Police and prosecution roundup

  • At least twelve Baltimore cops sought workers’ comp for stress after using deadly force on citizens [Luke Broadwater, Baltimore Sun/Carroll County Times]
  • “D.C. Council votes to overhaul asset forfeiture, give property owners new rights” [Washington Post]
  • A different view on Ferguson: Richard Epstein defends grand jury outcome [Hoover]
  • “The House GOP leadership is blocking a police militarization reform bill from even getting a vote.” [Zach Carter, HuffPo, via @radleybalko]
  • Will potential cost of citizen public records requests sink police body-camera schemes? [Seattle Times, ABA Journal]
  • Marissa Alexander case, cited by critics of mandatory minimum sentencing, ends in plea deal [Brian Doherty, earlier, CBS Sunday Morning on mandatory minimum sentencing]
  • Forensics guy hired by Michael Brown’s family: “If they want to think I’m a physician, then more power to them.” [Radley Balko]
  • St. Louis County fines/fees: “Municipal courts charge $100 for Christmas gift of fake amnesty” [St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial]

2 Comments

  • From the Marissa Alexander case, I think there is a clear message to anyone who finds it necessary to use a gun in self defense in Florida.

    Never say “He was attacking me, and I was in fear of my life, so I fired a warning shot to dissuade him from his attack.”

    Instead, say “He was attacking me, and I was in fear of my life, so I fired to stop him from killing me. If I hadn’t been shaking from fear, I wouldn’t have missed.”

  • Never say “He was attacking me, and I was in fear of my life, so I fired a warning shot to dissuade him from his attack.”

    I would agree with that except for the fact that Alexander left the immediate area, went out and got a gun, and then returned to shoot at her ex.

    If you can walk away, get away, and the threat is not coming after you, how much of a threat is there to your life?