Arizona Court Rules Police Need a Warrant to Use GPS Tracking Evidence
The communications revolution of the 21st Century has transformed crime investigations. It’s much easier to track people than in previous years because of global positioning systems (GPS). However, the question of whether police need a warrant to obtain this information has occupied many hours in courtrooms. The Arizona Supreme Court deliberated on this issue in […]
When Can you Fall Foul of Arizona’s Gun Control Laws?
Arizona has some of the most liberal gun laws in the United States. However, its reputation for having few rules can land some people in trouble with the law. There are restrictions and many people fall foul of Arizona’s gun control laws. Under Arizona law, any person 21 years or older, who is not a […]
How ‘Tough-on-Crime’ Initiatives in Arizona Ignore Mental Health
In 2017, the American Civil Liberties Union brought a lawsuit against the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and its former leader, Joe Arpaio, who modeled himself as “America’s toughest sheriff.” The lawsuit claimed tough on crime initiatives followed by the likes of by Arpaio ignored the mental health issues of inmates and even exacerbated them. The […]
Tent City to Become Rehab Center
Since the infamous Tent City was recently shut down, Sheriff Paul Penzone announced that an air-conditioned space previously apart of the jail will be turned into a facility to help treat those suffering from substance abuse and addiction. Transforming Tent City into a rehabilitation center is apart of an ongoing effort to help keep repeat […]
Can Amnesia be a Legal Defense
Amnesia is the loss of memory caused by psychological and physical trauma. While in order to be responsible for a crime the person must remember committing it, not remembering the crime is rarely the same as not committing the crime. So how can amnesia be used as a legal defense? Legal defenses under amnesia Amnesia […]
Police Shoot and Kill Man Throwing Rocks at Police Station
On December 28th 2015, police shot and killed Lonnie Nelson at the Phoenix Police Department. Nelson was seen throwing “bricks or rocks” at Phoenix Police Department property including a patrol car and the station itself. Nelson was shot when he threw a brick at the officer confronting him. The projectile missed hitting the officer directly, […]
Breaking Down Your Arizona Probation Terms
If you have been sentenced to probation in Arizona, you may be confused by the fact your judge gave you a timeline of something between 18-24 months of probation. Probation terms in Arizona dictate that a judge can sentence an offender to time frame of probation instead of a specific number of months. Review of […]
Police Union Lobby’s for New Legislation Around Rule 11
When a defendant is on trial and claims mentally incompetent, they undergo a trial under what’s known as Rule 11. Rule 11 is a two-part test that sees if the defendant is mentally competent to go through trial proceedings, understand them, and assist in their own defense. This is different than a defense claiming insanity. If […]