police

Let’s Pretend The Truth Is Important (For Just A Minute, Anyway).

February 15, 2017 by admin

Kids who may be victims of abuse are put through something called a “victim sensitive interview.” Since children, in theory, don’t necessarily want to talk about being abused the entire interview process is a staged affair with few onlookers (that the child knows about, anyway) in a comfortable setting. These interviews are (or should be) … Read More

Making a Murderer: Did Steven Avery Actually Do It?

January 25, 2016 by admin

“What do you think about Making a Murderer?” By the end of December I had to answer that question several times a week. The answer was, of course, “I don’t know.” I hadn’t really planned to watch another criminal trial documentary.

I don’t own the remote, though. I bought the remote. Paid for it with my own money, even. I don’t get to touch it in any substantive way other than passing it over to The Boss, though.

Now I’ve seen the whole series. People are still asking me what I think about it. I still don’t know if he is “really innocent” or guilty. I don’t care. It doesn’t matter.

The Regular Person Standard.

April 27, 2015 by admin

I don’t know much about a lot of things. Nobody will dispute that. I might know a little about a few things. At least, people ask me questions as though they think I do. Of course, I’ve got a philosophy degree so I know that I really know nothing. That’s what the bearded, hippie, teaching assistants told me, anyway. I don’t know enough to disagree with them, that’s for sure.

My favorite legal questions are when friends and family of people without much exposure to law enforcement have that first “experience” and want to know what to do.

“The police were banging on my brother’s door and screaming for him to come outside. What should he have done?”
“Some investigator showed up at my friend’s house and asked him to come talk at the station. The Investigator wouldn’t say what it was about. Is that normal?”
“The police wouldn’t let me answer my phone and were asking me weird questions. Why would they do that?”

The Kane County Sheriff’s “Candidate Forum” That Should Have Happened.

October 1, 2014 by admin

Look like I missed a great opportunity to learn a little about the next Kane County Sheriff last night. According to the Kane County Chronicle, there was a “forum” that covered all sorts of interesting stuff. Compelling topics like who was hired by who’s dad to be a deputy in the Sheriff’s Office in the 1970’s, and how many degrees everybody has:

Each touted their advanced degrees and extensive experience as reasons why they should be sheriff – but also exchanged a few barbs.

Kramer’s father George Kramer was sheriff from 1978 to 1986 and hired him in 1979, giving him his start at the sheriff’s office.

Kramer said he was one of 12 who passed the test and all were hired.

“We both talked about our fathers who were previously in law enforcement. At the end of the day, they are not running for Kane County Sheriff,” Mayes said.

“We talk about master’s degrees – I could make as compelling an argument about experience,” he said. “A degree without experience is nothing. But experience with a degree really allows you be able to work and continue moving forward.”

Policing and the Mentally Ill: presented without (or with very little) comment.

July 8, 2014 by admin

It’s not hard. Why does it get messed up so often?

Each touted their advanced degrees and extensive experience as reasons why they should be sheriff – but also exchanged a few barbs.

Kramer’s father George Kramer was sheriff from 1978 to 1986 and hired him in 1979, giving him his start at the sheriff’s office.

Kramer said he was one of 12 who passed the test and all were hired.

“We both talked about our fathers who were previously in law enforcement. At the end of the day, they are not running for Kane County Sheriff,” Mayes said.

“We talk about master’s degrees – I could make as compelling an argument about experience,” he said. “A degree without experience is nothing. But experience with a degree really allows you be able to work and continue moving forward.”

The Lawyer People With Problems Call For Help.