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Crime & Law Enforcement Issues & Death Penalty/Questions Answered by Expert Philip Sweeting
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Police identification | 1/6/2012 |
| Q: Mystery writer trying to get the details straight. My heroine is a police detective. One day she ... A: Most all police departments have windbreakers/jackets that plainclothes detectives carry with them ... | |
| police misconduct | 1/1/2012 |
| Q: How does internal affairs help someone? I was mistreated by two police officers. A: Internal Affairs investigates police misconduct. If you believe you were mistreated by the police ... | |
| lying to a policeman | 10/10/2011 |
| Q: I was stopped for speeding, and the officer noticed I had an "IAFF" (fireman's union) sticker on my ... A: In FL it is a violation of the law to have such a sticker unless you are a member of such a ... | |
| Local law enforcement and the F.B.I. | 9/6/2011 |
| Q: Sweeting, I am a writer, currently in the midst of writing a crime novel. My main character is a ... A: Unlike TV the FBI only investigates federal crimes such as bank robberies so they would have no ... | |
| police/corrections | 7/20/2011 |
| Q: You have some real concerns about your co-worker's treatment of offenders. You hear him screaming ... A: It is wrong. I suspect everyone else also believes it is wrong but rather then report a fellow ... | |
| Police Procedure Investigation of a Break In | 7/14/2011 |
| Q: I am a writer of fiction and have a question about Police Procedure. In my story a woman is ... A: Assuming the mom doesn't want the son to know where she is then the police would not be required to ... | |
| 911 calls | 7/10/2011 |
| Q: You have received the same 911 call at the same location at least twenty times. Each time, it has ... A: Is this an essay question? You should check it just as though it is the real thing. That would be no ... | |
| police investigations | 6/27/2011 |
| Q: Can the police investigate you for a car accident that only resulted in minor injuries for the ... A: Yes. Not only accidents with injuries, but any property damage accident must be reported. As for ... | |
| obtaining a police report | 12/22/2010 |
| Q: my son was recently charged with simple battery and obstruction in Huntington Beach CA. The officers ... A: In Florida you could get a copy. In fact, with few exceptions, it would be a violation of the law ... | |
| dwi | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: im from ny and i got arrested for a dwi its my first one and i have no criminal history .when i got ... A: Most states have a law that if you refuse to take the breath test your license will automatically be ... | |
| false arrest/civil rights | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: I'll attempt to be relatively brief, while including enough info for an accurate response. A friend ... A: I assume your friend told you his version of events which may be correct, but there may also be some ... | |
| Fingerprinting | 3/9/2010 |
| Q: Philip - there was a case in the Toronto area not long ago of a presumed suspect being identified by ... A: Fingerprint identification is based on identifying a certain number of points(usually at least 12) ... | |
| Money | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: In general, what is the policy for law enforcement agencies with regards to the care of money that ... A: In Florida.... by law it is used to buy police equipment and or fund programs such as PAL (police ... | |
| extradition laws in utah | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: my girl friend was arrested in California on a warrant from Utah. (for a probation violation) Utah ... A: Does not mean the charges have been dismissed.....just means the authorities in Utah are not willing ... | |
| Suicide Scene? | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: I'm a writer doing research, and am a little confused on how/when a death is considered a suicide, ... A: All death investigations should be initially investigated as though it were a homicide. The scene is ... | |
| class 2 felony frauds and schemes | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: I made a huge mistake and I am being sought in a class 2 felony in arizona against my former ... A: If they do file charges and get a warrant for your arrest, you could be arrested in any ... | |
| proper procedure? | 9/6/2009 |
| Q: How are you Mr. Sweeting, I noticed that you do not reccomend citizen's arrest by a private person ... A: I would think it would be appropriate to defend/help someone who is being attacked, but to restrain ... | |
| Police Questioning | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: ..We just found out that my 32 yr old stepdaughter has been writing herself cash advances over the ... A: A lot depends on what the employer wants to do....even though it is the "state"/police that ... | |
