From the moment you encounter the police, your rights are at risk. This is not because a police officer is behaving unethically. Often the violation of someone's rights occurs when police act hastily or are overwhelmed with circumstances related to a crime. This is...
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Year: 2019
Field sobriety tests are optional for good reason
As you drove home after having a couple of drinks with friends, you saw flashing blue and red lights in your rearview mirror. You may have wondered what you did to draw the attention of the police officer as you pulled over. After asking the officer what you did, he...
Field sobriety tests are optional for good reason
As you drove home after having a couple of drinks with friends, you saw flashing blue and red lights in your rearview mirror. You may have wondered what you did to draw the attention of the police officer as you pulled over. After asking the officer what you did, he...
Observations and questions are common during DUI stops
Getting pulled over by a police officer is typically a nerve-wracking experience. No matter the time of day or the reason, most people feel their heart speed up when they notice an officer trying to stop their car. For some, the situation may seem more intense if they...
The details about national (and South Dakota) prison exonerations
Wrongful convictions are an unfortunate, but common occurrence handed down by the United States justice system. While the mantra has always been “innocent until proven guilty,” for some parties, it felt like and resulted in the opposite – “guilty until proven...
Are violent crime rates on the rise or on the decline?
Crime rates in the U.S. have experienced a significant shift over the past 30 years. Specifically, violent crime rates have faced varying changes over recent years. FBI statistics report a 49% national decrease in violent crime rates between 1993-2017. Domestic...
Did you know possession of THC edibles is still a felony in SD?
Did you know that possession of leaf marijuana is a misdemeanor, but possession of THC/CBD edibles is a felony in South Dakota? The Senate Judiciary committee struck down a bill designed to equalize these punishments in February 2019. Is this unusual in the current...