The American Civil Liberties Union continues to challenge Michigan’s sex offender registry. The group says the registry does more harm than good in keeping the people of Michigan safe and, meanwhile, violates the rights of those it lists. Michigan’s registry has...
Courtroom etiquette for defendants: a quick guide
Being the defendant in a courtroom can be nerve-wracking. The formal nature of courtroom proceedings can make even the most cool-headed person feel anxious. Many can feel worried about doing or saying the wrong thing. Making a good impression on the judge is important...
Children aren’t always reliable witnesses in molestation cases
Facing child molestation charges can be terrifying, even if the alleged perpetrator is found innocent. In many cases, children who were the alleged victims get called to the stand for questioning about their recollections of the alleged encounter. However, many...
Why educators don’t always address bullying appropriately
Parents want what's best for their children. However, if their kids are getting bullied at school, parents may not feel they have the power to intervene. At school, the child's well-being often lies in the hands of teachers and administrators. But sadly, they might...
Strange federal laws put focus on the choice to file charges
It is a federal crime to make an “unreasonable” gesture at a passing horse in a National Park, according to a recent book. This year, people found reasons to think seriously about this silly book. Some reasons were political, such as pointing to it to argue the...
Often mainly parents suffer for disabled child on sex registry
When courts hand down sentences for sex offensives to people with intellectual disabilities, it is instead their parents or guardians who often suffer the consequences. Because the convicted person sometimes cannot understand the court’s rules and cannot afford the...
Underage sex stings focus attention on entrapment
Reason magazine recently described Florida police attempts to arrest men and charge them with soliciting underage girls for sex. The libertarian magazine described what it called “outrageous” and “absurd” sting operations in which agents texted with men posing as...
