This section of articles provides handy information on a wide variety of current Legal topics and issues. In addition, some of the most famous lawsuits are explored and analyzed.
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Many employees covered by health insurance plans can continue to get health benefits for a limited time after their job ends under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).
Legal fees vary and can depend mostly on the type of criminal charges your child is facing.
If federal or state anti-discrimination laws cover your business, then you can't fire an employees for discriminatory reasons, such as race, age, gender, etc.
An executor is the person named by a testator (someone who has made a valid will) to carry out the terms of the will.
If you become "incompetent," it might become necessary for a friend, relative, or government entity to go to court to seek the appointment of a "custodian" (called a "guardian" in some states) to manage your financial affairs.
The new bankruptcy law makes it easier for landlords to evict bankrupt tenants.
Improve your chances of success in court, including knowing how to hire the right lawyer.
A few days ago, someone set fire to a tree planted at the local high school in honor of our community's veterans.
Law enforcement copes with young people's use of popular energy drinks containing or combined with alcohol
Video and other visual multimedia applications provide officers with increased situational awareness, providing the ability to see what's going on at the scene or inside a building, and then share that information among a team and headquarters. By providing visual information across the network, law enforcement can develop better strategies for resolving situations, coordinate resources more efficiently and communicate more effectively — while saving money in the process.
A guide that explains the technicalities and important things to remember about prenuptial agreements
In the "Art of War," Sun Tzu says those "whose ranks are united in purpose will be victorious.
The answer is what has been dubbed by the media as the "Missouri Miracle" might have been called the "Missouri Nightmare" instead, with Owenby suffering the same fate as Hornbeck — becoming one of America's permanently missing.
The interplay of supply and demand has created a pricey situation for popular law enforcement ammunition across the country
Technology will help achieve the goal
Grant funding gives law enforcement the opportunity to cash in on groundbreaking technologies
There's a new sheriff in town and he's keeping an eye on your driving, my driving, and best of all, my teen's driving — at least if you're living in DeForest, Wisconsin.
How to get tax benefits from charity donations
Liquid explosives provide an easy means of terror. How does law enforcement detect, prevent and respond to this threat?
"We are sacrificing hometown security for homeland security.
The gun control movement has a face again — 32 of them in fact.
New material aids investigators in lifting trace evidence
There are hundreds of combinations of events that can take place during a traffic stop; the suspect can comply, passively resist, assault, run from the officer, etc.
When manufacturers first began attaching tactical lights to handguns, most experts immediately identified the holster paradox.
Emergency preparedness software gives first responders a better view of the rescue scene with new mapping technologies
The two most common accuracy related penalties are substantial understatement and neglicence and disregard of the rules and regulations. Here are ways to avoid these mistakes and the subsequent penalties associated with them.
After investigating a homicide for four years, Det.
What you really need to do is prevent something like this from happening," says Tom Turner, director of campus safety at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, of the April 16th Virginia Tech massacre.
Are your facilities and communications — including Web sites — accessible to people with disabilities?
Learn about the basic procedures used in most types of adoptions.
Last month, the cover of our issue erroneously showcased a tactical officer with his finger on the trigger, instead of outside of it.
Business partnerships consist of two or more people working together to make a profit.
Learn what alimony is and how it works.
Police and rotating shifts
Everyone in law enforcement understands mobile data and the value of having access to mission-critical information in the field. While there have been several mobile data advancements the past decade, few have created as much buzz in the industry or held as much promise as mesh networking.
One of Minnesota's top cops looks back at the tragic I-35W Mississippi River Bridge Collapse
Deliberately directing bullets at the head may not be politically correct, but the headshot has a specific tactical use.
A woman is held against her will for nearly 36 hours by her common law husband.
Using public surveillance cameras to capture homicides and other crimes
The basic steps involved in a typical Chapter 13 bankruptcy case.
Law enforcement conventions often are gatherings sponsored or convened by private businesses to benefit enforcement professionals.
