More from this issue:

1. State Violence, Legitimacy, and the Path to True Public Safety, by David M. Kennedy
2. Floyd’s Family Might End Up Helping Pay Chauvin’s Retirement Benefits, by Kevin Bliss
3. How the Courts Are Using Compassionate Release to Fix Unfair Sentences, by Dale Chappell
4. Seventh Circuit: ‘Especially Compelling Justification’ Required for Same Maximum Sentence on Resentencing, by Dale Chappell
5. The Warrior Cop Mindset, by Edward Lyon
6. Seventh Circuit: Admissions to Pretrial Services Cannot Be Used to Prove Guilt, by Dale Chappell
7. SCOTUS: Counsel’s Failure to Uncover and Present Evidence in Mitigation at Capital Sentencing Requires Remand for Prejudice Determination, by Douglas Ankney
8. Indiana Supreme Court: Forcing Defendant to Unlock Smartphone Violates Fifth Amendment Right Against Self-Incrimination, by Douglas Ankney
9. California Supreme Court: ‘Honest and Upright Life’ Possible While in Custody for Expungement Purposes, by Anthony Accurso
10. Seventh Circuit Explains ‘Conduct That is Part of Common Scheme or Plan’ for Sentencing Purposes, by Douglas Ankney
11. Third Circuit: District Court Must Personally Address Defendant During Sentencing, by Douglas Ankney
12. Police Body Cams Are not a Cure-All, by Edward Lyon
13. Hawai’i Supreme Court Announces Police Officers May Not Testify That Driver Appeared Intoxicated, Overruling Toyomura, by Douglas Ankney
14. FBI Expands Ability to Surveil Social Media and Cellphone Location Data, by Douglas Ankney
15. Activists Seek Accountability by Pushing NYC to Make Footage From Traffic Cams Available for Archiving, by Douglas Ankney
16. SCOTUS Announces Large Portion of Oklahoma Remains Tribal Land in Which State Lacks Jurisdiction to Try Native Americans, by Douglas Ankney
17. California Court of Appeal Holds Canizales Decision Limiting Kill Zone Theory Applies Retroactively, by Matthew Clarke
18. Nationwide Police Misconduct Database Available to Public, by Kevin Bliss
19. Wrongfully Convicted Virginians Now Have Chance to Prove Innocence Due to Amendments to Writ of Actual Innocence, by Douglas Ankney
20. Sixth Circuit: Prosecutor’s Improper Comments and Counsel’s Failure to Object Require New Trial, by Dale Chappell
21. Second Circuit: Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act Applies on Per-Offender, not Per-Count Basis, by David Reutter
22. Fourth Circuit: Sentencing Procedurally Unreasonable Where Special Condition Not Explained and Mitigation Argument Not Addressed, by Matthew Clarke
23. Hawai’i Supreme Court: Showing Jury Video of Defendant Declining Officer’s Request to Reenact Crime Violates Right to Remain Silent, by Douglas Ankney
24. Extending the Surveillance State During the Pandemic, by Anthony Accurso
25. The Power of Filming Police, by Jayson Hawkins
26. Georgia Supreme Court: Counsel’s Failure to Inform Defendant of Absolute Right to Withdraw Plea Prior to Sentencing Ineffective Assistance, by David Reutter
27. Guard Your Digital Privacy to Keep Your Real Self Safe, by Anthony Accurso
28. Second Circuit Announces Categorical Approach Applies to State Convictions for Sentencing Enhancement Determination Under 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B), by Matthew Clarke
29. Congress Unsure of Internet Data Collected by Government as PATRIOT Act Heads for Reauthorization, by Dale Chappell
30. What to Do if You’re Pepper-Sprayed, by Dale Chappell
31. After a Decade of Fighting, The Last Resort Exoneration Project Finally Frees Two Wrongfully Convicted of Murder, by Michael Fortino, Ph.D
32. Tenth Circuit Vacates Conviction, Rules Waiver of Trial Counsel Not Knowingly Made, by Dale Chappell
33. Colorado Supreme Court: Plea Proviso in § 18-1-409(1) Doesn’t Bar Appeal on Manner in Which Sentence Imposed, by David Reutter
34. Sixth Circuit Grants Habeas Relief for Defendant Shackled During Murder Trial Without On-the-Record Justification, by David Reutter
35. New York Police Continue Pattern of Arrests of Low-Level Crime During COVID-19 Crisis, by Derek Gilna
36. Report: Attorney Appointment a ‘Pay For Play’ Arrangement in Texas County, by Kevin Bliss
37. Hawai’i Supreme Court Announces Trial Courts Have Duty to Obtain Knowing and Voluntary Waiver of Penal-Responsibility Defense, by Douglas Ankney
38. Hawai’i Supreme Court: Dog Sniff Unrelated to Initial Traffic Stop Requires Suppression of Evidence, by Dale Chappell
39. Colorado Supreme Court Announces Framework for Distinguishing True Threat From Protected Speech Communicated Online, by Douglas Ankney
40. Tenth Circuit: Confession Involuntary Where FBI Agent Falsely Claimed to Be in Contact With Judge, and Defendant Could Shorten Sentence With Each Truthful Answer, by Douglas Ankney
41. Minn. Supreme Court Announces Rule for Analyzing Out-of-State Convictions for Public Safety Registry Requirement Purposes, by Anthony Accurso
42. Kentucky Supreme Court: Trial Court’s Ex Parte Discussion With Juror About Offered Bribe Was Structural Error, by Douglas Ankney
43. Seventh Circuit Holds First Step Act Applies to All Crack Offenses ‘As a Whole,’ Regardless of Crack Amounts, by Dale Chappell
44. Ban the Box not Applicable to COVID-19 Stimulus Aid, by Edward Lyon
45. Six eyewitnesses misidentified a murderer – here’s what went wrong in the lineup, by Laura Smalarz
46. The Lunacy of Qualified Immunity, by Edward Lyon
47. Tear Gas: Soldiers Prohibited From Using It in Warfare but Cops Using It Against Peaceful Protesters, by Douglas Ankney
48. I Cover Cops as an Investigative Reporter. Here Are Five Ways You Can Start Holding Your Department Accountable., by Andrew Ford
49. News in Brief
50. Problems With Predictive Policing, by Jayson Hawkins

