Legal Research (page 2)

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Slightly Creaky does extensive research to find the links you would most likely need and provides them for you in an easy-to-find format. You can access the various categories from any of our web pages using the top or side menus. Each category has generalized headings, followed by more specific ones.

Categories

Updated May 15, 2008

We can choose our friends, but not our family. Sometimes relationships are difficult, whether between spouses, parents and children, and siblings. From advice columns, talking to your children (and grandchildren) about sex and drugs, to support groups, this area provides links that will help you understand interpersonal relationships. To simplify your research, we have several categories. Please scroll down, use the index link, or use your browser's "find" or "search" feature to get the the area you are seeking.

This page is for US & Canadian Laws

(NOTE: Most Canadian sites are available in both French & English)

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This listing is the result of more than 500 hours of research. It is the property of Slightly Creaky and may not be reproduced in any form. Every attempt has been made to provide an accurate description of each organization.

Additional Information


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US Federal Law

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US & Canadian Federal Law

Immigration Law     Eminent Domain    Tax Law       Discrimination
Military Law      Police Procedures

The American Jury System "The jury system is at the heart of American law and our democratic system of government, enshrined in the Constitution. It transfers judicial fact-finding power from elite individuals and groups to ordinary citizens. Jurors are the only members of the judicial process who are not legal professionals. "
The USA Patriot Act "The clumsily-titled Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 introduced a plethora of legislative changes which significantly increased the surveillance and investigative powers of law enforcement agencies in the United States. The Act did not, however, provide for the system of checks and balances that traditionally safeguards civil liberties in the face of such legislation."
The Patriot Act "Just 45 days after the September 11 attacks, with virtually no debate, Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act. There are significant flaws in the Patriot Act, flaws that threaten your fundamental freedoms by giving the government the power to access to your medical records, tax records, information about the books you buy or borrow without probable cause, and the power to break into your home and conduct secret searches without telling you for weeks, months, or indefinitely."
Canadian Anti-Terror Act "WHEREAS the Parliament of Canada, recognizing that terrorism is a matter of national concern that affects the security of the nation, is committed to taking comprehensive measures to protect Canadians against terrorist activity while continuing to respect and promote the values reflected in, and the rights and freedoms guaranteed by, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms;"
The Canadian Bill of Rights "The Parliament of Canada, affirming that the Canadian Nation is founded upon principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God, the dignity and worth of the human person and the position of the family in a society of free men and free institutions;..."
US Laws of All Jurisdictions If you can't find it elsewhere it may be here.
Subcategories of United States Law Links to the various types of laws governed by the US Federal courts
Immigration Law


"The links below will provide useful information to advisers considering how to respond to such a request and to students and scholars engaged in the process of finding an attorney."
Identifying an Immigration Attorney
Immigration Law Residency, citizenship, naturalization, asylum and related topics
Immigration "Federal immigration law determines whether a person is an alien, and associated legal rights, duties, and obligations of aliens in the United States. It also provides means by which certain aliens can become naturalized citizens with full rights of citizenship. Immigration law serves as a gatekeeper for the nation's border: it determines who may enter, how long they may stay and when they must leave."
Immigration Law "The laws and processes that permit persons who are not citizens of the United States to come to the United States for purposes of visiting as tourists; working in the U.S.; studying in the U.S.; and becoming a citizen of the U.S. "
National Immigration Law Center "In the past 20 years, NILC has earned a national reputation as a leading expert on immigration, public benefits, and employment laws affecting immigrants and refugees.  Our extensive knowledge of the complex interplay between immigrants' legal status and their rights under U.S. laws is an essential resource for legal aid programs, community groups, and social service agencies across the country. "
Research in Naturalization Records Information for Federal Courts (U.S. District and Circuit Courts) in New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico. To locate others areas, backtrack through the site.
Canada Immigration Law Library " The Campbell Cohen Canada immigration law library is a valuable Canadian immigration information source. "
Canada Immigration Links "Please select a category:"
The Canadian Immigration Handbook "There are situations where a foreign national is not entitled to enter as a temporary resident because he or she is inadmissible or otherwise fails to meet the requirements of the IRPA. In such situations, it is still possible to enter Canada as a temporary resident provided that the foreign national is issued a temporary resident permit ..."
Eminent Domain
 "Most people are aware of the fact the private property can be taken for public use. Somehow it makes sense to give up private property for the benefit of hundreds, maybe thousands of other people in the community. However, the situation is very different when unexpectedly you are notified that public bodies have decided to take on your piece of land. "
Facts About Eminent Domain
Eminent Domain "Eminent domain refers to the power possessed by the state over all property within the state, specifically its power to appropriate property for a public use. In some jurisdictions, the state delegates eminent domain power to certain public and private companies, typically utilities, such that they can bring eminent domain actions to run telephone, power, water, or gas lines."
Eminent Domain and Property Rights "You know the great thing about America is once you own property - you own it," says Drew Carey in a new Reason.tv video examining eminent domain abuse. "You can do anything you want with that property. You can build a house on it, a business. You can plant flowers, grow daisies. Whatever you want to do with it, it's your property. You own it. And the only way somebody can take your property is if they steal it. Am I right? That's why the government invented eminent domain."
Eminent Domain Watch "Eminent Domain: the power of a government to take private property for public use; the 5th Amendment of the US Constitution and articles in many state constitutions allow this practice provided that just compensation is made."
Tax Law

