Traffic impunity in Nevada

Between 2017 and 2021, courts in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Henderson in Nevada reduced more than 200,000 traffic tickets to parking violations, as reported here. This included over 80% of 95,000 speeding tickets in Las Vegas. Among these, “Deals were given to more than 400 people cited for driving more than 30 mph over, as well as about 80 people accused of going more than 40 mph over.” Reducing the tickets to parking violations meant no points on licenses. As a result, Nevada suspends driver licenses at a much lower rate than neighboring California, Idaho, and Utah. The story cites several traffic-related tragedies caused by drivers who had previously accumulated numerous tickets but evaded any consequences.

More cities restricting homeless

This article reports an increase over the last 3 years of cities enacting laws that place restrictions on homeless people. Laws restricting camping, panhandling, sleeping in vehicles, and sharing food have all become more common, according to a study of 187 urban jurisdictions. City officials say they need tools to manage a difficult situation, while advocates criticize reliance on prohibitions and enforcement that “will only fail the city and fail constituents.”

Jurisdictional complexity in tribal areas

This article describes some of the jurisdictional challenges faced in tribal policing. The legal authority of tribal and non-tribal police can depend on where an incident occurred, whether the victim is a tribal member, and whether the offender is a tribal member. One tribal attorney says “it’s a complete mess.” Potential solutions include collaborative agreements and cross-deputization, but issues related to sovereignty, liability, and trust often get in the way of making significant improvements.

Victim tracking of rape kits

An increasing number of states have laws establishing rape kit tracking systems, as reported here. At least 17 states now have such laws, with 5 others pending this year. A key feature of the systems, besides helping officials track cases and reduce backlogs, is empowering victims to monitor the status of evidence collected from them. Advocates argue this “provides a degree of transparency and accountability that, until now, had been notoriously absent from sexual-assault cases.”

DNA errors

DNA evidence is widely regarded as iron-clad. Particularly when the evidence is a mixture from several people, however, crime labs are prone to make errors, according to this op-ed column. In one study, 74 out of 105 labs incorrectly implicated an innocent person in a test sample, and the labs’ calculations of probability statistics varied hugely. Independent reanalysis of DNA has recently led courts to overturn 5 convictions. Efficient methods are now available for reanalysis of DNA mixtures in past cases, but labs and prosecutors do not seem anxious to adopt them.

Best & worst states to be a cop

This article from WalletHub assesses 25 different factors to rate the 50 states plus DC on the desirability of police employment. Criteria include cost of living, salaries, crime rate, and public image. The top 3 are North Dakota, New York, and Connecticut. The bottom 3 are Arkansas, Louisiana, and Idaho. Click the “Ask the Experts” link for a variety of perspectives — the comments from William Vizzard are short and to the point.

Oregon vs. Minnesota on decertification

This article provides a detailed comparison of police licensing and decertification practices in Oregon and Minnesota. The system in Oregon is considered one of the best for transparency, thoroughness, and regularly updating; the state “dedicates a lot of energy and a lot of time to police our own” according to one sheriff.

Western “constitutional” sheriffs

This article recounts the rise of so-called “constitutional” sheriffs in the Western U.S. who resist federal initiatives and sometimes actively interfere with federal law enforcement officials. These sheriffs, said to number over 200, have established their own networks and are often linked to citizen groups and political movements associated with state’s rights, 2nd amendment rights, and opposition to land management and environmental protections.

Fatal encounters and military veterans

Yesterday, David Couper posted the story of Wauwatosa (Wisconsin) police officer, Jennifer Sebena, age 30, tragically murdered on Christmas Eve by her husband, an Iraq war veteran. In a follow-up today, Chief Mike Masterson of Boise, Idaho describes some efforts made by his agency to help returning veterans and, hopefully, avoid fatal encounters.