While many communities fluidly react to the current health emergency, there are mixed messages to first responders about their roles in enforcing fluctuating public health policies. In addition to the anxiety of conducting usual law enforcement activities within the circumstances of a pandemic, police officers are now flooded with such things as calls from anonymous […]
<h1 class="entry-title">Category: Legal Blog</h1>
Mass. Supreme Court issues sweeping decision on digital surveillance – Very important roadmap for criminal cases impacted by technology
On April 16, 2020, the Massachusetts Supreme Court issued a decision that may likely set the standard for the use of digital technology in criminal cases. The case is Commonwealth v. McCarthy (SJC-12750), and involved the tracking of an individuals movements over a period of time by use of ALPR cameras (license plate recognition). The […]
First Circuit issues very significant decision protecting police from personal liability – new rule of law
In a colorfully written 53-page opinion very important for police officers, the US First Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the “community caretaking function,” previously only applicable to automobile searches and seizures, is now applicable to private premises, including residences. The case is Canglia v. Strom, and was issued March 13, 2020. In this […]