Archive for January, 2010
Missouri Laws and Free Speech
January 12th, 2010 | 
Author: Cyberbullying has been a serious problem in this nation for a long time. Missouri has had a well known history of this with 
the Megan Meier case that occurred in 2006. Not long ago, a ninth grader was arrested under this law when she created a nasty website against another classmate. “She would be better off if she just died” was a comment used on there. The bully has been turned over to the juvenile system. The current law went into affect in August 2008 and has caught others under this law.
There have been many who have argued that they have free speech in this nation so that it is okay to say whatever they want and when they want. True, we have that in America and a lot of times, in the heat of the moment, people tend to say things that they normally would not say or regret saying. People verbally fight and lash out at one another when angry as that is normal. However, what about when something is posted online and these things are open to everyone around the world? Vicious lies about others that can be read by friends, family and even strangers? This is not like a verbal argument where something is said and forgotten. When something is posted online, it is there to stay unless someone removes the post. Children think that by posting these things, nobody will come across them except for their friends and those they know. They never think of the long term affects and the dangers in what this can do to another person. So, is free speech worth it?
I hear so many people say that because of free speech they can say what they want. Not just children but adults as well. I believe in free speech and yes, we all have a right to it. However, when it comes to slander, verbally hurting someone or posting something nasty online then yes, there needs to be consequences. We need to stop and think before saying things as we do not want it to affect others out there. It is important for adults to know this and for them to teach it to their children. We need to be protecting children from these kinds of things and not enabling the problem. Thank you Missouri for staying on top of this problem. It would be a much better world if we all did watch our words and stopped verbally trying to hurt others. Maybe one day that dream will become a reality. Having laws sure does help.
Posted in 
Report Cards on College Campus Crime
In 1986, Howard and Connie Cleary’s daughter, Jeanne, a student at Lehigh University, was murdered on campus. In addition 
to founding the non-profit Security on Campus, Inc. in 1987, they lobbied for a new federal law that would require colleges and universities to disclose both ongoing and annual reports on campus crime and security policy. Originally enacted by the Congress in 1990 as the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, the law was codified as part of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and made applicable to all postsecondary institutions participating in federal student aid programs. It was renamed the Clery Act – specifically, the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act – after a round of amendments were made to the Act in 1998.
Annual report cards
The Clery Act mandates that schools publish annual reports by October 1st detailing the previous three years of campus crime statistics. Also required are explanations of existing sexual assault policies, statements attesting to a basic level of victims’ rights, a description of the campus law enforcement authority and contact information for students to report crimes. When compiled and published each year, each school is to distribute the report immediately to all current students and staff, and notify applicants and prospective employees that it is available. Institutions may employ any of various means of notification, including e-mail and website postings, as long as each intended recipient is given the precise URL (Uniform Resource Locator, or web address) for the report. School officials must also make printed, paper copies available.
Crime statistic and categories
The definition of “campus” is important to understanding the data. Schools keep (and report on) statistics for crimes that occur directly on campus, on some off-campus facilities like fraternities and sororities (“Greek housing”), remote classrooms, in school vehicles (buses, trams) and in certain public areas that border school property. The county sheriff, local police forces, campus police and security personnel all contribute statistics and statements to the Clery Act report, as do other school staff, employees or officials that have “significant responsibility for student and campus activities.” Schools are encouraged, but not required, to have confidential reporting procedures. However, once they opt to establish such a system, they are then required to inform the campus community of its existence. As mental health professionals and ministers are exempt from the reporting obligations, a confidential reporting system could capture enough additional crime data to affect a school’s objective safety rating.
There are seven reporting categories for campus crime, several of which have additional sub-categories. The categories are outlined in the following manner:
- Homicide
- Murder and non-negligent manslaughter
- Negligent manslaughter
- Sex offenses
- Forcible offenses including rape
- Non-forcible offenses
- Robbery
- Aggravated assault
- Burglary
- Vehicular theft
- Arson
There is also a lesser category (“incident”) that must be reported if there is a disciplinary referral to the campus judicial affairs office, or an arrest by a law enforcement agency. The incidents that require reporting include all types of liquor law violations, all drug law violations and weapons possession. Only the arrest is counted if a student is both arrested and given a school referral. The Clery Act further requires that the data be mapped out, denoting the geographical areas as being on campus, campus student residences, non-campus buildings or “public property” such as parks, streets and sidewalks. In addition, the report must disclose if any reported crime was a “hate crime” under either state or federal law, or both.
