Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Sassing Off in Court
When you’re in front of a judge in a courtroom, you may have 101 things running through your head that you’d just love to say. But regardless of the situation, it’s advisable not to spout off. That’s in spite of what you may hear about Donald Trump’s sass in court. Mr. Trump’s Behavior In… Read More »
Civil Forfeiture is a Problem
Civil forfeiture is something that occurs with regularity across the country, but because so many jurisdictions don’t provide accurate records of their activity, it’s impossible to state the amount of money/property we’re talking about with any specificity. But let’s be clear: governments pocket billions of dollars this way. What Exactly is Civil Forfeiture? When… Read More »
Is a Change of Venue Worth Considering?
When facing criminal charges, a change of venue may be appropriate in some circumstances. What are those situations, what are the benefits of venue change? Is it something worth considering in your criminal case? When is a Change of Venue Request Appropriate? There are limited reasons for which a change of venue may be… Read More »
When Testifying is Dangerous: The Witness Protection Program
The U.S. Marshals have been charged with operating the federal Witness Protection Program in order to provide new identities to individuals who face the possibility of retribution when testifying against organized crime groups like the Mafia, for example, who terrorize communities and are involved in significantly violent crimes. The government understands that cooperation can… Read More »
Help! I’ve Just Been Charged with a Felony!
If you’ve been charged with a crime and arrested, you are no doubt feeling alarmed. What’s next for you? Should you cooperate with police to demonstrate your innocence? Should you do whatever it takes to get out of custody? No and no! If you are facing felony charges, your first steps have a monumental… Read More »
The Use of Deadly Force by Federal Officers
Numerous federal agencies are tasked with protecting the public. They include the FBI, ATF, DEA, and Federal Marshals. And while they do put a lot of bad actors away, they have been responsible for more than 150 fatalities and 80 injuries in a period of just five years. That leads to questions about just… Read More »
Police Transparency a Must
If you think of police as part of the community, you realize that there is a social contract that requires trust of law enforcement among community members. How is such trust achieved? Many experts believe the key is in transparency. Practical Implications More than four in ten Americans report a declining perception of police… Read More »
Justice vs. Black Box Technologies
More and more these days, law enforcement depends on artificial intelligence (AI) in the pursuit of criminals or in making determinations on how to move forward with investigations, or even with how to determine the best punishments for convicted individuals. What’s also more common is the fact that AI algorithms are increasingly complex and/or… Read More »
Can I Live Stream a Police Interaction?
We’ve all seen countless videos of police manhandling citizens who were allegedly involved in criminal activity. Such chronicles, generally recorded by concerned bystanders, have alerted the public to the unnecessary use of force by officers across the country. Beyond simply videotaping arrests and other police interactions with the public, is it legal to actually… Read More »
A Trend That’s Dangerous: Swatting
A recent trend is raising alarm bells among citizens and police alike: swatting. According to the FBI Las Vegas Field Office, swatting is actually a type of harassment that involves deceiving providers of emergency services so that they send special response teams to an address under the impression that an emergency is under way…. Read More »
