Gordon Thompson
Body worn cameras are a tool designed to record police interactions with civilians, for a multitude of purposes. Primarily, the purpose of the cameras is to provide an impartial record of events, and to assist in fact-finding when problems arise, which increases accountability for the police and civilians alike. Studies have shown the use of…
A story arising from a protest at a Republican presidential rally in Prescott Valley October 4th raises very interesting points about the First Amendment and when, where and how we as Americans, and Arizonans in particular, have the right to exercise free speech. The rally, which took place at the Prescott Valley Event…
Former Pima County Sheriff Chief Deputy Chris Radtke, who resigned on Monday, has been indicted on federal money laundering and theft charges. Radtke is alleged to have misappropriated an estimated half a million dollars since 2011 from a department account, made up of funds seized in the course of criminal investigations, and which funds…
Yesterday federal prosecutors announced they are proceeding with criminal contempt-of-court charges against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, for his conduct in the Melendres, et.al. v. Arpaio, et.al. civil class action lawsuit. A US Department of Justice attorney stated investigation of obstruction of justice charges is ongoing, though no charges will now be filed. The…
Arizona Supreme Court holds the owner of a cell phone does not lose their privacy expectation in the contents of their cell phone by leaving the phone unlocked in another person’s apartment. Arizona Supreme Court also held that an overnight guest in another person’s residence does not lose their expectation of privacy in their…
A second opposition to Arizona civil forfeiture laws has been filed by the Institute of Justice. Touted as an important weapon with which the State can combat crime, by operation of law police can seize and institute forfeiture proceedings against property found incident to a criminal arrest, including property that does not belong to…
Though state law varies greatly, many states including Arizona restrict or remove the right to vote from persons convicted of felony criminal charges. A recent report by criminal justice reform group the Sentencing Project estimates more than six million Americans will be excluded from voting in the upcoming presidential election, though only about 1/4…
Deputy Maricopa County Attorney Juan Martinez last week was ordered to one year probation stemming from charges filed by the Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice (AACJ) association late last year, to which he has filed an appeal. The AACJ charged Mr. Martinez with misconduct spanning a decade and 11 cases of murder, including the…
New technology may soon be available which gives police the ability to detect both alcohol and marijuana impairment by breathalyzer. Hound Labs, Inc., an Oakland, California-based company, has developed a proprietary technology which reportedly overcomes the difficulty of distinguishing, via a breath sample, between a person who merely has residual THC in their system and…
Arizona, unlike California (see recent legislation here, and a recent article here), does not have a statute banning use of electronic devices while driving for any purposes. Bills introduced in the State Legislature in 2015 and 2016 were not passed. Some cities, such as Tempe, have enacted limited restrictions on the use of electronic devices…