bill of rights

Private Probation Firm Illegally Extended Sentences, Judge Finds

"Last week, a Georgia county judge ruled that Sentinel Offender Service had illegally extended the sentence of Mantooth and potentially thousands of others who were required to pay the firm monthly probation fees, and was illegally ordering electronic monitoring for misdemeanor offenders — prohibited by state law — while charging probationers for their own monitoring. Other named plaintiffs in the pair of cases were hauled off to jail and/or subjected to electronic monitoring for alleged probation violations six years after their probation had ended for minor offenses like possession of marijuana and no proof of insurance." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPrivate Probation Firm Illegally Extended Sentences, Judge Finds

Judge ejects Sikh from court for refusing to remove ‘that rag’ from his head

"The officers who pulled Singh over believed that his kirpan — a ceremonial 'sword' worn by Sikhs that poses as grave a danger to the public as the crosses donned by many Christians — was a 'dangerous weapon,' despite the fact that it had been sewn into the waistband of his pants. Singh tried to educate the lead officer by 'show[ing] him, and other officers present, videos stored on his phone and on Youtube about the Sikh faith.' The officers responded with mockery, one of them allegedly referring to Sikhs as 'depraved' and 'terrorists.' As if that was not humiliating enough, when Singh returned to Pike County to contest his arrest, presiding Judge Aubrey Rimes ejected him from the courtroom." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJudge ejects Sikh from court for refusing to remove ‘that rag’ from his head

End Civil Asset Forfeiture

"A recent New Yorker article has awakened many Americans to the scourge of civil asset forfeiture in which police can seize property without charging anyone with a crime and pocket the proceeds. Many police organizations call the proceeds of civil asset forfeiture a vital source of funding. Scott Bullock, senior attorney at the Institute for Justice, describes the practice and the best avenues for reform." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEnd Civil Asset Forfeiture

Greenwald: NSA’s view of drone opponents as ‘threats’ and ‘adversaries’

"Under the title 'adversary propaganda themes', the document lists what it calls 'examples of potential propaganda themes that could be employed against UAV operations'. It states: 'Attacks against American and European persons who have become violent extremists are often criticized by propagandists, arguing that lethal action against these individuals deprives them of due process.' In the eyes of the US government, 'due process' – the idea that the US government should not deprive people of life away from a battlefield without presenting evidence of guilt – is no longer a basic staple of the American political system, but rather a malicious weapon of 'propagandists'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGreenwald: NSA’s view of drone opponents as ‘threats’ and ‘adversaries’

Government Continues Its Attack On The Fifth And Sixth Amendments

"The courts have already found that simply not answering questions post-arrest can be used as evidence of guilt. But what happens when you ask for legal representation before the police have arrested or detained you? The prosecution argued that Okatan's request for a lawyer was itself an admission of guilt. While we all supposedly have a right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, the government (meaning law enforcement and prosecutors -- both operatives of the state) have been poking and prodding at the amendments' weak spots over the years, turning these 'rights' into privileges that have to be asserted loudly, unwaveringly and timed correctly. What a joke." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGovernment Continues Its Attack On The Fifth And Sixth Amendments

Charges dropped against parent arrested for speaking against Common Core

"The Baltimore County state's attorney's office dropped assault charges Monday against Robert Small, who had been led out of the Thursday night meeting in Towson by an off-duty police officer. Small interrupted education officials, complaining that new standards were aimed at sending children to community colleges. 'It was clear that Mr. Small violated the rules of the meeting and disrupted the meeting. It was also clear that the officer acted appropriately and did have probable cause to make an arrest on both charges,' the state's attorney's office said in a statement. A YouTube video of him being escorted out of the room by the police officer has been viewed more than 500,000 times." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCharges dropped against parent arrested for speaking against Common Core

Senator Asks if FBI Can Get iPhone 5S Fingerprint Data via Patriot Act

"The iPhone 5S reportedly stores fingerprint data locally 'on the chip' and in an encrypted format. It also blocks third-party apps from accessing Touch ID. Yet important questions remain about how this technology works, Apple's future plans for this technology, and the legal protections that Apple will afford it. I should add that regardless of how carefully Apple implements fingerprint technology, this decision will surely pave the way for its peers and smaller competitors to adopt biometric technology, with varying protections for privacy. I respectfully request that Apple provide answers to the following questions." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSenator Asks if FBI Can Get iPhone 5S Fingerprint Data via Patriot Act

Masked DEA Agents Raid Innocent Women, Refuse To Reveal Identities

"According to the Burleys' accounts, the officers who raided their home were clad in black. Some wore balaclava masks or face shields that hid all but their eyes. Others pulled their hats down low to shield their identities. They had also obscured their names and badge numbers. Once the Burleys' house had been thoroughly searched, both women asked the officers for their names. After holding an impromptu meeting, the officers told the Burleys that they wouldn't divulge any information that could identify them individually. Instead, they told the women that they had just been raided by 'Team 11.' The women weren't given a search warrant." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMasked DEA Agents Raid Innocent Women, Refuse To Reveal Identities