| autopsy | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: I should have stated that in the story I am writing, the homocide detective gets a strange ... A: Typically a homicide detective would not be able to determine if blood was removed, but for the ... | |
| crime scene. | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: In my story, a homicide officer calls up a private investigator friend who was once on the force. ... A: The ad would be processed for fingerprints. The PI would NEVER be allowed to touch the ad. The only ... | |
| Law enforcement | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: In the state of Fl. If someone does not feel comfortable with the department investigating their ... A: There are a couple of options. First you could contact the prosecutor's/state attorney's office in ... | |
| Arrest procedures | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: Mystery writer here, checking that I've got the procedure right. My police detectives are ... A: In real life he would be booked in the county he was initially arrested for the warrant and held ... | |
| Arrest procedures | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: Mystery writer here, checking that I've got the procedure right. My police detectives are ... A: The warrant would actually be issued by the court/prosecutor (not by the city) that has jurisdiction ... | |
| Ranking in Dept. | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: I am writing a novel (thriller), set in a small town. I'd like to know what an example of ranking ... A: If you had 50 or less employees/officers...you most likely would have a rank structure of Chief of ... | |
| Opening a closed case | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: I'm a writer. My story takes place in Houston, Texas. My heroine is the prime suspect in the death ... A: He could use the information from her computer based on two scenarios. If she gave him ... | |
| extradition | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: "A relative of mine was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle in Pennsylvania. He took it for ... A: It is true if he is picked up in another state and PA refuses to come get him he would be released. ... | |
| extradition | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: "A relative of mine was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle in Pennsylvania. He took it for ... A: I assume they have issued a warrant for his arrest. That being the case he could be arrested in any ... | |
| Car Keying Accusation VIDEO TAPE | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: An ex-boyfriend and I got into a verbal "confrontation" while out at a party a little while ago. It ... A: I suspect there is no video. I doubt the "surrounding stores" would supply him with the video... if ... | |
| Police Procedures | 1/27/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Sweeting, In the spirit of full disclosure, I'll mention up front that I am writing a ... A: Florida has a very liberal public records law. All records would be available to anyone at a certain ... | |
| Police Procedure | 11/28/2008 |
| Q: I would like to first thank you in advance for offering this service. Alright, my fried had his car ... A: If the print was found on the exterior of the vehicle then that would be a true statement. Anyone ... | |
| entrapment | 11/4/2008 |
| Q: Well I pulled in to a gas station and I had my car park and a cop went by my and seen my bad tags ... A: No it is not. Entrapment is when the police solicit you to commit a crime. They actually have to ... | |
| car keying | 10/23/2008 |
| Q: I had a verbal confrontation with a girl in my parking spot on Sept. 3rd. On Sept 4th, her car was ... A: If you had a lawyer the first thing he/she would tell you is stop talking to the police. As for the ... | |
| Stolded or missplased wallet | 10/3/2008 |
| Q: I filed a police report for a stolen wallet, if i find the wallet will I be charged with filing a ... A: The police cannot charge you with filing a false report unless the information you told them....you ... | |
| please tell me | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: how do you get a police case reopened? A: You gave me no facts about the case in question so it is difficult to give an answer but...... ... | |
| Time Limit | 7/30/2008 |
| Q: Is there a time limit to file on a felony assault(TX), if I did not do it the night it happened and ... A: There are time limits as to bringing charges and or arresting someone,but it would depend on the ... | |
| Roosevelt Glenn | 6/30/2008 |
| Q: Philip, do you have any unofficial views/answer re this problem: ‘An Indiana judge denied DNA ... A: At first glance most would agree that if his DNA did not match...then you would conclude he was ... | |
| US Law Enforcement | 6/19/2008 |
| Q: I’m wondering if you could help me at all … I work for a television company in the UK and we are ... A: You are correct. The state police seldom get involved in investigations with local/city police. In ... | |
