More from this issue:

1. Parallel Construction: Building Criminal Cases Using Secret, Unconstitutional Surveillance
2. New York Times Investigation Spotlights NYPD Practice of ‘Testilying’, by Derek Gilna
3. New Washington State Law Removes ‘Actual Malice’ Roadblock in Police Prosecutions, by Derek Gilna
4. Arizona Supreme Court Announces Defendants May Claim Both Self-Defense and Misidentification, by Richard Resch
5. Iowa Supreme Court Announces Indecent Exposure Statute Does Not Apply to Still Images of Genitals, by Dale Chappell
6. $175,000 Settlement Reached in Lawsuit Alleging Officers Literally Tried to Feed Graffiti Suspects to K-9s, by Christopher Zoukis
7. New Jersey Supreme Court Interprets Criminal Harassment Statute to Avoid First Amendment Problem, by Christopher Zoukis
8. Prosecutors’ Offices Taking Thousands in Grant Money, Fueling Crackdown on Sex Buyers, by Steve Horn
9. $325,000 Paid by Sheriff’s Office to Settle Fatal Shooting Case Over Not Wearing Seat Belt, by Derek Gilna
10. Privacy Advocates Concerned About Google AI and Pentagon Drone Surveillance, by Derek Gilna
11. Intellectual Disability and Wrongful Conviction in Death Cases: A Lethal Combination, by David Reutter
12. Philadelphia Tests Automating the Bail Risk Assessment Process, by David Reutter
13. Eighth Circuit: Teague Analysis Bars Retroactive Application of Padilla Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claim, by Christopher Zoukis
14. The ‘Office Shuffle’: Ohio Police Recycle Bad Apples Among Rural Departments, by Matthew Clarke
15. Former Civil Rights Lawyer Krasner Puts Justice Reform into Practice as New Philly DA, by Derek Gilna
16. Mississippi Supreme Court Reverses Conviction Ruling; State Failed to Prove ‘Constructive Possession’ of Marijuana, by Dale Chappell
17. Sixth Circuit Denies Qualified Immunity for Officers in No-Knock Home Entry Case, by Richard Resch
18. Sentencing Court’s Grant of Prior Custody Credit was Not ‘Clear Error’ to Allow for Removal, by Dale Chappell
19. NYU Students Form Dollar Bail Brigade to Help Free New Yorkers Held on $1 Bail, by Christopher Zoukis
20. Illinois Supreme Court Strikes Down Part of Two Stalking Statutes as Unconstitutional, by Richard Resch
21. Texas District Attorney Stops Prosecuting Trace Drug Cases
22. Trenton Police Officers’ ‘Violent’ Comments Captured on Body Camera, by Derek Gilna
23. Kansas Supreme Court Rules Grant of ‘Use’ Immunity Insufficient to Compel Testimony, by Richard Resch
24. Massachusetts High Court Vacates Felony-Murder Conviction for Failure to Suppress Cellphone Search, by Christopher Zoukis
25. Study: Unionized Police? Increased Misconduct, by Derek Gilna
26. Utah Supreme Court Changes Course on Admissibility of Preliminary Hearing Testimony at Trial, by Christopher Zoukis
27. 9th Circuit: District Court Improperly Deferred to Nevada Supreme Court in AEDPA Analysis, by David Reutter
28. California Supreme Court Grants Habeas Petition and Vacates Capital Murder Conviction Due to False Expert Testimony at Trial, by Richard Resch
29. Controversial Police Interrogation Technique That Often Results in False Confessions Abandoned by Influential Training Consultant, by Matthew Clarke
30. $42 Million Paid Out in Decade of New Jersey Police Criminality, Abuse
31. First Circuit Modifies Emergency Aid Doctrine for Warrantless Entry of a Home, by Richard Resch
32. Texas Quietly Authorizes Nation’s First Public Safety Employees Treatment Courts, by Matthew Clarke
33. Kansas Supreme Court Nixes Probation After Full Sentence of Confinement Served, by Edward Lyon
34. Eleventh Circuit Holds Court May Not Dismiss 2255 Motion by Invoking Collateral Attack Waiver Sua Sponte, by Dale Chappell
35. $300,000 Settlement in Suit Over Death of Intoxicated Man Abandoned by Deputies, by Matthew Clarke
36. Wisconsin’s 6,000-plus Untested Rape Kits Include Over 2,000 Involving Child Victims, by Matthew Clarke
37. Texas Court of Criminal Appeals: Furtive Gestures, Brief Visit Not Probable Cause, by Dale Chappell
38. Qualified Immunity: The Supreme Court’s Unlawful Assault on Civil Rights and Police Accountability, by Jay Schweikert
39. Asset Forfeitures Fund New York DA’s Office Bonuses
40. U.S. District Court in Georgia Holds Spousal Testimonial Privilege Applies to Pre-Marital Events
41. N.C. Supreme Court Rules Deficient Indictment Not Jurisdictional and Issue Can’t be Raised for First Time on Appeal, by Dale Chappell
42. The Sex Offender Registry: It’s Not What You Think, by Sandy Rozek
43. Congressional Spending Bill Provision ‘Clouds’ Constitutional Rights in Criminal Probes, by Steve Horn
44. Seventh Circuit Finds Plain Error Where Guilty Plea Accepted Without Rule 11 Colloquy, by Christopher Zoukis
45. Guilty Plea Does Not Foreclose Challenge To Constitutionality Of Conviction, U.S. Supreme Court Decides, by Brandon Sample
46. Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Holds Defendant Entitled to Self-Defense Jury Charge if There is Any Evidence to Support It, by Matthew Clarke
47. From the Editor, by Richard Resch
48. N.Y.’s Top Court Clarifies Freedom of Information Exemption for Disclosure of Confidential Sources of Information, by Christopher Zoukis
49. News in Brief