More from Douglas Ankney:

• California Appeals Court Sustains Amendments to CDCR that Narrow Youth Parole Eligibility Rules, July 1, 2026
• Eighth Circuit Revives § 1983 Complaint Alleging Jail Detainees’ Death from Stroke was Due to Deliberate Indifference and Failure to Train, July 1, 2026
• California Court of Appeal Announces Defendants Who Exercise Right to Jury Trial on Aggravating Circumstances Are Entitled to Closing Argument by Counsel on Those Factors, July 1, 2026
• SCOTUS Holds Federal Habeas Court May Not Consider Post-Trial DNA Evidence That Was Never Presented to Jury When Assessing Whether False Informant Testimony Influenced Verdict, July 1, 2026
• Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia Announces Six-Factor Test for Evaluating Presentence Motions to Withdraw Guilty Pleas Under Rule 32(e), Holds Binding Plea Agreement Does Not Extinguish Defendant’s Ability to Seek Withdrawal, July 1, 2026
• New Jersey Lawmakers Pass “Female Incarcerated Person’s Rights Protection Act”, July 1, 2026
• Louisiana’s Atavistic Approach to Criminal Sentencing and Parole Demonstrates Politicians’ Failure to Learn from Past Mistakes, July 1, 2026
• California Supreme Court Announces Amended § 1170(b) Applies Retroactively to Plea-Bargained Upper Term Sentences, July 1, 2026
• Michigan Supreme Court Announces Betts Decision Invalidating 2011 SORA as Ex Post Facto Punishment Applies Retroactively to Defendants on Collateral Review, July 1, 2026
• South Carolina Supreme Court Announces Formal Adoption of Fourth Circuit’s Three-Step Cheek Framework for Evaluating Improper Third-Party Contacts With Jurors Under Remmer, Reverses Murdaugh Murder Convictions, and Overrules Ethier Regarding Juror Testim, July 1, 2026

More from these topics:

• D.C. Judge Blocks Transfer of Biden-Commuted Federal Death Row Prisoners to “Supermax,” Citing Lack of Meaningful Due Process, April 1, 2026. Transfers, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Fifth Amendment, Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Prison Classification.
• Montana Supreme Court Holds Defendant’s Sentence Must Be Vacated Where District Court Premised Sentence on Defendant’s Exercise of Constitutional Rights to Jury Trial, Silence, and Against Self-Incrimination, April 1, 2026. Fifth Amendment, Sixth Amendment, Self-Incrimination Clause, Right to Testify/Remain Silent, Acceptance of Responsibility.
• Acquitted Conduct Sentencing: Not Guilty – But Punished Anyway, March 1, 2026. U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Federal Legislation, Fifth Amendment, Sixth Amendment, Acquitted Conduct/Uncharged Crimes/Dismissed Counts.
• D.C. Federal Court Holds Blocking Prison Reform Advocate’s Access to Federal Prisoners May Violate First Amendment and Due Process, Feb. 1, 2026. Threats by Staff, DOC/BOP misconduct, First Amendment, rights, Fifth Amendment, Access to Computers.
• Supreme Court of Maryland Announces Police Officer’s Observation of Driver Manipulating Cellphone Screen Does Not, Without Additional Facts, Establish Reasonable Suspicion for Traffic Stop Under Fourth Amendment, Feb. 1, 2026. Cell-Phones, Motions To Suppress, Reasonable Suspicion, Traffic Stops, Terry Stops.
• The Legal Fight for Homeowner Compensation After SWAT Raids, Dec. 15, 2025. Sovereign Immunity, Fifth Amendment, Constitution, state, Destruction of Property.
• Ninth Circuit Announces Abandonment Doctrine Applies to Cellphones but Courts Must Analyze Intent to Abandon Device Separately From Intent to Abandon Data, Dec. 15, 2025. Fourth Amendment, rights, Cell-Phones, Motions To Suppress, Digital Devices, Seizure.
• Michigan Supreme Court Announces Guidance on Standards for Search Warrants of Cellphones to Satisfy Particularity Requirement of Fourth Amendment That “Reasonably Direct” Search to Uncovering Evidence of Criminal Activity Identified in Warrant, Oct. 15, 2025. Particularity Requirement, Searches - Cellphones/Computers/Internet, Cell-Phones, Warrants - General Search, Failure to Preserve Challenge.
• Understanding Your Constitutional Rights in the 
‘100-Mile Border Zone’: A Primer for Non-Citizens in the United States When Confronted by Law Enforcement, July 1, 2025. Immigration, Fifth Amendment, Searches - Border Stops/Searches, Level of Suspicion, Routine vs. Non-Routine Border Searches, Immigration Law/Offenses, Fourth Amendment.
• Sixth Circuit Announces Invoking Fifth Amendment While Testifying at Trial Does Not Contradict Prior Proffer Statement Nor Does Questioning the Sufficiency of the Prosecution’s Evidence, July 1, 2025. Fifth Amendment, Sufficiency of Evidence, Prior Inconsistent Statements, Proffer Agreements/Statements/Sessions.