More than 20 million people have uploaded DNA information to consumer websites such as Ancestry.com and 23andMe under the belief that these sites would keep the information private. However, police in Florida announced that they had been granted a warrant to search a DNA site for evidence related to an ongoing investigation, potentially setting aRead More
New York State recently passed a series of powerful new laws reforming the bail and discovery process. Many district attorneys were dismayed at the rules, which take effect on Jan. 1, 2020. Critics, which include many police departments and DAs, argue the rules make it harder to bring suspects to justice. But a series of presentationsRead More
New York State lawmakers have passed a long-fought-for set of reforms to the criminal justice system. The sweeping package of laws, which take effect on Jan. 1, 2020, changes the courts’ system of bail and discovery and is part of an effort to ensure speedier and fairer trials. The changes include: The number of offensesRead More
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy vetoed a bill that would have made it easier for some people with marijuana-related convictions to clear their record. On Friday, August 23, Murphy announced that he rejected the plan, saying that the process was still too complicated. However, he offered suggestions on the type of expungement legislation he wasRead More
A Michigan woman has been allowed to advance a lawsuit after a U.S. court ruled that giving a police officer the middle finger is a form of free speech. It’s not the first time “flipping the bird” has been debated by judges in the U.S. While this case certainly reaffirms one’s right to be rudeRead More
Businesses operating in New York City must alter or eliminate dress codes or other policies that restrict employees based on natural or cultural hairstyles. In February 2019, the NYC Commission on Human Rights banned the practice of requiring staff to straighten, trim, or wear their hair in any other untreated hair style, such as locs,Read More
For the next three weeks, drivers in New Jersey had best stay focused on the road. Starting Monday, April 1, all 207 of New Jersey police departments will be sending out additional patrols to crack down on texting while driving and other traffic infractions. The three-week “U Text. U Drive. U Pay.” campaign runs throughRead More
After months of back-and-forth over marijuana legalization legislation, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and leaders in the NJ legislature claim to have reached a broad agreement. In a press release on March 12, 2019, the governor, alongside Senate President Steve Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and others announced the text of a bill to legalizeRead More
The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits “unreasonable searches and seizures” by police and other government agencies. When police have a warrant, they can enter a person’s home without the homeowner’s consent, or even if he/she isn’t home (more on that later). However, there are many circumstances when an officer cannot enter a homeRead More
Driving while intoxicated (DWI) and driving under the influence (DUI) are often used interchangeably to describe instances of drunk driving or driving while high on drugs. For drivers pulled over in New Jersey, is there a difference between being charged with DWI and DUI? In short, no. While some states use the terms DWI andRead More
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