An annulment is a court procedure that dissolves a marriage and treats the marriage as though it never happened. For some people, divorce carries a stigma, and they would prefer to have their marriage annulled, while others prefer an annulment because it may be easier to remarry in their church if they go through an annulment rather than a divorce.
The legality on if and when you can appeal your small claims case.
With white collar crimes, there are significant opportunities for obtaining redress in the appeals process.
After getting the go-ahead from USCIS, it's time to apply for your green card.
Where and how to get the right to spend a limited amount of time in the United States.
This article reviews the application process for an H-1B visa, which is awarded to foreign workers performing specialty occupations in the U.S. It lists types of occupations commonly fitting under this category, and discusses the likelihood of such a worker obtaining the visa in a given year.
Find out who is eligible for U.S. citizenship and how to apply.
Learn whether Chapter 13 bankruptcy is an option for you.
How to protect your rights in the workplace.
Understand lawyer fees when seeking legal advice from an attorney.
Is this technological tool the next force multiplier?
What to do so your friends and family know what to do if you should ever become incapacitated.
In addition to joint tenancy, other ways for avoiding probate during estate planning includes establishing a savings account trust, opening a payable-on-death bank account and adding a transfer-on-death designation to any securities you own.
Bloodstain pattern software continues to be a mainstay since 1989
What you need to know about Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy:
Terrorists are spotted building a weapon of mass destruction in an abandoned airport hangar.
Knowing how to properly collect evidence of crimes is important for any investigator, but it is extremely important when dealing with sexual assualt cases
Often a creditor will try to collect a debt by suing you. Here are some ways to protect yourself.
The Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) covers an expansive geographic area that includes the communities of San Clemente, Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Orange, Rancho Santa Margarita, Santiago Canyon, Stanton, Lake Forest and Laguna Hills.
The changing face of forensic DNA analysis
If you are the one riding the bike, it's important to keep your wits about you after the crash.
Law enforcement is becoming more and more clued-in when it comes to both technology and getting the most out of private-sector relationships and nothing could be smarter.
It's a tough day on the job for a police chief when a critical piece of equipment goes missing.
We know that active shooter situations have been occurring for many years, and in recent years their frequency has increased. Law enforcement has a moral obligation to create an effective controlled response to counter these horrendous situations.
A Body bunker basics Firearms tactics body bunker, often called a ballistic shield or ballistic blanket, is a handheld portable bullet-resistant shield designed to augment an officer's vest.
Answers to your frequently asked questions about property lines and surveys.
When there are no trees to hide behind, body bunkers provide tactical protection
Law enforcement taps into the Intranet's infinite possibilities
What to do if your spouse or ex-spouse owes taxes to the IRS and you're expected to pay.
The police carbine is a tool which overlaps the capabilities of the handgun and long-range rifle.
It's important to understand the legal and financial considerations of caring for an elderly relative.
It made the front page news in our small-town — population 11,000.
In case investigations, you gather information, documents, and other evidence relevant to your case.
But without sound policy, comprehensive training and community outreach, departments may find themselves without them
This article explains how police can use cell phone signal jamming equipment to prevent future cell phone triggered improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
When Cory Pulsipher began working in law enforcement more than 20 years ago in Washington County, Utah, the main channel of communication for police and sheriffs was the two-way radio.
How to change your name or your child's name after getting divorced.
When you draw up a will as part of your estate planning, there may come a time when you might want to change it. Here are the three most common ways to do so.
Analyze your debt.
The human resources departments of law enforcement agencies go to great lengths to try and hire the best candidates.
Trends in armored vehicles reflect security concerns in a post-9/11 SWAT force
Checklists and logs for the crime scene photographer
Normally, the judge deciding child custody matters will consider the parents' wishes, the child's wishes, and the child's relationship with others.
Tips for collecting child support payments when one parent fails to meet support obligations.
Who to choose as executor of your will and estate.
How to know when traditional divorce court may be a better route than divorce mediation or collaborative law.
Antidiscrimination laws limit the tenants you can accept and reject.
Name the best person to direct your medical care if you are unable to do so yourself.