Article covers..."Every statute, regulation, court decision, and other legal authority relating to the imposition of any tax by the federal government of the United States."
U.S. Federal Tax Law
Tax Law Information Articles and links
Estate Taxes "One of the oldest and most common forms of taxation is the taxation of property held by an individual at the time of their death. Such a tax can take the form, among others, of estate tax (a tax levied on the estate before any transfers). An estate tax is a charge upon the decedent's entire estate, regardless of how it is disbursed. An alternative form of death tax is an inheritance tax."
The Canadian Tax Man Cometh! "Canada had a substantially voluntary income tax reporting system (called “self-assessment”) in that the Government relies on each individual, corporation and other taxable agencies, to submit, annually, a statement of their taxable activities."
Income Tax Law "While some states do not have an income tax (Nevada), all residents and all citizens of the United States are subject to the federal income tax. Not everyone, however, must file a return."
Tax Law "Tax law is found in many places - tax law is generated by the federal government, state government as well as counties, cities, and other municipalities. The variety of taxes that everyone faces is staggering - tax law affects almost every aspect of your life."
Property Taxes "Property taxes are based on ownership of the property, and are payable regardless of whether the property is used or not and whether it generates income for the owner."
Discrimination
 "The purpose of this Act is to extend the laws in Canada to give effect, within the purview of matters coming within the legislative authority of Parliament, to the principle that all individuals should have an opportunity equal with other individuals to make for themselves the lives that they are able and wish to have and to have their needs accommodated, consistent with their duties and obligations as members of society, without being hindered in or prevented from doing so by discriminatory practices based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability or conviction for an offence for which a pardon has been granted."
Canadian Human Rights Act
Discrimination Attorneys "The web site has sections on nearly every area of employment law, including job discrimination, sexual harassment, age, race, gender, pregnancy, glass ceiling, and disability discrimination, manager wage & overtime claims, breach of contract, non-compete clauses, wrongful termination, whistle blowing, and much more. Various resources and government information are provided."
Workplace Law "If you would like more information on Workplace Discrimination, please click on one of the topics below:"
Canadian Race Relations Foundation Act "The purpose of the Foundation is to facilitate throughout Canada the development, sharing and application of knowledge and expertise in order to contribute to the elimination of racism and all forms of racial discrimination in Canadian society..."
Hate Crimes "Hate crime is the violence of intolerance and bigotry, intended to hurt and intimidate someone because of their race, ethnicity, national origin, religious, sexual orientation, or disability."
Hate Crimes & Civil Rights "Under "color of law" it is a crime for a person acting to willfully deprive any person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws. Title 18 makes it unlawful to willfully injure, intimidate or interfere with any person, by force or threat, because of race, color, religion, or national origin, or deprive admission to a public school or college; benefits, services, privileges, programs, facilities, activities administered by government, employment, labor organizations, hiring halls; employment agency, jury duty, interstate commerce facility, common carriers, public accommodations, exhibitions, entertainment, hotels, motels, restaurants, lunchrooms, bars, gas stations, theaters, concert halls, sports arenas or stadiums. "
Civil Rights "A civil right is an enforceable right or privilege, which if interfered with by another gives rise to an action for injury. Examples of civil rights are freedom of speech, press, and assembly; the right to vote; freedom from involuntary servitude; and the right to equality in public places. Discrimination occurs when the civil rights of an individual are denied or interfered with because of their membership in a particular group or class."
American Indian Law "Federal law recognizes a special kind of sovereign authority in Indian tribes to govern themselves, subject to an over-riding federal authority. Indian tribes are considered by federal law to be "domestic, dependent nations.""
Military Law
 "Military law consists of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and other statutory provisions for the government of persons in the Armed Forces to which may be added the unwritten common law of the usage and custom of military service as well as regulations and authorized by the President. It is a part of our body of law as a whole, and is fully recognized by civil courts; it is in force in time of peace as well as in time of war. All persons serving in the Armed Forces of the United States are subject to military law at all times."
Military Law
Military Law "The President likes to think the generals and admirals will obey his orders, and the generals and admirals like to think their orders will be obeyed. No one likes to think the people with ships, missiles, bombs, planes and guns are not subject to control."
Office of the Judge Advocate General for the Canadian Forces "Whether providing legal advice at one of the many bases and wings across the country, defending an accused at a court martial, teaching courses to other CF members, or advising a commanding officer in an operational theatre, the legal officers and staff of the Office of the Judge Advocate General constantly strive to uphold the ethical and legal principles established by both the Canadian Forces and the Government of Canada."
Police Procedures

