When Testifying is Dangerous: The Witness Protection Program
Lobo Law Blog
by Jay Butchko
1w ago
The U.S. Marshals have been charged with operating the federal Witness Protection Program in order to provide new identities to individuals who face the possibility of retribution when testifying against organized crime groups like the Mafia, for example, who terrorize communities and are involved in significantly violent crimes. The government understands that cooperation can be a genuine safety concern for witnesses and their families, and has been in the business of protecting them since 1971 as part of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970.  Since then, nearly 20,000 people have bee ..read more
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Help! I’ve Just Been Charged with a Felony!
Lobo Law Blog
by Jay Butchko
1w ago
If you’ve been charged with a crime and arrested, you are no doubt feeling alarmed.  What’s next for you? Should you cooperate with police to demonstrate your innocence? Should you do whatever it takes to get out of custody?  No and no! If you are facing felony charges, your first steps have a monumental effect on your case. So sit tight and remember your rights! Remember This  First of all, it is imperative that you remain silent. It is your Fifth Amendment right, and is the first step toward avoiding self-incrimination.  It doesn’t matter how friendly or how threatening i ..read more
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The Use of Deadly Force by Federal Officers
Lobo Law Blog
by Jay Butchko
2w ago
Numerous federal agencies are tasked with protecting the public. They include the FBI, ATF, DEA, and Federal Marshals. And while they do put a lot of bad actors away, they have been responsible for more than 150 fatalities and 80 injuries in a period of just five years.  That leads to questions about just how these agencies operate. What are the Rules?  Most people know that state and local law enforcement agencies have necessarily undergone some monumental reforms in recent years. But it seems the same is not true for federal law enforcement agencies. One major issue that remains be ..read more
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Police Transparency a Must
Lobo Law Blog
by Jay Butchko
3w ago
If you think of police as part of the community, you realize that there is a social contract that requires trust of law enforcement among community members. How is such trust achieved?  Many experts believe the key is in transparency. Practical Implications  More than four in ten Americans report a declining perception of police and other law enforcement agencies due to a lack of transparency, suggesting that agencies need to shine more light on policies and procedures, while giving the public greater access to data and decisions made by top officials. That includes incorporating som ..read more
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Justice vs. Black Box Technologies
Lobo Law Blog
by Jay Butchko
1M ago
More and more these days, law enforcement depends on artificial intelligence (AI) in the pursuit of criminals or in making determinations on how to move forward with investigations, or even with how to determine the best punishments for convicted individuals.  What’s also more common is the fact that AI algorithms are increasingly complex and/or secret, otherwise known as black box. What are we Talking About?  Black box technologies in the criminal justice system are those that use technical algorithms to interpret DNA mises, facial recognition, and even risk assessments for recidivi ..read more
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Can I Live Stream a Police Interaction?
Lobo Law Blog
by Jay Butchko
1M ago
We’ve all seen countless videos of police manhandling citizens who were allegedly involved in criminal activity.  Such chronicles, generally recorded by concerned  bystanders, have alerted the public to the unnecessary use of force by officers across the country. Beyond simply videotaping arrests and other police interactions with the public, is it legal to actually live stream such incidents? While it could benefit the fight for civil rights, couldn’t it also hamper an officer’s ability to do their job, and even lead to riots and civil unrest? The Legal Question  The courts hav ..read more
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A Trend That’s Dangerous: Swatting
Lobo Law Blog
by Jay Butchko
1M ago
A recent trend is raising alarm bells among citizens and police alike: swatting.  According to the FBI Las Vegas Field Office, swatting is actually a type of harassment that involves deceiving providers of emergency services so that they send special response teams to an address under the impression that an emergency is under way. The prank calls bring SWAT teams and others rushing to a scene where nothing unusual is occurring, but since officers don’t know the location is safe, weapons are brandished and the potential for accidents is very high. Specifics on Swatting  What kinds of ..read more
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Defending Vehicular Manslaughter or Homicide Charges in Nevada
Lobo Law Blog
by Jay Butchko
2M ago
Vehicular homicide: it’s a horrendous crime on so many levels.  It means that as the person charged with the crime, you are responsible for someone’s death.  No, you didn’t intend for things to turn out this way—maybe you were behaving stupidly, and things got out of control. But someone is now dead, and the state is committed to making you pay. What Constitutes Vehicular Manslaughter?  Negligence is at the core of vehicular manslaughter charges.  Perhaps a driver exceeded posted speed limits, or maybe tried to make it through an intersection just as the light turned to red ..read more
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Retail Theft, aka Shoplifting
Lobo Law Blog
by Jay Butchko
3M ago
The holiday season may bring to mind visions of sugarplums and tinsel for lots of Americans, but for retailers, the focus is on theft.  As the busiest shopping season of the year, they know that shoplifters are out in full force. The majority of all retail theft—roughly 80 percent– occurs during the holidays. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, in fact, nearly $2 million worth of merchandise will likely be lost to sticky fingers in 2023. That estimate is up 6 percent from 2022. Penalties  Shoplifters who are caught and prosecuted face some pretty stiff criminal penalties in Nevada, i ..read more
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Voter Fraud
Lobo Law Blog
by Jay Butchko
3M ago
2024 promises to be a crazy election year, making it worthwhile to take a look at voter fraud issues that could lead to some real problems for individuals who are charged. The Facts About Voter Fraud  Most Americans care about election integrity and believe fraud of any kind is absolutely unacceptable.  That being said, it’s become very clear that voter fraud is extremely rare in this country, despite claims to the contrary in recent elections. That’s according to numerous studies.  And there are already claims floating around purporting that the 2024 presidential election is “r ..read more
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