Dallas Criminal Justice

March 5, 2008

East Dallas- When The Police Fail, Install Cameras

The Dallas Observer has a good story on the success of private security cameras installed in an East Dallas neighborhood. Richland Park estates has a voluntary neighborhood watch program that pays for the maintenance of a video monitoring system. This program has reduced crime dramatically.

These residents already send thousands of dollars in taxes to the Dallas police each year. Why are private security cameras necessary?

Opportunity Costs are really real

March 4, 2008

Plano Police DWI Scandal- The Offense Report

by Robert Guest

A quick recap- Tray B. was arrested by the Plano Police for Driving While Intoxicated. Tray’s Attorney, Don Tittle, overcame Texas’ incredibly limited discovery laws to find out that the arresting officers had been in contact with Tray’s ex wife before, during, and after the arrest of Mr. Boswell.

Here is the Tray’s DWI Case Report. Sadly, it looks like a the typical boiler DWI police report I see everyday. Nothing about it screams corruption. We’ve “trained” officers in how to write these reports so well, that I wonder how many of these phony DWI cases are never detected?

Pre Text Stops

February 28, 2008

Dallas Cell Phone Ban and the 1st Amendment

by Robert Guest

The Dallas School Zone Cell Phone Ban contains the follow defense to prosecution-

(d) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the person was:

(1) operating an authorized emergency vehicle and using the mobile telephone

February 27, 2008

Dallas Burglars approve of new cell phone ban

by Robert Guest

DMN has two stories that highlight the opportunity cost of stupid laws.

Story 1- East Dallas is being hit with a rash of home robberies. If you live in East Dallas and someone breaks in the door, it’s either a robber, or the SWAT team looking for poker games.

Story 2- The Dallas City Council passed a new city ordinance that prohibits using a cell phone in a school zone. By all accounts this law is a solution without a problem. The Dallas City Council continues their proud tradition of incompetence.

February 24, 2008

Dallas Law Office Search- What do clients want in a law office?

by Robert Guest

Dallas Law Office Update-

I am looking for law office space in Dallas. I’ve been focusing on Uptown. The Crescent has a great facility with many flexible options and I am considering an office there. I should make a decision by the end of March. This experience has got me thinking about what a law office does.

Attorney Needs-

February 11, 2008

Dallas Police/TABC- Tax Dollars for Lap Dances and Beer

by Robert Guest

I recently filed an open records request seeking information on undercover TABC activity at strip clubs. I asked for information on all such operations in Dallas County. Not be left out of wasting tax dollars, the Dallas Police also conduct undercover strip club operations.

I received a large stack of papers and CD with more documents. After a quick glance here are some observations.

Purchase of Evidence

February 7, 2008

Dallas DWI School Tommorow

by Robert Guest

I will be at a DWI CLE (continuing legal education)seminar all day tommorow. Check back Saturday for new posts. I am attending the Winning Edge DWI seminar in Plano. I’ve heard great things about this conference and I hope it makes be a better advocate for my clients.

Here is something to check out while I’m gone.

Ten Funniest Anti Drug Commericals

January 22, 2008

Dallas District Attorney- We Can’t Search Our Email

by Robert Guest

The Harris County DA is in turmoil for a number of recent events. One being an email that mentioned problematic “Canadian” jurors. This email was sent between Prosecutors. “Canadians” being a code work for African Americans.

I filed an open records request to the Dallas District Attorney’s office to see if there had been any mentions of “Canadians” in their email. Specifically, I asked for any emails sent by any attorney that had the word “Canadians” in it.

The response from the Dallas office- We can’t search our own email.

January 8, 2008

Dallas SWAT- My Bad Wrong House

by Robert Guest

I recently filed an open records request with the city of Dallas. I asked for “information on how often, if ever, the Dallas SWAT team or Dallas Police, has entered the wrong house while serving a warrant.” I asked for all incidents since 2002.

Today I received my response from Lieutenant Danny Williams. Mr. Williams reports that there have been two such incidents in the last 5 years. Both are within the last 12 months. Mr. Williams forwarded one Offense Report which is sparse on details.

Mr. Williams job title caught my attention. Mr. Williams is a police officer for the city of Dallas. Yet he works for the “Homeland Security and Special Operations Division.”

December 3, 2007

Dallas Police raid VFW Poker Game- Reason.TV

by Robert Guest

A great Drey Carey video for reason.tv. Dallas PD sent a SWAT team to bust up a VFW poker game. Absolutely shameful. Dallas SWAT continues to embarass the city with misguided poker raids.

Even the most casual observer of criminal justice can see the blatant hypocrisy of our State’s poker ban. Gambling in Texas is legal only if the State runs it. The Texas Lottery sells poker scratch off tickets, inter alia. Try and run a private poker game and we send a SWAT team to shut you down. Private poker is illegal. Our State’s gambling laws exist only to protect the State’s gaming monopoly.