"Police officers generally have broad powers to carry out their duties. The Constitution and other laws, however, place limits on how far police can go in trying to enforce the law."
Police Misconduct
Law Enforcement: Good Cop Bad Cop "Aside from terrorist murders, officers were slain making arrests, answering disturbance calls, helping someone in danger and intervening in assaults. Officers were killed because they wore a police badge or uniform. Cars were used as weapons -- including officers dragged to death, intentionally run down and whose cars were hit intentionally by vehicles."
Can the Police Search Your House Without a Warrant? "If a judge is convinced that there is "probable cause" of either criminal activity or contraband at a place to be searched, he or she will issue and sign a search warrant—a court order that allows the police to search a specific location for specified objects at a specific time."
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State & Provincial Laws

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State & Provincial Laws

State Law and Government From HG.org. Links to all states - laws, governmental branches and general information
Canadian Provincial Law Scroll down the page for links by provence.
Canadian Law by Provence "CanLII is a non-profit organization managed by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. CanLII's goal is to make Canadian law accessible for free on the Internet."
Legal Resources by State Select state.
U.S. State and Territorial Laws "The Internet Law Library was originally provided to the public courtesy of the United States House of Representatives Law Revision Counsel Office. Part of the Counsel's mission is to make the law (particularly the U.S. Code) available to the public. "
List Of U.S. State And Local Law Enforcement Agencies "This is the list of U.S. state and local law enforcement agencies — statewide government agencies (state police) of the U.S. states that provide law enforcement duties, including investigations and state patrols. In addition, the Attorney General's office of each state has their own investigators."
US State Law, Government and Commercial Sites From HG.org
US Census Data by State From the US Bureau of Census
NRA: Gun Laws by State Guam, Puerto Rico, New York City listed separately
Is A Knife Legal In Your State? "State laws are the most important knife laws, but they are
certainly not the only knife laws. Some state legislatures
have pre-empted weapons law (i.e. claimed a monopoly on
making this type of law), but most have not. In states which
have not pre-empted, individual counties, cities, and towns
can have their own knife or other weapons ordinances, and
many of them do. "
State Gambling Laws "Click on the name of a State in the table below to read the excerpted text of its basic gambling laws. Websites containing state statutes are available for all states, although they may be out of date. The excerpts presented here are taken from those websites. "
Charitable Gaming Laws " Many states have enacted laws exempting certain gambling activities from the applicable anti-gambling laws.  The most commonly exempted activities are bingo and charitable raffles as well as certain types of casino games.  The charitable gaming statutes from all states that have them are listed in the table below.  The states of Hawaii and Utah do not have any charitable gaming laws. "
State Traffic and Speed Laws " This page contains a summary of and links to state laws related to speeding, and in particular excess speeding and reckless driving."
State Marriage Laws "This table links to the marriage laws of the states and attempts to summarize some of their salient points. Those interested in the marriage law of a particular jurisdiction should review its law directly rather than rely on this summary which may not be fully accurate or complete."
State Divorce Laws "This page links to the divorce laws of the states and to tables summarizing some of their salient points. "
State Youth Justice Programs "Each state has one project affiliated with the OJJDP Youth for Justice Program. Click on a state to view its project profile; states with multiple projects are starred. Clicking on a starred state will take you to the Multiple Projects page, where you can choose which state project profile you would like to view."
State Compulsory School Attendance Laws By state, lists year law enacted and (2002) mandated school attendance ages.
Full-Text State Statutes And Legislation "This page seeks to link to sites containing full-text state constitutions, statutes (called codes or compiled laws in some states), legislation (bills, amendments, etc.), session laws (bills that have become laws), and administrative rules."
State Resources Information about Federal, State, and Territory governments
Building Code Resources A lengthy list of links to building codes by state and topic
Building Code Library "Our exclusive national codes resource provides you with detailed information on building codes for all 50 states, major cities, and some counties. We have information on codes and amendments as well as contact information for up to 17 authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) in each market."
Zoning Laws "Zoning laws typically specify the areas in which residential, industrial, recreational or commercial activities may take place. For example, an R-1 residential zone might allow only single-family detached homes as opposed to duplexes or apartment complexes. On the other hand, a C-1 commercial zone might be zoned to permit only certain commercial or industrial uses in one jurisdiction, but permit a mix of housing and businesses in another jurisdiction."
National Association of Towns & Townships "NATaT seeks flexible and alternative approaches to federal policies to ensure that small communities can meet federal requirements. As part of these efforts, NATaT advocates for fair share funding, technical assistance and other affirmative steps to address the inherent disadvantages that small governments face in our present intergovernmental system. T"
National League of Cities "The National League of Cities is the oldest and largest national organization representing municipal governments throughout the United States.  Its mission is to strengthen and promote cities as centers of opportunity, leadership, and governance."
National Association of Counties "The National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States. Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation’s 3,066 counties. NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public's understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money."
US Zip Code Locator From the USPS. Search for city if zip code is known or search for the zip code by city.
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Criminal Law

