The dashcam video of a Des Moines police stop involving two African-American men, Montray Little and Jared Clinton, has been viewed over 9 million times."My heart sank into my feet," said Clinton's mother. "I apologized to him because I brought him to this city."...
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License suspensions longer for those who refuse breath tests
In Iowa, all drivers are subject to the implied consent law, which states that drivers agree to taking a blood, breath or urine test if pulled over by a police officer who has reasonable suspicion of intoxication.Drivers have the right to refuse a chemical test, but...
Protect your rights when stopped by the cops: 4 key concepts
Always be respectful when interacting with law enforcement. At the same time, to be aware that when the police are questioning you about a potential crime, they are not on your side. Explaining your side of the story will not clear things up. In fact, it's best to...
ACLU of Iowa targets unconstitutional panhandling ordinances
In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed in Reed v. Town of Gilbert that content-based regulations on free speech are unconstitutional. This has been widely applied to panhandling ordinances. Indeed, according to the ACLU of Iowa, every case since brought against a...
Forensic scientists working to reform the evidence they present
Recently, about 1,400 forensic pathologists, fingerprint examiners and other crime scene investigators from across the country met in San Antonio for the International Association for Identification's annual International Educational Conference. At the top of the...
A hidden attraction at the state fair: The police
The Iowa State Fair has started, and will run through August 20. While fairgoers can look forward to Grandstand entertainment, rides, fair food and the Butter Cow, others could find themselves with a wristband they didn't ask for: handcuffs.A Fortified ForceLast year...
Iowa Supreme Court limits warrantless inventory searches of cars
"This empowerment of local law enforcement to determine the substance of Fourth Amendment protections in the context of warrantless inventory searches and seizures of automobiles is rich with irony," Justice Brent R. Appel of the Iowa Supreme Court wrote recently, "as...
Should courts order DNA tests’ source code opened to the defense?
The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of criminal defendants to fully confront the witnesses and evidence against them. That includes DNA evidence, but it can be difficult to apply that right to the forensic software used to match genetic...
3 ways to prepare for your day in court
Following an arrest, you will have to appear in court before a judge on numerous occasions. Whether it will be your first or fifth time walking into a courtroom, it is imperative that you prepare and behave appropriately at all times. You have a duty as a litigant to...
Officer’s demand for illegal blood draw goes viral
When we think about cases where a person has refused a chemical test in drunk driving cases, we may think of a belligerent individual who may be so impaired that they don’t understand the legal consequences of their choice. We certainly don’t think that a person may...