| false information/obstruction | 6/5/2008 |
| Q: when you get charged with false information/obstruction does it mean you did both or could it be one ... A: It is the same thing, but if you did it on different occasions/dates there could be more than one ... | |
| wrongful accused | 6/2/2008 |
| Q: my son who is 14 was with a set of friends and one of the friends vandelise a bus,my son didnt do it ... A: There is not a whole lot you can do. Of course he could plead not guilty and fight it in the legal ... | |
| searching a home | 5/17/2008 |
| Q: the other day the police had a bench warrent for my cousin when they arrived at my home my 12 year ... A: Unless the police knew he was in the house at the time....no they could not legally enter your house ... | |
| daughter found dead | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: A: Sorry for your loss. A lot would depend on the circumstances. You didn't provide much information, ... | |
| False Idenity | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: My finance's brother was arrested and used my fiance's name. He was given a court date which he did ... A: If he was fingerprinted when arrested it would be simple to clarify by having your fiance's ... | |
| felony arrest warrants | 4/25/2008 |
| Q: does the law have a time limit on felony warrants and can they be picked up by any county in that ... A: There is no time limit on warrants and you can be picked up in any state; HOWEVER...the police do ... | |
| Dispatch questions | 4/21/2008 |
| Q: I have a question regarding Dispatch jargon/procedures. I'm an aspiring screenwriter currently ... A: Depending on the state you could have different codes, but the codes are almost like another ... | |
| rights of minors | 3/16/2008 |
| Q: Mr. Sweeting, I am 18, a pre-med student at the University of TN. I have a young cousin, age 15, ... A: Keep in mind I am not a lawyer and cannot give legal advice and some of your questions will depend ... | |
| ctw (criminal trespass warning) | 3/7/2008 |
| Q: Yesterday I was given a CTW (criminal traspassing warning) by the SAPD for being on a San Antonio ... A: You won't have a criminal record. All it means is just what you said. If you are found on campus ... | |
| Re: Stolen Ipod | 3/2/2008 |
| Q: I brought a ipod that some guy was selling at the school. Now it turns out it was stolen and school ... A: Keep in mind I am not an attorney...so you should always consider consulting with one in cases like ... | |
| suspended drivers | 2/28/2008 |
| Q: If officer gets a call to a residence that has suspicious car in the driveway and the home owner ... A: In the state of Florida you can be charged with the possession of a suspended license provided you ... | |
| underage drinking and citations | 1/17/2008 |
| Q: i was recently at a hour party in Pennsylvania at a local college. the police came not because of a ... A: I think the police may have "pulled the wool over your eyes" but just in case you are to young to ... | |
| credit card fraud | 1/15/2008 |
| Q: A few days ago my credit card company and a electronic store contacted me about an online purchase ... A: Depends on the laws in your state but the police generally don't aggressively pursue credit card ... | |
| Wrongfully Accused | 1/13/2008 |
| Q: My girlfriend's brother has recently encountered some trouble with his ex. It obviously doesn't ... A: If the police did what you claim...that would be an unlawful detention. And no they cannot make ... | |
| Not read rights | 1/8/2008 |
| Q: If one was pulled over, and marijuana was discovered in the car and he/she was arrested but not read ... A: Your rights only need to be read if the police intend to use statements you made to them as ... | |
| son | 1/6/2008 |
| Q: A girl my son knows ran away and her parents didnt know where she was at. The sheriff came over and ... A: Simply put if someone gives false information to the police concerning a crime they can be charged. ... | |
| FL Law | 1/3/2008 |
| Q: I'll try to keep my back story as brief as possible. In the end of October I was contacted about ... A: Your question is a little complex but I'll try and give you concise answer. As for your rights not ... | |
| Criminal Background Reports | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: According to my local sheriffs dept. I have an ENTIRE page of varies charges and convictions on my ... A: Depending on how common your name is they could have you confused with someone else. For instance if ... | |
| case of mistaken identity? | 11/16/2007 |
| Q: I am being charged with falsifying a police report and perjury felony. I reported my car stolen the ... A: Unfortunately some police officers will arrest people on weak evidence or a suspicion and once that ... | |
| Rehabilitation vs Punishment | 11/12/2007 |
| Q: my name is Andrew Zylstra and I wanted to ask you about rehab vs punishment. I am doing a project ... A: I'm for both rehab and punishment. People should be punished in some form for their crimes but if ... | |