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Criminal Law

   Personal Crime        Legal Issues        Confidentiality    
Crimes Explained       Forensics & Evidence      Plea Bargaining
      After the Trial       Animal Rights & Laws     Environmental Law

What is the Attorney General? "The Attorney General is the chief law enforcer of the particular state of his or her residence. " Also see District Attorney.
Types of Law A lengthy list of national, international, criminal, and civic laws explained.
History of Canadian Criminal Code "One of the advantages of a codification is the implementation of a constitutional principle that no person can be convicted of an offence unless it has been specifically provided for in a statute. This is pivotal if the expression "ignorance of the law is no excuse" is to have any meaning. "
The Canadian Criminal Code "Unless otherwise provided or ordered, anything done by a court, justice or judge is effective from the moment it is done, whether or not it is reduced to writing....."
AZIMUT: Quebec Law "Containing more than 600,000 documents, Juris.doc databases are the most comprehensive body of Quebec case law available on the Internet."
Criminal Procedures "Criminal procedure is composed of the rules governing the series of proceedings through which the substantive criminal law is enforced. In the United States, most crimes are defined by local and state government, though the federal government has adopted its own criminal code"
Crime & Punishment "In a democratic society one of the greatest powers a government has over its citizens is the right to punish them for breaking its laws. The gravity of this power is heightened when the punishment involves imprisonment or capital punishment. "
Criminal Lawyers (by location) Select a State
Capital Punishment and the Death Penalty "Below you will find information on historical and legal issues related to capital punishment and the death penalty in the United States, including a look at current trends related to the death penalty."
Death Penalty Resource Page International. From Rominger Legal Services
Criminal Law by State Half way down this page is a link to each of the 50 US states and their criminal law documentations.
State Criminal Codes Includes links to every state for criminal codes, criminal procedures, education law, election law, handling of evidence, family law, financial transactions, fish & game law, as well as county and local governments.
US Federal Gambling Laws "This law applies to online gambling activities, including online casinos."
Personal Crime Legal Issues

