Recent Blog Posts
Understand Your Rights When Getting Pulled Over
It’s happened to most of us: you’re on the road with no particular worries on your mind, when suddenly a knot of apprehension lodges in your gut: those all-too-familiar red and blue lights are flashing in the rear-view mirror. This time, it’s not some stranger being pursued by the police. This time, you’re the… Read More »
Racial Profiling
The crime of “driving while black” has had much discussion of late. As anyone of color can attest, it certainly does feel as though dark skin coincides with a higher incidence of police contact. Here in Nevada, the data is scant, although some research does indicate that Hispanics and blacks are more likely to… Read More »
Can Restorative Justice have a Positive Impact in Nevada?
What do we want from our justice system? Punishment? Retaliation? Justice? One idea that has been making its way into the discussion of late is the concept of restorative justice. What is it, how does it work, where can it be useful, and why should we bother with it? What is Restorative Justice? In… Read More »
Can You Sue a Police Officer?
If you’ve ever had a negative interaction with a law enforcement officer, you may have wondered whether or not you had any chance of winning a lawsuit against someone in such a powerful position. The fact of the matter is police officers are sued across the county fairly often. It is an undertaking that… Read More »
Police Reform: Practical Measures
Is police reform necessary in 2020? The resounding answer from the public, and from experts who have studied the issue for years, is yes. But what do we mean by the term police reform? In order to make it happen, we first have to define exactly what it is we want to accomplish. So… Read More »
Federal Legislation in the Works: Worth Knowing
Congress has been debating a number of issues that could have a significant impact on Nevadans. Understanding the impetus behind these bills and the potential outcomes may lead some to consider activism based on perceived impacts. R. 7120: The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 was introduced into legislation by Re. Karen… Read More »
Mass Incarceration: The Civil Rights Issue of our Time
While most people can agree that having violent criminals on the streets is not a good idea, minds are starting to change when it comes to the notion that every criminal should be behind bars, and for as long as possible. The indisputable fact is, the criminal justice system is seriously flawed, resulting in… Read More »
Who do Police Body Cams Benefit?
From the George Floyd to the Rayshard Brooks case, recent instances of police brutality have been documented with body cam and cell phone footage, prompting questions about just how frequently these situations occur. Essentially, since so many cases are popping up across the country, one wonders about how often excessive force occurs that we… Read More »
Do Police Unions Hamper Justice in America?
Workers have unionized across the country for decades in order to improve working conditions. The list of benefits that unions secure for employees is impressive, ranging from a wage increase of about 20 percent, to the inclusion of fringe benefits like health insurance and paid leave. Pension plans, vacation plans, and wage inequality have… Read More »
Protesting in Las Vegas, What Are Your Rights?
It’s not difficult to feel the tension bubbling up in society these days. Well-documented accounts of racial injustice and police brutality are just two of the issues propelling public demonstrations across the country. If you are considering stepping out to participate in such a protest, it would behoove you to be familiar with your… Read More »
