Criminal justice news and commentary from Elizabeth Franklin-Best, P.C.: court decisions, settlements, Bureau of Prisons policy changes, and notable cases.
Fascinating case study in federal fraud, land crimes, and the intersection of religious freedom with criminal law. Zzyzx represents more than just an oddly named spot on the map; it embodies a complex legal saga involving federal land violations, mail fraud, and false advertising…
Effective February 1, 2011, the Federal Bureau of Prisons instituted a national policy in regard to DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) collection. This policy was promulgated under Program Statement #5311.01, entitled “Inmate DNA Sample Collection Procedures.” According to the Program Statement, “DNA analysis provides…
A federal lawsuit alleging wrongful arrest and imprisonment by the LAPD settled for $320,000 on January 16, 2007. The case involved the murder of 16-year-old Martha Puebla, who was shot and killed outside her Sun Valley, California home. Puebla was murdered just…
On October 18, 2018, the Washington Supreme Court fundamentally transformed juvenile justice through State v. Bassett, categorically declaring juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) unconstitutional under the state constitution. This landmark decision didn’t merely limit these sentences—it eliminated them entirely, establishing Washington as the…
On April 26, 2013, David Lee Kemp, 43, turned himself into the Comanche County, Oklahoma Sheriff’s Office. He was actively being sought by the FBI, U.S. Marshals, and other law enforcement agencies for escaping from the Comanche County Jail 14 years earlier.…
Imagine the love a dog that is on its “last days” at an animal shelter must feel when they are unconditionally loved by a human that at one time abused them. Imagine the love an incarcerated woman feels when she can help…
Every post is written by Elizabeth Franklin-Best, Esq. and Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA, and reviewed for legal accuracy by Elizabeth Franklin-Best, the firm’s principal attorney. How we verify →
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