"Below you will find introductory information on the basics of criminal law, including a look at how crimes are classified, differences between civil and criminal cases, and how crimes are charged."
Criminal Law Basics
Equal Protection "The Equal Protection Clause prohibits states from denying any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.. In other words, the laws of a state must treat an individual in the same manner as others in similar conditions and circumstances. A violation would occur, for example, if a state prohibited an individual from entering into an employment contract because he or she was a member of a particular race. "
Canadian Criminal Law "Criminal law is concerned with acts or omissions deemed illegal by legislature. Criminal law offences range from crimes such as murder, assault, robbery and theft to driving with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit."
Canadian Justice System "A civil case is another way of referring to a private case or “suit” – that is, where someone sues someone else. A criminal case involves a prosecution by the Crown under a public-law statute such as the Criminal Code, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act or the Competition Act. "
Correctional Services of Canada "Canadians play an active role in public safety. Citizens are involved in Correctional Service Canada (CSC) operations on a daily basis. They attend outreach events, participate in consultations, volunteer at our institutions and community offices, as well as take part in our Advisory Committees."
The Canadian Legal System "Researching Canadian Law"
Arrest & Searches "Once an arrest has occurred, and before asking you any questions (other than your name and address), law enforcement officers must provide your "Miranda warning""
Arrest, Search & Seizure "You are never required to consent to a search of your vehicle. Of course, a police officer is not obligated to advise you that you have the right to refuse consent to search."
The Miranda Warning "Police were able to take advantage of the fact that not everyone knows their rights by heart. In fact, it is likely that most citizens could name a few of their rights as accused criminals, but not all of them. The police's position was that if the accused, for example, spoke about a crime without knowing that they did not need to, that it was the person's fault for not invoking that right, even if they did not know, or did not remember, that they had that right."
The Miranda Warning " In the absence of other effective measures the following procedures to safeguard the Fifth Amendment privilege must be observed: The person in custody must, prior to interrogation, be clearly informed that he has the right to remain silent, and that anything he says will be used against him in court; he must be clearly informed that he has the right to consult with a lawyer and to have the lawyer with him during interrogation, and that, if he is indigent, a lawyer will be appointed to represent him."
Stages of Criminal Arrest "This section contains information on what to expect at each stage of the criminal process -- from arrest to appeal. This section also discusses the juvenile justice process."
The History of Bail Laws " Bail laws in the United States grew out of a long history of English statutes and policies.   During the colonial period, Americans relied on the bail structure that had developed in England hundreds of years earlier."
Bail Laws by State "The American Bail Coalition assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of the information herein and disclaims any liability concerning it.  Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed"
Bail "The term Bail is used in several distinct senses: (1) It may mean the security­cash or bond­given for the appearance of the prisoner. (2) It may mean the bondsman (i.e., the person who acts as surety for the defendant`s appearance, and into whose custody the defendant is released). (3) As a verb, it may refer to the release of the defendant (he was bailed out). The first meaning is the most common and should be employed for clarity."
Subpoena "A subpoena is a written order to compel an individual to give testimony on a particular subject, often before a court, but sometimes in other proceedings (such as a Congressional inquiry). Failure to comply with such an order to appear may be punishable as contempt."
Subpoena "A subpoena requires a person to appear in a criminal case, while a summons requires a person to appear in a civil case, though subpoena is the term often used for both. This document will define the types of summons that are issued, how they are issued, and the rights and the responsibilities of a person served with a subpoena."
Due Process "In that, the "how" is procedural due process. Is a law too vague? Is it applied fairly to all? Does a law presume guilt? A vagrancy law might be declared too vague if the definition of a vagrant is not detailed enough. A law that makes wife beating illegal but permits husband beating might be declared to be an unfair application. A law must be clear, fair, and have a presumption of innocence to comply with procedural due process."
Due Process Of Law: Procedural And Substantive Issues "When someone speaks of due process, or receiving their "due", they are usually talking about something that they feel is rightly entitled to them. In fact, that is precisely the historical meaning of due process."
Crimes Explained