More from Sandy Rozek:

• Cancel Culture Nothing New to Those on Sex Offense Registries, June 15, 2021
• Holiday Cards for Prisoners: Let’s End Collective Punishment in U.S. Prisons, April 1, 2021
• New Tennessee Legislation Will Destroy Hundreds, Probably Thousands, of Families, Feb. 19, 2020
• Which Makes Us Safer? Residency Restrictions or Enhanced Rehabilitation for Former Sexual Offenders?, Jan. 21, 2020
• If It Saves More Than One Child, Dec. 17, 2019
• New Tennessee Legislation Will Destroy Hundreds, Probably Thousands, of Families, Aug. 6, 2019
• ‘They need to be marked for life’, July 17, 2019
• ‘They need to be marked for life’, June 14, 2019
• Knowing Sexual Offense Facts Important; Paying Attention to Them Critical, May 15, 2019
• Destroyed Lives, March 15, 2019

More from these topics:

• Conviction Tossed for Former Alabama Prisoner Paroled After 42 Years, July 1, 2026. Sex Offender Registration, Wrongful Conviction, Forensic Sciences, Eyewitness Identification, Brady Rule violations.
• Michigan Supreme Court Announces Betts Decision Invalidating 2011 SORA as Ex Post Facto Punishment Applies Retroactively to Defendants on Collateral Review, July 1, 2026. Sex Offender Registration, Retroactivity, Ex Post Facto, Constitution, state, Constitutional Challenges/Law.
• Sixth Circuit Announces Federal Coercion and Enticement Statute Requires Knowledge of Victim’s Minor Status, Deepening Circuit Split, May 1, 2026. U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Statutory Construction/Interpretation, Sentence, Miscalculation of the Guidelines Sentencing Range.
• Montana Supreme Court: Due Process Prohibits Courts From Relying on Unproven Charging Allegations When Imposing Sex Offender Registration Duty, Announces First-Impression Rule Limiting Review to Elements of Conviction, March 1, 2026. Sex Offender Registration, Administrative Exhaustion, Fourteenth Amendment, rights, Qualifying Offenses, Acquitted Conduct/Uncharged Crimes/Dismissed Counts.
• Fifth Circuit Holds Texas Sexual Assault of a Child Statute Sweeps More Broadly Than Federal SORNA Tier Offenses, March 1, 2026. Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Qualifying Offenses, Plain Error, Elements of Offense, Miscalculation of the Guidelines Sentencing Range.
• Fifth Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Suit by Civilly Committed Texan, Dec. 1, 2025. Sex Offenders (Discrimination), Conditions of Confinement, Complaints, Grievances, Civil Commitment.
• Third Circuit Announces “Commencement of the Instant Offense” in Guidelines § 4A1.2(e) Unambiguously Refers Only to Specific Offense of Conviction, Not Relevant Conduct, Nov. 15, 2025. U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Prior Conviction/Sentence/Incarceration, Adequacy of Criminal History Category, Statutory Construction/Interpretation.
• Florida Appeals Court Finds Rationale for “Sexual Predator” Label on Former Prisoner’s Drivers License, Oct. 1, 2025. Sex Offender Registration, Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Sexually Dangerous Persons/Sexual Violent Predators, Prisoners' Rights.
• Nebraska Supreme Court Announces ‘Working Days’ for Purposes of ‘Temporary Domicile’ SORA Reporting Requirement Means Weekdays, Excluding Legal Holidays, and Reverses Conviction for Failure to Register, March 15, 2025. Sex Offender Registration, Wrongful Conviction.
• Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Commonwealth Must Prove Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Offender Knew of SORNA Registration Obligations for Failure to Register Conviction, March 15, 2025. Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Unreasonable Application of Clearly Established Federal Law.