Many safety measures and specific methods of counter-terrorism have come under scrutiny following the bombings at the Boston Marathon. One of these relates to fusion centers. Defined by the Department of Homeland Security as “focal points within state and local environments, for the receipt, analysis, gathering, and sharing of threat-related information”, these information hubs have been created to fill in the holes between information know by an anti-terrorism agency but not by local law enforcement, or vice versa. [Read more…]
Grand Theft Auto in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has seen a steady decline in grand theft auto cases since the mid-1970s when it was sometimes referred to as “the country’s car theft capital.” At one point, the parking lot at the South Shore Plaza in Braintree, a mall just down the street from our offices, was one of the most notorious aut0 theft spots in the state.
In 2012, Boston alone reported 1,575 stolen vehicles. While this figure is far better than those reported long ago, residents need to take every possible safety precaution to prevent this type of crime.
Crime Lab Chemist Pleads Innocent Guilty to Drug Charges, More
Police send evidence to crime labs for testing and analysis. This evidence is then used to build a case or gain a conviction against a defendant. The integrity of these labs is crucial in that the evidence that travels through them must be handled with respect to constitutional protections, due process, and scientific standards or risk jeopardizing the entire case. So, when one lab chemist is accused of putting her hands in the cookie jar, so to speak, numerous cases can be affected. [Read more…]
Boston May Use Drones for 2014 Marathon, but is it a Slippery Slope?
In light of the horrific and wildly unexpected events that shocked the city of Boston – and the nation as a whole – law enforcement officials are considering a plethora of tactics to prevent similar events from occurring in the future. The shrapnel-packed bombs that rocked the finish line at this year’s Boston marathon slipped by the tight security that always accompanies the Patriot’s Day event. How, then, can police prevent another horrific event of this magnitude from falling through the protective cracks?
In one word, drones. [Read more…]
Status of New Gun Control Legislation in Massachusetts
Like a great many other states – as well as the federal government — Massachusetts legislators are uncertain how to move forward with any new gun control legislation. While some people argue that there are already too many gun control laws on the books, others claim we need to further address how background checks are handled, what size magazines (ammunition clips) should be available and which types of assault weapons should be banned. [Read more…]
Massachusetts Continues to Pursue Numerous Drug Busts
Since early 2013, Massachusetts law enforcement officers have busted a number of local residents, as well as others caught while traveling through the state. Those accused of violating the state’s controlled substances laws fit a wide variety of descriptions.
But it is clear that despite marijuana decriminalization, the war on drugs is still alive and well in Massachusetts. [Read more…]