"Welcome to "Crimes A to Z." This section contains definitions for many common crimes. Where available, you will also find a link to your state law for the selected crime."
Crimes A - Z
Justia Criminal Law Glossary Presented alphabetically
Crime Defined "There are several typologies (or categorizations) of crimes.  Here is one typology with the list of types of crimes...."
Violent Crimes Articles explaining a variety of violent crimes, the severity of such crimes, the procedures, and potential consequences.
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. "The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 represents the bipartisan product of six years of hard work.  It is the largest crime bill in the history of the country"
Five Stages of Violent Crime "The Five Stages of Violent Crime is an internationally recognized system to identify if -- and determine when -- you are being set up for a crime. It has been tested in court as an easily explainable standard by which individuals determined if they were legally justified to use self defense tactics."
Sexual Assault "In one study, 13% of surveyed American women of ages 18 and older reported having been the victim of at least one rape. Defined as "an event that occurred without the woman's consent, involved the use of force or threat of force, and involved sexual penetration of the victim's vagina, mouth or rectum."
Sexual Assault "If you have been sexually assaulted or think you have been, first, you must overcome the stigma of reporting the event. The stigma of reporting a sexual assault or rape for both women and men is not as great as it once was, and this change works in favor of the victim. "
Sexual Assault "Sexual assault can be verbal, visual, or anything that forces a person to join in unwanted sexual contact or attention. Examples of this are voyeurism (when someone watches private sexual acts), exhibitionism (when someone exposes him/herself in public), incest (sexual contact between family members), and sexual harassment. It can happen in different situations, by a stranger in an isolated place, on a date, or in the home by someone you know."
Alcohol and Sexual Assault " This article summarizes current knowledge about alcohol's role in sexual assault and discusses questions that remain to be answered by future research. Alcohol's contribution to sexual assault cannot be discussed without also describing the general characteristics of sexual assault; thus, this article alternates between providing information about sexual assault in general and contrasting this information with findings regarding alcohol-involved sexual assaults."
Theft "A theft is the taking and removing of money or property with the intent to deprive the owner of it. "
Larceny "Larceny is the "taking and carrying away of tangible personal property of another by trespass with intent to permanently (or for an unreasonable time) deprive the person of his interest in the property". Larceny must involve personal property, and it must be capable of being possessed, and carried away."
Petty Theft "Petty theft is considered a pretty minor offense, but it is still theft and still punishable by law. It can be a stain on your record and may cost you further down the line, especially when trying to get a new job."
Theft by Shoplifting "Shoplifting is not just walking out of a store without paying for goods.  Shoplifting includes any form of deception where the defendant did not pay the asking price of the merchandise."
Shoplifting "There's no typical shoplifter — people who steal from stores can be any age, race, gender, and social and economic background."
Common Shoplifting Techniques "Some shoplifters just grab stuff and walk out with it. They rely on the gullibility and slow response time of sales clerks. Some shoplifters grab garments from racks close to the door and run off. This can be prevented very easily by alternating the directions of hangers. This makes the hangers "lock up" when someone tries to remove many at once."
Shoplifter and Dishonest Employee Theft on the Rise " Over 530,000 shoplifters and dishonest employees were apprehended in 2006, up 10.6% over 2005. The total dollars recovered from these apprehensions was over $116 million, up 15.15% over 2005."
The Problem of Employee Theft "Although it's not a pleasant topic to discuss, the fact is that theft by employees of small businesses totals nearly $40 billion in this country each year."
Employee Theft "Employee theft is a problem of considerable size for many companies. Many corporate security experts estimate that 25 to 40 percent of all employees steal from their employers, and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) estimates that employee theft of cash, property, and merchandise may cost American businesses as much as $50 billion on an annual basis."
Home Invasion "The frightening thing about home invasion is that it is often motivated by a variety of criminal intentions. Usually the intention is robbery"
Violent Crime Hits Home: Home Invasion "Violent attacks on homeowners are fast-becoming a frightening and all-too-common fact of life"
Home Invasion and Robbery Prevention "Home invasion robberies are scary and most of the victims have been seniors. The crime itself threatens our belief that we are safest in our homes. This page will help you improve the safety of your home and neighborhood. If you need more information on home invasion robbery prevention call your local police. They will be glad to help.
Criminals gene"
Ten Ways to Steal a Car " What else can you do besides not drive the most stolen car in America and equip your car with anti-theft protection? We're going to give you the unique opportunity to look inside the mind of the car thief and learn how he steals cars. With the help of police auto theft experts and auto theft professionals, we've compiled this list of some of the ways thieves steal cars followed by suggestions of how to stop them from doing it to you."
International
Association of Auto Theft Investigator's
Official Web Site		 "We recognize that, just as law enforcement agencies cannot successfully function independent of one another, auto theft investigation requires the active participation of the private sector; therefore, our membership also includes the insurance industry, automobile manufacturers, car rental companies and, of course, the National Insurance Crime Bureau and its sister agencies in Canada and Europe."
Car Theft Prevention "Most cars are stolen off the street or from parking areas. Putting your car into a garage not only saves the finish, but tends to deter auto thieves. They risk detection by dogs, motion sensors and even homeowners by coming on the property. Locked garages and gates create another level of difficulty for the thief who intends to quietly sneak in and steal."
