San Diego is one of the most surveilled cities in the United States and the SDPD and other local law enforcement agencies have been known to take full advantage of this fact, taking advantage of an array of surveillance technologies. Some of the technologies used by law enforcement agencies around the county include partnerships with […]
How Red Flag Laws Work in California
In 2014, California passed a new law hoping to reduce the skyrocketing number of mass shootings nationwide. The original so-called “red flag law,” allowed concerned family members or law enforcement agents to request a judge to issue a restraining order that would allow the police or sheriff’s department to seize the firearms of a person […]
What Are California’s Laws About Ghost Gun Possession and Sales
Ghost guns are homemade firearms that are practically untraceable because they have no serial number. These are legal to sell and possess on a federal level because the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) defines “firearms” only as finished firearms, frames, and receivers, so those parts that are sold unfinished are not covered […]
SB 519 Would Make Possession of Most Psychedelics Legal in California
California legalized marijuana in 2016 and psychedelics could be next thanks to a new bill sponsored by San Francisco state senator Scott Weiner. The bill, SB 519, proposes to not only legalize the possession of a number of widely used psychedelics, but also expunge the criminal records for those who were previously convicted for possession […]
How Face Masks Could Cause More Bias in Jury Trials During the Pandemic
Between facial expressions and body language, it’s estimated that anywhere from 70 to 93% of communication is made in a non-verbal manner. So when you block half of a person’s face with a face mask, eliminating a viewer’s ability to see frowns, smiles, grimaces and more, you can strip away much of our ability to […]
Why Are Police So Rarely Prosecuted for Excessive Use of Force?
The world has its eyes glued on the trial of Derek Chauvin, where even the chief and other officers on his force have testified that he absolutely acted against the force’s training and protocols when he used a chokehold on George Floyd for nearly nine minutes. But many people watching the proceedings have been questioning […]
San Diego Law Enforcement Agencies Can Reduce Racial Biases -Here’s How
Racism has long been a problem in American society and racial biases have long been a problem within law enforcement agencies. Sadly, it took the death of George Floyd to inspire true reforms in America’s police forces. San Diego is no different from the rest of the country in this regard, but we have the […]
California’s Supreme Court Sets Restrictions on Cash Bail
For years, efforts have been underway to eliminate cash bail within California. While Prop 25 was voted down by the state’s voters, even many people who voted against the measure still opposed cash bail but disliked the specifics of the proposition. But as the public took a vote on the matter, the state Supreme Court […]
Should California Revise its Constitution to Prevent Forced Prison Labor?
Ever since 1865, the US Constitution has read, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” The California State Constitution follows suit by reading “Slavery is prohibited. Involuntary servitude is prohibited […]
How Plants Can “Testify” In Criminal Investigations and Trials
Plants might not be able to talk, but they may be able to say quite a bit when it comes to a criminal investigation. This is all thanks to a science called forensic botany, which may not be widely known, but can be incredibly useful in helping to identify a suspect. But just like all […]