Although far less frequently imposed, another accuracy-related penalty is the civil fraud penalty.
A severe physical or mental condition may qualify you for Social Security benefits.
There's good reason for seat belt policies. Police officers who aren't belted are more likely to die if their patrol car crashes than officers who use a seat belt.
Many employees covered by health insurance plans can continue to get health benefits for a limited time after their job ends under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).
How to make cobuying a home affordable
I've seen news stories in the past about cold case squads composed of retired law enforcement officers.
If you can find the debtor's bank accounts, you greatly increase the chance of collecting what you're owed.
How real estate lien could help you get money
If the debtor has a job, you may be able to grab up to 25% of his or her wages.
Manufacturers meet the growing demand for better women's body armor with new designs, new technology and a unique line of new products
A short glossary of terms and definitions associated with foreclosure.
Learn what common law marriage is and in what states it's recognized.
Mediation offers an opportunity for parties in conflict to resolve problems with the help of an objective third party.
Successfully linking law enforcement data between multiple agencies in South Carolina has become a reality, and a helpful one at that.
Unfit and unhealthy officers experience enormous problems.
Lots of folks enjoy mythology, but when consumers mistake myths as facts, it can lead to clashes and disappointments.
The Los Angeles Regional Common Operational Picture Program employs technologies to improve off-site emergency operations communications
Find out why you need a written agreement with your lawyer.
Michigan departments take technology on the road
Information culled by the NYPD's Real Time Crime Center gives detectives super investigative powers
An overview of credit card information, including what to do if you are denied obtaining a credit card due to previously bad credit.
Photography logs and checklists provide valuable information when crime scene photographers are called to testify at trial regarding the authenticity of the photos.
Landlords have some degree of legal responsibility to protect their tenants from assailants, thieves, and fellow tenants.
Regional labs highlight Enforcement Expo video analysis presentation
If you become "incompetent," it might become necessary for a friend, relative, or government entity to go to court to seek the appointment of a "custodian" (called a "guardian" in some states) to manage your financial affairs.
A custom vehicle's purpose can be found by the situations it deploys for and the specifications it was manufactured to. The adaptability of a custom vehicle helps keep its usefulness maximized.
In a house filled with teenagers, the Constitutional right to privacy need not apply.
How to communicate with insurance companies about personal injury claims.
Why does so little training exist for the most grim job in law enforcement?
It happened in Canada, when local media representatives got up in arms over a Vancouver police officer posing as a reporter in order to lure a suspect with outstanding warrants into position for arrest.
The tactical officer is a special breed of officer.
Information on bankruptcy and when you need it.
The KRISS Vector is to weapons what the M16 was to lever-action rifles.
A discussion of the most common reasons why a defendant might want to enter into a plea bargain.
Both deportation and exclusion mean that you're not allowed to stay in the U.S., but they're different in some ways, whether you are removed from the country or not allowed to enter.
Memphis police asked how an armed confrontation with a mentally ill individual might have been prevented, and found a unique answer
Enhanced analysis can help law enforcement be more proactive
Children are more vulnerable than ever to predatory grooming via portable multimedia devices
If you have a disability, you should understand the laws when you rent a house or apartment.
Imagine a subway bombing in a city lacking enough experienced cops to fight ordinary crime, much less terrorism.
Who can landlords rent to as well as information concerning evictions.
If federal or state anti-discrimination laws cover your business, then you can't fire an employees for discriminatory reasons, such as race, age, gender, etc.
How to divide property fairly during a divorce.
When and if divorce mediation results in an agreement or settlement, the mediator has the power to make it legally binding.
How to create a divorce agreement with the help of a mediator .
How to represent yourself in criminal court
Lying on an application may help you get the job, but could cost you later.
In line with his thinking, this issue is chock full of examples to learn from and take home to your own department.
Before you sue, make sure your opponent is solvent so you can collect.
Basic information on driving requirements, including BAC, roadblocks, and BAC testing.
All drunk driving cases start out with a contact between the driver and a police officer.