Auto Theft Info "The average value of motor vehicles stolen was $6,646. The estimated total value of all motor vehicle stolen was $8.2 billion. Approximately 62% of all vehicles stolen are eventually recovered, although not all intact."
Car Jacking "The US Department of Justice (DOJ) defines carjacking as the attempted or completed robbery of a motor vehicle by a stranger that includes the use or threat of use of force."
Reduce Your Risk of Becoming A Carjacking Victim "Incidences of carjacking and other auto-related crimes have appeared regularly in news stories. Despite the danger, there are measures you can take to guard against crime when you are behind the wheel or walking to your vehicle. The National Safety Council suggests the following techniques to reduce the chances of becoming a carjacking victim."
Carjacking - Don't be a Victim "CARJACKING has become one of the most prevalent crimes in many parts of the world. Most carjackings occur for the sole purpose of taking the car; it is a crime without a political agenda and does not specifically target Americans."
Drug War Facts "The chart at the right illustrates the homicide rate in the United States from 1900 to 1998. It is important to note that each of the most violent episodes in this century coincide with the prohibition on alcohol and the escalation of the modern-day war on drugs."
Drug Related Crime "Drugs are related to crime in multiple ways. Most directly, it is a crime to use, possess, manufacture, or distribute drugs classified as having a potential for abuse (such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and amphetamines). Drugs are also related to crime through the effects they have on the user's behavior and by generating violence and other illegal activity in connection with drug trafficking. "
Drug Crimes "The law does not require the police to prove you DID sell, just that your intent was to sell. This is done by the circumstances of the possession and by expert opinion of the police."
Drug Abuse & Law "Educating the public about the increase in prison population in the US due to current drug laws. We alert citizens about the dangers of a federal authority acting beyond its constitutional constraints. The drug war is an assault of our civil rights and freedoms by federal and state governments."
The Heavy Toll of a Legal Drug "Of all the drugs of abuse, alcohol takes the greatest toll on our society. According to a 1998 report from the National Center on Substance Abuse and Addiction at Columbia University, alcohol is more closely associated with crimes of violence than any other drug."
Alcohol & Crime "The extensive and far-reaching impacts of alcohol abuse on crime and public safety are only now achieving widespread public policy attention."
Underage Drinking (PDF) UK Report "Over half (56%) of all 10- to 17-year-olds reported having had an alcoholic drink in the previous 12 months. This figure was highest among 16- to 17-year-olds (88%) and lowest among 10- to 13-year-olds (29%)."
"White Collar" Crime "White-collar crimes are fraud, bankruptcy fraud, bribery, insider trading, embezzlement, computer crime, medical crime, public corruption, identity theft, environmental crime, pension fund crime, RICO crimes, consumer fraud, occupational crime, securities fraud, financial fraud, and forgery. "
White Collar Crime "The phrase "white-collar crime" was coined in 1939 during a speech given by Edwin Sutherland to the American Sociological Society. Sutherland defined the term as "crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation.""
White Collar Law "White collar crimes typically refer to a type of crime committed by business people, entrepreneurs, public officials, and professionals through deception, as opposed to street crimes which tend to involve force and violence"
Identity Theft Resources "t can happen to anyone. The phone rings and a collection agency demands that you pay past-due accounts for goods you never ordered. The supermarket refuses your checks because you have a history of bouncing them. But you have always paid bills on time. What has happened?"
Drunk Driving "Driving with a blood alcohol level over the state’s maximum permissible blood alcohol limit. The limit for adults is 0.08% in all 50 states as of May, 2007."
Product Liability "Products liability refers to the liability of any or all parties along the chain of manufacture of any product for damage caused by that product. "
Forensics & Evidence
 "The main areas used in forensic science are biology, chemistry, and medicine, although the science also includes the use of physics, computer science, geology, and psychology. Forensic scientists examine objects, substances (including blood or drug samples), chemicals (paints, explosives, toxins), tissue traces (hair, skin), or impressions (fingerprints or tidemarks) left at the crime scene. The majority of forensic scientists specialize in one area of science."
Forensic Science
Evidence Retrieval & Analysis "Information gathering that produces hard, useable evidence to win your case is not always a simple task. Well-meaning people who don’t know the laws of information gathering and evidence retrieval often mishandle, or acquire evidence illegally. This taints your case—and lets the guilty go free."
Evidence Collection Guidelines "(Blood Stains, Seminal Stains, Hair, Fibers and Threads, Glass, Paint, Flammable Liquids, Firearms Evidence, Tool Marks, Controlled Substances and Medicinal Preparations, Questioned Documents, Latent Fingerprints)"
Evidence "Rules of evidence are, as the name indicates, the rules by which a court determines what evidence is admissible at trial. "
Driving Patterns and Evidence Gathering "The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has conducted extensive study in their effort to help law enforcement detect drunk drivers. They have identified 20 driving patterns that are believed to be consistent with driving under the influence:"
Electronic Evidence and Search & Seizure Legal Resources "This publication provides a comprehensive guide to the legal issues that arise when federal law enforcement agents search and seize computers and obtain electronic evidence in criminal investigations."
Environmental Crime: Evidence Gathering and Investigative Techniques "Environmental crime investigation presents a most unique challenge for law enforcement today. The criminal environmental investigator--a new breed of law enforcement officer--must have extensive training and experience in the environmental sciences and remain familiar with criminal investigative techniques, as well."
Evidence & Witnesses "The outcome of many criminal law cases will depend upon the strength and admissibility of evidence -- including physical proof, scientific evidence, and witness testimony."
Plea Bargaining
 "A "plea bargain" is a deal offered by a prosecutor as an incentive for a defendant to plead guilty. If every case in the justice system went to trial, the courts would be so overloaded that they would effectively be shut down. Plea bargaining allows the prosecutor to obtain guilty pleas in cases that might otherwise go to trial."
