on internet use for sex offenders on free speech groundsProfessor David Post of Temple Law served as an expert for the plaintiffs — yes, sex offenders — in this case. His focus, as he points out in his Volokh Conspiracy post, was on the overbroad nature of …