Throughout the U.S., most people have become familiar with law enforcement body-worn cameras. Results from the adoption of these new devices has been mainly positive; however, not entirely. As of 2016, 47 percent of law enforcement agencies with between 1 and 500 officers in the United States had adopted the use of body-worn cameras in…
Providing adequate prison lighting is covered under conditions of refinement pertaining to incarcerated individuals in the 8th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Under the 8th Amendment, correctional facility officials must ensure that those housed in their facilities receive adequate food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. They must also take reasonable measures to ensure the safety…
If you’re a business owner or facility manager, most state laws say you’re responsible for the safety of visitors, employees, customers, vendors, and in rare cases, even trespassers, while they’re on your property – this is known as premises liability. And it typically holds true whether you own or rent the premises where you do…
Court proceedings and crime investigations often require the proficiency of a forensic expert, an expert witness who gives forensic-related judgements and assessments or testifies in court during a trial or hearing on the merit of his or her specialized knowledge and understanding. The opinion of a forensic expert is valued because it can explain an…
Providing an inmate’s access to health care – adequate health care, to be more specific – is not only the socially responsible thing to do, it’s mandatory by law. In fact, there are only two groups of individuals who have the constitutionally guaranteed right to access medical care: Individuals remanded to mental health facilities, and…
As discussed in our previous blog article, Body Cameras – Part 1: Weighing the Pros and Cons, there are arguments that can be made for and against the use of police body cameras. Further, to reduce the negatives surrounding the use of body cameras, agencies often now adopt policies and procedures regarding body cameras, train…
Are body cameras a solution for reducing incidents caused by interactions between police and the communities they serve? At best, in reviewing current and ongoing incidents involving police actions in communities, it’s evident that the environment for law enforcement officers throughout the U.S. is both tumultuous and difficult. Without consideration for fairness, a handful of…
In this final article in our series on inmate gamesmanship, we’ll explain the various ways that the inmate benefits from the evolving relationship between themselves and correctional staff. Unaware of the growing scheme into which an employee is being drawn, the manipulation continues. By no means is this a quick or easy process; however, alert…
Attorneys turn to expert witnesses to give testimony that will improve their chances of winning their cases in a variety of different circumstances. Below are three types of civil lawsuits where expert witnesses can have a big impact on the outcome of a case. 1 – Medical Malpractice Testimony from medical experts is more of…
Do you worry about the possibility of an inmate lawsuit, a case where the inmate alleges that your agency or facility has violated their constitutional rights? Inmates’ constitutional rights are well discussed, understood, and included in most organization’s policies and procedures. Yet, inmate lawsuits are more prevalent than ever. The Prison Litigation Reform Act, passed…