How Does "Plea Bargaining" Work?
Plea Bargaining "Many criminal cases are resolved out of court by having both sides come to an agreement. This process is known as negotiating a plea or plea bargaining. In most jurisdictions it resolves most of the criminal cases filed."
Plea Bargaining "In practice, plea bargaining often represents not so much "mutual satisfaction" as perhaps "mutual acknowledgement" of the strengths or weaknesses of both the charges and the defenses, against a backdrop of crowded criminal courts and court case dockets. Plea bargaining usually occurs prior to trial but, in some jurisdictions, may occur any time before a verdict is rendered."
Defendants' Incentives for Accepting Plea Bargains "A discussion of the most common reasons why a defendant might want to enter into a plea bargain."
Is Plea Bargaining a Cop-Out? "In the vast majority of cases, the accused has no trial. His "day" in court is the few minutes it takes him to plead guilty. "Here we have an elaborate jury trial system, and only 10% of the accused get to use it,""
The Case Against
Plea Bargaining		 (PDF) "Because any person who is accused of violating the criminal
law can lose his liberty, and perhaps even his life depending on
the offense and prescribed penalty, the Framers of the Constitution
took pains to put explicit limits on the awesome powers
of government."
Confidentiality
 "An important thing to remember about the Fifth Amendment's protection is that no one can conclude that taking the Fifth is in any way an admission of guilt. The only conclusion that can be drawn is that the person is exercising the absolute right under the Constitution not to testify against himself or herself."
The Truth About "Taking the Fifth"
Husband-Wife Privilege (PDF) "The spouse of a party has a privilege to refuse to testify against the party as to events occurring after the date of their marriage. A party has a privilege to prevent his or her spouse from testifying against the party as to events occurring after the date of their marriage."
Spousal Privilege "The marital confidences privilege is a form of privileged communication protecting the contents of confidential communications between husband and wife. This privilege applies in civil and criminal cases. When applied, a court may not force one spouse to testify against the other concerning confidential communications made during marriage."
Getting the Facts Straight: Spousal Privilege "he law holds that no one has a privilege to refuse to testify unless otherwise provided by constitution (e.g., the right to avoid self-incrimination), statute, or state or federal rules of evidence. The spousal privilege is a combination of two elements: 1) the right not to be compelled to testify against one's spouse, and 2) the protection of marital confidences. "
Medical Patient Confidentiality "Physicians have always had a duty to keep their patients' confidences. In essence, the physician's duty to maintain confidentiality means that a physician may not disclose any medical information revealed by a patient or discovered by a physician in connection with the treatment of a patient."
Medical Privacy "The regulatory regime for protecting privacy of health information is complex and fragmented. Some protections apply only to information held by government agencies. Some protections apply to specific groups, such as federal employees or school children. Some protections apply to specific medical conditions or types of information, such as information related to HIV/AIDS or substance abuse treatment."
Medical Confidentiality "Patient privacy has always been an important concept in the medical profession. New laws are taking this notion a step further, making it mandatory for medical facilities to protect individually identifiable health information."
Doctor-Patient Confidentiality "The duty of confidentiality continues even after patients stop seeing or being treated by their doctors. Once doctors are under a duty of confidentiality, they cannot divulge any medical information about their patients to third persons without patient consent. There are, however, exceptions to this rule."
Confidentiality and Coping with Law Enforcement Inquiries "Increased visits to libraries by law enforcement agents, including FBI agents and officers of state, county, and municipal police departments, are raising considerable concern among the public and the library community. "
Attorney-Client Privilege "Can a lawyer ever violate his/her duty of confidentiality to protect his/her own interests?"
Reflections on Confidentiality "Ethical standards regarding confidentiality vary from one profession to another, and the public may commonly expect a much different standard of privacy than is actually the case. That is especially true when it comes to religious leaders or to those entrusted by a religious group with the provision of pastoral care. "
Confidentiality - Christian Virtue or Christian Necessity? "Knowledge of a person's medical history can result in inappropriate judgments being made which reduce the patient as an individual. "
Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting: A False Dilemma? "The existence of state laws requiring clergy to report evidence of physical or sexual abuse of children has become a source of controversy. "
What is Attorney Client Privilege? "The attorney-client privilege is the foundation for which confidentiality issues lie in legal matters. It is everything in terms of how a case is handled and how it proceeds."
Silence is Golden "Generally, in order for the attorney-client privilege to apply, there must be an attorney-client relationship and the communication must be made by the client in confidence for the purpose of obtaining legal advice. It does not matter whether the information is communicated orally, in writing, or by nonverbal communication, such as nodding the head. The privilege also applies to information provided by the attorney to the client."
After the Trial
 "Being tried twice for the same offense is prohibited by the 5th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. '[T]he Double Jeopardy Clause protects against three distinct abuses: [1] a second prosecution for the same offense after acquittal; [2] a second prosecution for the same offense after conviction; and [3] multiple punishments for the same offense.' Separate punishments in multiple criminal prosecution are constitutionally permissible, however, if the punishments are not based upon the same offenses."
Double Jeopardy
Double Jeopardy "'The constitutional prohibition against 'double jeopardy' was designed to protect an individual from being subjected to the hazards of trial and possible conviction more than once for an alleged offense. . . . The unde