Something as simple as a traffic ticket can land you in jail if you fail to appear in court. Arrests that stem from failures to appear in court typically come from
bench warrants. Bench warrants are issued by judges. Bench warrants allow officers to arrest you upon contact. It is used to make sure you appear in court. Be careful. If a bench warrant is issued for your arrest, it can be unlikely that you will be released on bail because you are considered a flight risk.
Don't Hide
Can the Government Steal Your Property?
In 2017, more than 700 people -11% of all civil forfeitures- had property forfeited to Michigan law enforcement agencies without being charged with a crime. More than 200 defendants were charged and found not guilty, but the government still kept their assets. Some consider such government overreach a form of stealing.
The Police and You: Constitutional Rights
Police & You - Dear Police: Hands Off My Property!
Police & You: No You May NOT Search
When it comes to the Police & You, one of the most important of all rights guaranteed in the Constitution's Bill of Rights is the Fourth Amendment's prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures. But what exactly is the scope of your rights under the Fourth Amendment, and how much authority does it leave police officers to perform their jobs?
Police & You: Police Tactics in Schools
Police & You: The recent events in a Richland County, South Carolina high school where a uniformed law enforcement officer forcibly removed a student from her desk and placed her in handcuffs should serve as a vivid reminder to parents and students alike that whether you agree with the officer's tactics or not, uniformed law enforcement officers are routinely in America's schools and are undoubtedly not going anywhere.
Police & You: Is Your Smart Phone Data Protected?
Expect new developments this year regarding the Police & You. On Friday, January 17, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear two cases regarding the authority of police to search the contents of an individual's cell phone without a warrant. The Court has agreed to review Riley v. California and United States v. Wurie. Both cases involve information found in the defendant's cell phone that was used as evidence to convict.
Police & You: Stop and Frisk Based on Race?
In this Police & You segment, we examine whether the NYPD's Stop and Frisk Policy is Racially Driven.
The Police & You: Is Your Data Safe?
The Police & You - the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures ... and [that] no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation ..."
Police & You - Who is Watching You?
Police & You: It's Almost Halloween and someone is Watching You
