Recent Blog Posts
Achieving Real Police Reform in Nevada
With all the discussion of police reform these days, it’s worth homing in on what the real work behind such reforms might look like. Police are empowered to do their jobs through various laws on the books, which in turn lead to the creation of policies in police departments across the state of Nevada…. Read More »
The Mandate for Civil Rights and Justice Reform
Ballot measures across the nation have demanded reforms to long entrenched laws that unfairly punish people of color and other minority groups. The challenges to these decades-old policies have strong public support, with nearly 70 percent of Americans in favor of overhauling the criminal justice system. What measures should such an overhaul encompass, and… Read More »
Qualified Immunity Here to Stay? Maybe not!
Qualified immunity (QI) has been the subject of heated debate in this country for years, never more than in 2020 as the public has reacted with disgust to blatant acts of police misconduct. It’s worth revisiting the legal implications, the reality, and the future of the doctrine now. The Law In 1982 the Supreme… Read More »
Understand Your Rights When Getting Pulled Over
It’s happened to most of us: you’re on the road with no particular worries on your mind, when suddenly a knot of apprehension lodges in your gut: those all-too-familiar red and blue lights are flashing in the rear-view mirror. This time, it’s not some stranger being pursued by the police. This time, you’re the… Read More »
Racial Profiling
The crime of “driving while black” has had much discussion of late. As anyone of color can attest, it certainly does feel as though dark skin coincides with a higher incidence of police contact. Here in Nevada, the data is scant, although some research does indicate that Hispanics and blacks are more likely to… Read More »
Can Restorative Justice have a Positive Impact in Nevada?
What do we want from our justice system? Punishment? Retaliation? Justice? One idea that has been making its way into the discussion of late is the concept of restorative justice. What is it, how does it work, where can it be useful, and why should we bother with it? What is Restorative Justice? In… Read More »
Can You Sue a Police Officer?
If you’ve ever had a negative interaction with a law enforcement officer, you may have wondered whether or not you had any chance of winning a lawsuit against someone in such a powerful position. The fact of the matter is police officers are sued across the county fairly often. It is an undertaking that… Read More »
Police Reform: Practical Measures
Is police reform necessary in 2020? The resounding answer from the public, and from experts who have studied the issue for years, is yes. But what do we mean by the term police reform? In order to make it happen, we first have to define exactly what it is we want to accomplish. So… Read More »
Federal Legislation in the Works: Worth Knowing
Congress has been debating a number of issues that could have a significant impact on Nevadans. Understanding the impetus behind these bills and the potential outcomes may lead some to consider activism based on perceived impacts. R. 7120: The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 was introduced into legislation by Re. Karen… Read More »
Mass Incarceration: The Civil Rights Issue of our Time
While most people can agree that having violent criminals on the streets is not a good idea, minds are starting to change when it comes to the notion that every criminal should be behind bars, and for as long as possible. The indisputable fact is, the criminal justice system is seriously flawed, resulting in… Read More »
