Nassau County has hired a police ethics consultant in the wake of a videotaped beating by officers of a Westbury man. According to acting Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter, ” this is all about building trust with the community,” Last year, Mr. Krumpter’s predecessor was forced to resign over what was alleged to be a…
DetailsCheating on the SAT may soon be a felony in New York, if State Senator Kenneth LaValle gets his way. His bill would create the new felonies of facilitation of education testing fraud and of scheming to defraud educational testing. The proposed legislation would also create the misdemeanor of forgery of a test. This bill…
DetailsThe Nassau Crime Lab scandal costs $1 Million so far, according to an article published in Sunday’s Newsday. In previous articles, we described the scandal through its many twists and turns, but the true cost to the county, both financial and otherwise, may take years to fully emerge. The one million dollar figure referred to…
DetailsWhat is a Desk Appearance Ticket? A Desk Appearance Ticket, sometimes referred to as a DAT or an appearance ticket, is a summons that is sometimes issued by the police in New York State to those accused of offenses and certain misdemeanors. Receiving a desk appearance ticket usually means that the defendant spends less time…
DetailsThe Nassau Crime Lab Report Released by New York State last week found “systemic problems” at the lab, and recommended an expanded investigation. State Inspector General Ellen Biben wrote that “The chronic failures of the Nassau County crime lab deprived Nassau County, the criminal justice system, and the public of their right to have complete…
DetailsThe Queens County Criminal Court House, located on Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens, houses the Queens County Criminal Court, Criminal Term of the Supreme Court, offices of the Departments of Probation and Correction, and Offices of the Queens County District Attorney. In recent years a major renovation has added many more courtrooms to the facility,…
DetailsThe Long Beach City Courthouse serves the residents of Nassau County’s largest city, handling all summonses, Building Department matters, moving violations, and misdemeanor criminal matters. The Court facility consists of one courtroom and office space on the second floor of the Long Beach City Hall. Prosecutions are handled by members of the Nassau County District…
DetailsIt has now been revealed that the Nassau County Crime Lab problems date back to 2003, according to an article published in Newsday over the weekend. Letters written in 2006 by State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Chauncey G. Parker to then-Nassau Police Commissioner James Lawrence reveal that an official inspection of the lab…
DetailsIn the early 1990’s I tried a felony criminal case in this beautiful old courthouse. I have very fond memories of those three weeks. Yes, I did get a good result for my client, but I’m not writing this post to brag. What I remember most is how much I enjoyed exploring the building. The…
DetailsOne more unwelcome result of the Great Recession is the proliferation of red light cameras. Municipalities throughout the country are using these cameras to raise revenues, although their stated purpose is to improve safety on the roads. Some studies have shown that these cameras are actually increasing both the number and severity of motor vehicle…
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