The durable financial power of attorney is a simple way to arrange for someone to handle your finances.
The importance of preparing a will cannot be overstated. This section will discuss what happens if you die without a will.
Time for my annual list of things you can do to improve your department.
The Global Justice XML Data Model (GJXDM) was developed to enable federal, state and local justice and public safety agencies to exchange data in a common, replicable format.
Testing a firearm is a lot like getting to know someone.
Employee benefits include health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
What employers cannot ask you on a job application or during an interview.
Even if a contract is not in writing, everyone who takes a job has an employment contract.
Employers are required to deduct and withhold a specified percentage of the wages actually or constructively paid to your employees- and then pay that amount to the Internal Review Service (IRS).
If a worker is an independent contractor, the employer is not required to withhold or to pay employment taxes.
At the end of every year, I close with a look at selected strategies for making your department both better to lead and more relevant to the community you serve.
The Law Enforcement National Data Exchange may revolutionize information sharing if it proves to be secure, accurate and sound
A big goal of Enforcement Expo, August 12 to 13 in Columbus, Ohio, is to provide expert training and timely discussion for professionals in the field.
Imagine law enforcement enjoying the education only hands-on experiences can offer, networking new ideas in the industry and previewing the possible technologies that could change, shape and revolutionize the future of law enforcement — and that was only last year.
Entering the U.S. may not be easy, even when you have a valid visa in hand.
An overview of the 1963 Equal Pay Act
CEDAP is a federal grant program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
When firearms, protective vests, holsters, flashlights and safety equipment are in discussion, they catch attention. However, here are some other tools that law enforcement carry, such as protective gloves and GPS devices.
The internal revenue service wants you to pay estimated taxes on an as-you-go basis. If you receive wages, taxes are withheld as the wages are earned.
How to determine if probate is necessary.
Who is eligable for overtime pay and what kind of rules apply.
How to file an Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
I was at the park the other day with a friend and her 4-year-old daughter when a "bathroom emergency" arose.
Facial recognition technologies continue to improve in performance
Information on the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
When you make a will, you have an affect on your family. Find out what kind of issues may arise from these actions.
How to use the law and your employer's complaint procedures to protect yourself from on-the-job harassment.
How to file a worker's compensation claim and best practices.
When people need to file for bankruptcy, there are two choices: chapter 7 bankruptcy or chapter 13 bankruptcy.
Debuting in 1962, "The Jetsons" animated series was based on a vision of what life in the late 21st century may be like.
How to find a good personal injury attorney to help you with your accident or injury claim.
A novel means of print detection may be a golden opportunity to improve fingerprinting processes. Why is no one paying attention?
The firearm-mounted laser has made tremendous improvements over time.
Shooting from a barricade should rank high on the list of tasks to master in firearms training. For firearms encounters that go beyond pointing the firearm, barricaded shooting education is right behind gun fighting within the distance of two arm lengths in low visibility.
If an employee is an "at will" employee, you can fire them without cause, otherwise it comes down to contract terms.
How to train for the real deal
One of the most frustrating experiences for an officer is to lose access to critical information while on the job due to a dropped network signal. Here is a guide to ensure this doesn't happen.
The firearm-mounted laser has made tremendous improvements over time.
The significance and impact of criminal victimization has, in recent decades, elicited a notable change in focus and attention within the criminal justice system.
Whether done by sketch artist or computer, how accurate is it really?
The goal of pursuing excellence in a university setting is not uncommon.
A how to guide for selecting and training a dog to serve in a K9 unit.
Flash-Ball is not something from those paintball weekends.
Piecing together the construction of soft body armor
But while celebrities try to steer clear of the SCRAM bracelet, the gadget is topping gotta-have-it lists for supervising authorities nationwide.
Whether a result of the expanded role of law enforcement, increased emphasis on homeland security or dramatic data about dangers of the dark, the need for low-light technology and training has developed into a high priority.
A man drives hundreds of miles and parks his tractor in a pond.
