Posted by admin in Criminal Justice News Aug 29th, 2010

So, you’re getting ready to study abroad and it’s all you’ve been able to think about for weeks. Studying abroad should be one of the greatest experiences of your life, but there are also things to keep in mind in order to make the experience a safe one as well. The following tips can help make your trip enjoyable and enlightening, by also minimizing the risk of getting into trouble or falling victim to something that could have been avoided:

Pack lightly and wisely- It is important to pack as lightly as possible for your trip. When packing light, you don’t have as much luggage to carry around which can leave you with a free hand if you need. Packing light can also reduce the amount of time you spend putting your bags down or leaving them unattended. You want to avoid bringing things that are valuable such as expensive jewelry and clothes that can draw the wrong attention. It is also best to leave everyday things at home that you will not need such as credit cards you won’t be using, Social Security cards, or any other important documents or material possessions that you wouldn’t want to lose.

Get to know your area- It is very important to familiarize yourself with where you will be staying and studying during your trip. You should get to know the bus and subway routes and the last times they operate for the night. Purchasing a map is a good way to get to know your surrounding area and can get you out a bind, if you get lost or need to figure out how to get somewhere. Knowing where the closest hospital and police station is and how to get there is important as well. You should also know where the American consulates and embassies are and how to contact them.

Blend in- Blending in and not drawing attention to you and your group could be one of the easiest ways to avoid conflict while on your trip. It is important to avoid big “tourist” groups, because they can be targeted for pickpockets and other crimes that go unnoticed in large, busy crowds. Flashy clothing and jewelry and noisy, obnoxious groups often invite unwanted attention and could bring trouble. It is best to stay in small groups and observe the dressing patterns, manners and culture of the country you are visiting and to practice them.

Drink in moderation- While being in a new country is a good time to celebrate, it is important to be alert and still be able to be aware of your surroundings. You should drink around those you know or trust and never leave your drink unattended. Drinking too much can lower inhibitions and weaken your judgment which can make you vulnerable to thieves and tough situations. If you seem to be in a potentially dangerous or uncomfortable situation it is best to leave. It is also best to not walk home alone and to try to take public transportation, such as the bus or subway, for as much of your trip as possible.

Avoid street crime- You should avoid carrying large sums of cash around; traveler’s checks are the safest way to go. If you must carry cash, keep it out of sight and do not flash it around- it is best to keep it in front or zipped pockets on you. If your money is stored in a purse or satchel, make sure it is zipped and closed. Passports, credit cards, and other important documents (always have copies, too) should be stored in a safe place and you should not be carrying them unless they are needed. The use of pouches or bags hanging around the neck or waist should be avoided unless necessary. Also, try to avoid civil disturbances, minimize traveling alone and stay in well lit areas, if possible.

Posted by admin in Criminal Justice News Aug 23rd, 2010

The war on drugs has become bigger, costlier, and more dangerous with every passing day. Drug smugglers have created well thought plans of smuggling drugs across the US, but with the increased presence of agents, sting operations, and help between local, state, and federal officers- big drug busts with millions of dollars of seized drugs are becoming more common. Here are a few of the biggest drug busts in recent years:

Gatun ship bust- The cocaine bust on the Panamanian ship, Gatun, is considered the largest maritime cocaine bust in US history. The US Coast Guard made contact with the ship after being spotted by a patrol ship in March of 2007. In plain sight, on the top main deck of the freighter, the Coast Guard uncovered more than 42,000 pounds of cocaine with an estimated worth of 600 million dollars. 14 crew members, all from Mexico and Panama were arrested.

Project Deliverance bust- A two year nationwide drug bust with roots in Nevada, ended with the arrests of 429 people in 27 different cities across the US. The sting operation named “Project Deliverance” was composed of DEA, FBI, ICE, several local agencies and Mexican officials, and led to the confiscation of more than 1200 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 2 tons of cocaine, 1400 pounds of heroin, more than 69 tons of marijuana. The bust also led to the seizure of more than 154 million dollars.

Gilroy, California bust- In August of 2010, several local and federal agencies raided a home in Gilroy and confiscated crystal methamphetamines and cocaine that had a street value of up to 100 million dollars. The home appeared to have ties to Mexican drug cartels and the three men taken into custody were Mexican nationals. The men are facing multiple felony charges including possession for sale of methamphetamine and the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Southern California bust- After authorities pulled over a tractor trailer in June of 2010 in Southern California for a traffic violation, a strong smell overwhelmed them and after finding inconsistencies within the paperwork for the load, a search of the trailer was prompted. Inside the trailer authorities discovered about 20 tons of drugs including an estimated 38,000 pounds of marijuana, 67 pounds of methamphetamines and 2,700 pounds of cocaine, totaling an estimated 45 million dollars. The truck’s driver was arrested and charged with possession, transportation, and sale of narcotics.

Pesotum, Illinois- The February 2010 drug bust, in which police seized more than 2 tons of marijuana is among one of the biggest drug busts in Illinois history. State police pulled over a tractor-trailer during a routine traffic stop and after becoming suspicious and granted consent to search the vehicle, found 270 shrink-wrapped bales of marijuana, an estimated total of between 14 and 19 million dollars. The driver and two passengers, who were headed to Chicago, were arrested and charged with possession, manufacture and delivery of cannabis, cannabis trafficking and cannabis conspiracy. If convicted, the men face between 12 and 60 years in prison.

Posted by admin in Criminal Justice News Aug 8th, 2010

Sure, almost everyone has gotten a speeding ticket or been stopped for minor traffic violations, but in some cases people get stopped or ticketed for doing something they didn’t even know was a violation of the law. The following are a better look at some violations that could get you into some trouble when you didn’t even know you were doing something wrong:

Parking more than 18 inches from a curb- It is illegal to park more than certain allotted inches from a curb. When parking along a curb the front and back wheels must be parallel and within the inches that the state or jurisdiction has set forth. Parking more than the allotted space away from the curb can make it difficult for fire trucks or emergency vehicles to make their way through the streets when need be. While it varies from 12 to 18 inches by state, curb parking violators are normally slapped with small fines.

Driving barefoot- Driving without shoes on isn’t really recommended or considered safe and is illegal in some states. A driver can certainly be ticketed for the unsafe operation of a motor vehicle, which depending on the discretion of the cop, can be driving barefoot. It can also be added to any ticket aside from what the driver was pulled over for the in first place. The fine is usually fairly small and shouldn’t exceed a few hundred dollars.

Texting while Driving- It is illegal in 30 states to text while driving. While some of these states don’t have laws against talking on the phone, drivers can be cited for texting, email, surfing the web, or playing games unless stopped at a stoplight. These laws vary heavily from state to state so it is best to check with your local agency, because drivers could face up to a $500 fine if they are caught and cited.

Failure to secure your load- It is against the law in many states to operate a vehicle with a load unless the load is covered or fastened securely as to not become loose, fall out, or cause a hazard to the street. It doesn’t matter whether the load is trash, heavy furniture, or anything else being transported it needs to be covered with a tarp or securely fastened with chains, straps, or ropes. Failure to secure a load while driving is subject to a fine and in some cases, if it causes property damage or harm to another, can be also punishable by jail time.

Failure to yield to emergency vehicles- It is against the law to fail to stop or pull over on the side of the road when emergency vehicles are trying to get through the street. It is the responsibility of drivers to yield the right-of-way to ambulance, fire trucks, police and other emergency vehicle when their lights are flashing and/or using horns or sirens. The driver should always remain stopped on the side of the road until the emergency vehicle has completely passed and only move back into the lane after checking that there isn’t another emergency vehicle trying to make its way through as well.