Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Who Benefits From Cash Bail Reform?
There seems to be widespread resistance to the elimination of cash bail, largely because people believe it will lead to a jump in crime. But the facts simply do not support such a conclusion. Bail reform does not mean, after all, the total elimination of bail! Rather, it gives a judge the ability to… Read More »
What Invalidates A Search Warrant’s Findings?
The recent search of former President Trump’s property at Mar Lago has tongues wagging. Did the FBI have the right to search the premises? Who approved the warrant, and was it valid? If Trump’s property can be searched and materials seized, how safe are the rest of us from searches? It’s worthwhile to understand… Read More »
Defending Conspiracy Charges
If you’ve been even thinking about committing a crime with someone else, you are getting close to legal jeopardy. The minute you put those thoughts into words, you’ve committed conspiracy, and in Nevada, that is a serious crime. Nevada Law According to Nevada statute, planning to commit an illegal activity can lead to criminal… Read More »
What Is A Special Master And Why Might You Need One?
The battle over seized documents from former president Donald Trump’s Mar a Lago resort continues to dominate headlines. Now, it seems, the Trump legal team has succeeded in convincing a judge that a special master should be appointed to comb through documents. What is the role of a special master, and when might a… Read More »
When Doing The Crime Leads To Paying The Fine For Juveniles
When you do the crime you gotta pay the fine. Makes sense, right? After all, when teens get caught up in illegal activities, they often result in costly outcomes that impact victims. It’s only fair to expect those juveniles to pay up and reduce the burden on their victims, right? Unfortunately, as logical as… Read More »
Problems With Federal Prisons’ Decision To Scan Personal Mail
When someone is sent to prison, it’s because they’ve been found guilty of a crime and it’s been determined that they owe a debt to society. Prisoners endure many restrictions and supervision—and rightly so. But at what point does prisoner surveillance go too far? We may be finding out in federal prisons. Introducing MailGuard… Read More »
Running To Your Death
The numbers tell the story: it is never a good idea to try to flee from the police. That’s because about one out of every three fatal police shootings involve individuals who were trying to evade an arrest. Surely, an arrest would be a better outcome than a shot in the back. When is… Read More »
Mental Health Issues Impacting Justice
Prisons and jails across the country are filled with individuals who suffer from mental health issues. That’s right, over half of individuals in prisons and more than two-thirds of those in jails suffer from mental health problems. Is there a better way? What We Know According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) incarcerated… Read More »
The Miscarriage Of Justice Is Real: Consider These Cases
Finding justice in America can be difficult. Although some may believe the miscarriage of justice in this country ended with the Salem witch trials or mob lynchings in early America, the facts prove otherwise. In a system filled with humans, some lazy, some corrupt, some naïve, and some simply prone to errors—the opportunities for… Read More »
When Veterans Experience Police Interactions
Veterans of any war have sacrificed everything to protect America. Yet after being deployed once, twice, or even many more times, they come home facing multiple hurdles in rebuilding their lives. One of those hurdles is a bit of a surprise to some: military veterans are arrested at higher rates than other Americans. Why… Read More »