Every year, bereaved Americans find themselves confronted with the task of organizing a loved one's. However, the traditions are changing as the American society grows and changes each year.
Agencies are finding alternatives to the squad car can help them navigate the community
When Henry Montelongo found out he wasn't going to inherit his late father's fortune, he stormed out of the attorney's office.
Picking the right laser for the job
When Soon Kim, a Korean national working at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, disappeared during a boating trip on Lake Powell with his roommate in 1985, the subsequent investigation turned up more questions than answers — about both his life and death.
Learn the basics about guardianships, including the difference between guardianship and adoption.
As the summer approaches, many parents are filled with dread.
To heighten officer and community safety, it is critical that all police officers possess a basic understanding and awareness of what they may encounter during a hazardous materials incident. They need to be familiar with hazardous materials placards and their meanings to quickly assess potential dangers on-scene.
How to help your loved ones have power of attorney.
How to asses your windowed parent's assets
Lawyers are finally recognizing that some clients need just a little help.
Where the past meets the future in police bike patrols
As community populations increase, agencies find creative ways to stretch budgets without compromising safety and security on the homefront
Protect yourself from mechanic's liens if your contractor fails to pay subcontractors or suppliers.
Grant funding and groundbreaking legislation help secure one of the nation's busiest seaports
Suarez made the leap from Marine to police work while taking college courses aboard the Marine Corps base where he was stationed.
After you file for bankruptcy, the automatic stay offers potent legal protection against bill collectors.
How C Corporations work and when to use the structure.
Your case will go to the IRS whenever they determine that you owe back taxes.
An overview of the eviction process, including the termination notices required for different situations.
An overview on how members of a jury are selected or excused when reporting for jury duty.
In bankruptcy, there are two requirements: You must commit all of your disposable income (income not reasonably necessary for the maintenance and support of you and your family) over the next three years to repayment of debts and You must make payments to your unsecured creditors that equal or exceed the value of your non-exempt property.
If your parent loses a life partner, you can provide both emotional and practical support.
Clark County Coroner's Office uses Web to put a name with a face
A look inside the document fraud business through the eyes of a counterfeiter
A recent conversation with Professor Ehud Keinan not only gave me much food for thought, but also made me look at the issue of improvised explosives in a completely different way.
The shotgun has long been a mainstay in the arsenal of U.
The advantages and disadvantages of independent adoptions
Marine patrol fleets use Rigid-hull Inflatable Boats (RIBs) versus traditional patrol boats for increased port safety
From local to federal levels, sharing efforts are improving, but more needs to be done
While technology is available to integrate intelligence and add value to the fight against crime, concerns abound over information ownership, security and other variables.
Deputies, officers, clerks and volunteers all seem to have the same two questions when it comes to law enforcement paperwork.
GIS used successfully with leading public safety software will continue to offer the speed and performance needed to respond when seconds matter.
The old cliché is to simply say, "A picture is worth a thousand words.
"In the movie "Mean Girls" the popular girls write disparaging remarks about other young women in what they call a "burn book.
Law enforcers go online with citizen sleuths to bring Internet predators to justice
Does a requirement for public safety video interoperability exist? According to first responders, the answer is 'yes.'
Clearing the muddy waters of drowning investigations
Law enforcement finds comfort with new climate-control apparel technology.
While the living trust is the most flexible device used to avoid the costs and delays of probate, the most important of these devises is "joint tenancy."
In judicial foreclosure your lender will seek to force the sale of your property to pay off the loan via the court system.
The basics of homicidal poisoning investigations
The purpose of this article is to discuss the pros and cons of different types of back-up weapons and carry techniques for patrol personnel.
Information exchanged through the Terrorist Screening Center raises the red flag on terror suspects
How agencies have made strides to get guns out of the hands of juveniles
Electronic learning tools make it easier for training managers
In college, there is a type of exam students jokingly refer to as the "multiple guess test.
The landlord's obligation to maintain and repair the premises has been set solely by his agreement.
A last will and testament is a document that disposes of your "estate" at the time of your death.