Timeliness and responsibility
Unless a student is a victim, perpetrator or witness, the way most students even become remotely aware of the Clery Act is by the occasional “timely warnings” that schools publicize, as well as the separate, comprehensive crime log they make available for public inspection. The decision to issue a “timely warning” is a subjective one on the part of the school administration, and is normally considered only when a person or act is deemed to pose an imminent and/or ongoing “threat to students and employees.” The public log must be available for viewing by any interested party, not just persons affiliated with the particular school. The log must contain records of everything that is reported to campus police or security personnel, and is to be continuously updated in a manner specified by the Act.
Using the data
The crime information is not collected merely for the sake of amassing statistics. There is a very real responsibility on the part of postsecondary institutions to provide a safe and healthy environment for scholastic pursuits. Crime on campus, of all levels and kinds, is antithetical to the very notion of the university, a place of contemplation, problem-solving, creative beauty of every kind and the dynamism we associate with education, discovery and free inquiry.
The Job of the Sex Crime Attorney is Not Glamorous
Sex crimes usually make all the media outlets. Proof to show the seriousness of the matter and the way it affects people. If 
someone has been accused of such a crime, it is common for the public to ignore their rights. But in spite of the damage they cause to their victims and the impact they have on society as a whole, they still have rights to uphold in a court of law. This is when an experienced sex crime attorney is needed.
In light of the sensitive nature of this article, specific terms cannot be mentioned. But in general terms a sex crime is defined as an illegal sex act or illegal form of sexual behavior. If the accused is convicted, then for the rest of their life they will be categorized as a sex offender. With this classification go many things. All the more reason it is necessary to hire a knowledgeable and experienced sex crime attorney to handle cases such as this.
Using the state of Texas as an example, all sex offenders are required by state law to be on the Sex Offenders Registry for an unspecified amount of time. At the time of this writing, the amount of time usually leads to the point a person’s conviction has been overturned which is rare or when they die. Even if a person’s conviction of a this crime is overturned, removing their name from the sex offenders list can be difficult.
Once a person is listed on the Sex Offenders Registry, their crime is now something the public can access. Clearly stated, this means that neighbors, present and future employers, landlords, educational facilities, financial institutions along with every private citizen will have access to this personal information. This will include, but is not limited to their name, the crime they were convicted of, their address, and name of employer.
Employing an experienced and knowledgeable sex crime attorney is the best way to ensure all is handled appropriately. A sex crime conviction is a life altering conviction that affects both the accused and their victims. There are no minor sex crimes, just sex crimes. Though the sex crime attorney has the unenviable position of defending people of committing such a crime, it is their responsibility to ensure that these cases are handled efficiently and justly.
Tags: Best move in facing DUI or DWI
If you are facing a charge of driving under the influence or driving while impaired, chances are your best and wise move would be finding a good lawyer or attorney. Yes, we all know that lawyers and attorneys would be very expensive, but what you will do and payment for your actions if you lose the case would much more be severe. You can ask yourselves people are the fees much more worthy to avoid than possibility of spending your time in jail?
If ever you made the choice in hiring one, go now and set your internet to search mode. Pick the best of the best, the cream of the crop to help you with the impending charges. Let us say you injured someone this could get you jail time indefinitely so your best bet is the capability of your lawyer or attorney to reduce the penalties or sentence. So as stated, choose the right guys to help you.
There are oh many qualified and certified lawyers out there. For example in Minneapolis, there a many Minneapolis DUI attorneys or lawyers out there who are capable in helping you. It is just the matter of you steeping forward and reaches out t them to help yourself. So my friends help is just but a dial or contact away what are you waiting for?