Category: Articles, Communications, Education, Law Enforcement & Corrections, Legal Translation, Linguistics, Resources for Attorneys, Resources for Experts “You have the right to remain silent…” Obstacles to understanding the Miranda warning TASA ID: 1475 1. You have the right to remain silent. 2. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. 3. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him present with you while you are being questioned. 4. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you before any questioning, if you wish one. (After the warning and in order to secure a waiver, the following questions should be asked and an affirmative reply secured to each question.) 1. Do you understand each of these rights I have explained to you? 2. Having these rights in mind, do you wish to talk to me now? Read more
Category: Articles, Law Enforcement & Corrections, Resources for Attorneys, Resources for Experts, Safety, Security, TASA Press Releases Police Officers Duty to Intervene TASA ID: 321 Police departments in the United States are currently dealing with many issues including appropriate “use of force,” “defunding issues” and whether or not to intervene on another officer’s actions which is called “duty to intervene.” Since many recent encounters involving police officers’ actions have resulted in deaths and serious injuries, these responsibilities and actions have come into the public awareness and are undergoing a great deal of scrutiny. Questions have arisen regarding if their actions are justified, or if the other police officers on the scene had a duty to intervene. The George Floyd case is one of the most notable ones involving police actions and non-interventions, but unfortunately there are many others. Read more
Category: Articles, Communications, Firearms/Guns, Law Enforcement & Corrections, Resources for Attorneys, Safety “To Protect and Serve ALL” S.O.P.S. (Survey of Police Service) for COPS TASA ID: 1646 Please note: “Police” and “Law Enforcement Officer” are used interchangeably. The following questions are designed to help and enable law enforcement officers to mentally walk in the shoes of every citizen they serve. Thinking like, and feeling for, every community citizen served by law enforcement officers, are the most humanistic and humane ways to protect and serve all. Law Enforcement Officers are invited to take this 121-item survey themselves as an invaluable, progressive forward step toward thinking like the community they are sworn to serve. Read more
Category: Articles, Law Enforcement & Corrections, Resources for Attorneys, Resources for Experts, Safety Police and Crisis Intervention – A Crisis in Itself TASA ID: 321 Police officers today deal with many issues. They face danger every day and it is compounded with the current social issues in our society, including the animosity towards police officers and the calls for defunding the police. In this social climate, they have to be more aware than ever of how they respond to situations that may call for utilizing force. It gets even trickier when the officer(s) has to respond to a situation involving individuals that may reasonably be in crisis. These situations necessitate an officer to make immediate and difficult judgments about the mental state and intent of the individual. Since the goal is to effectively resolve the situation with as little violence as possible, officers are often called upon to use special skills, techniques and abilities beyond the “use of force” training they normally receive in order to effectively resolve the situation. They must de-escalate the situation safely for all individuals involved within defined safety priorities, using the laws of the jurisdiction to guide them. Read more
Category: Articles, Law Enforcement & Corrections, Resources for Attorneys, Resources for Experts, Safety, School Safety/Violence The Role of Background Checks in Firearm Ownership TASA ID: 321 Firearm ownership is a very hot topic in this country. Mass shootings have further divided the country between pro-gun ownership and those wishing to tighten the laws or even eliminate private ownership of all or certain types of firearms. Every state in the United States has their own policy on firearm ownership, some seemingly in conflict with federal laws. Even with all of this turmoil, it is important to understand the role that background checks play in firearm ownership. As attorneys, you may one day have a case that involves the use of a firearm and understanding why background checks are important in deciding who can and cannot own a firearm, the history of background checks, how they are performed and why they are relevant today may be useful knowledge if you ever have a case where a crime is committed and a firearm is involved. Read more