| writing a novel | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: I have a situation in which two friends, A end B, fight in the street under several eye witnesses. ... A: The U.S. Supreme court case "Miranda" allows a person to NOT talk to the police with or without a ... | |
| Crime | 11/8/2007 |
| Q: Further to your very satisfactory answer received today I would like to know how quickly the local ... A: They would contact the FBI immediately and the FBI would run the investigation with the assistance ... | |
| Crime and Law Enforcement | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: I am writing a novel and I have a couple of queries. Two of my characters have been kidnapped and ... A: If they knew they were being held on the yacht they would not need a search warrant. The police are ... | |
| Rehabilitation vs Punishment | 11/6/2007 |
| Q: my name is Andrew Zylstra and I wanted to ask you about rehab vs punishment. I am doing a project ... A: Answer Below is an answer I gave to a similar question. Ultimately rehabilitation would be the ... | |
| punishment vs. rehabilitation | 10/10/2007 |
| Q: Im currently doing my senior project on law enforcement which Im very interested in. I'm writing my ... A: Good question. The answer is not a simple one. Ultimately rehabilitation would be the way to go ... | |
| False Arrest | 9/13/2007 |
| Q: My husband was arrested in a kroger store for shopplifting. He was exiting the store to get his ... A: The first thing I would do is speak to a lawyer. Depending on the laws in your state, typically the ... | |
| law enforcement officer | 9/11/2007 |
| Q: I was a law enforcement officer in New Jersey for 6 years. I have been convicted of a crime. Can I ... A: Depends on the crime. In Florida one of the requirements is: "(4) Not have been convicted of any ... | |
| Police Procedure for Burglary | 8/13/2007 |
| Q: A family member of mine was burglarized recently and had some significantly valuable items stolen -- ... A: Generally, the police only solve 15-20% of burglaries and seldom do they recover the property. Most ... | |
| Penalty Charge Notice | 7/25/2007 |
| Q: I have parked my car on a yellow single line..about 2 weeks ago, i'm asking if i have to pay the ... A: You need to read the specific law that the citation was written for. If you are paying the fine to ... | |
| possible sexual harrassment from police officer | 7/18/2007 |
| Q: earlier today, i was pulled over by a township police officer for speeding. instead of giving me a ... A: This police officer's conduct as you describe is clearly inappropriate. All of your concerns do have ... | |
| S.W.A.T team | 6/7/2007 |
| Q: I'm 15 yrs. old And I want to know what you do in a SWAT team and what I need to do to get there. ... A: Ideally you should go to college but it is not necessarily a requirement...depending on the hiring ... | |
| Runaway teen | 6/2/2007 |
| Q: My 16 year old has ran away several times. I'm told (in Illinois)that he must earn so called points ... A: Doesn't sound right to me. In Florida you would file a report with the police and they would list ... | |
| Voting | 5/17/2007 |
| Q: A: Well if you believe in rehabilitation and second chances the answer should be yes. Frankly, I never ... | |
| Police procedure regarding a statement. | 5/10/2007 |
| Q: A NYPD detective. called me yesterday and all he said was someone filed a complaint against me in ... A: If you had a lawyer the first thing he would tell you is don't talk to the police even if they come ... | |
| Military Jobn | 5/1/2007 |
| Q: I am joining the military and one day hope to be a police officer. I was wondering if being a ... A: Being in the military police wouldn't hurt but wouldn't necessarily help either. In most cases the ... | |
| chalk outlines | 4/30/2007 |
| Q: At a murder scene, are bodies outlined in chalk or can something else be used? Just need information ... A: They just do that in movies but....I suppose there are some situations where you might. In many ... | |
| Small town police forces | 4/16/2007 |
| Q: This is just a general question. I was curious about whether there are substantial differences in ... A: Most police departments are the same but they can also be different. 95% of all police departments ... | |
| Punishment for drunken driving | 2/1/2007 |
| Q: I wish to know what is the limit to drive after consuming alcohol drink. How do they measure the ... A: How much you can drink before you are over the limit depends on your body weight, the alcohol ... | |
| Police Access To Financial Records | 1/20/2007 |
| Q: On shows such as Law and Order, officers have absolutely no problem getting financial records on ... A: You do need to get a subpoena/court order for the records to serve on the bank, phone company, ... | |
| DUI arrest, case pending | 1/10/2007 |
| Q: I was stopped for DUI recently. I am a recent college grad who has never been in trouble and I ... A: I wouldn't expect your law career to be toast as you put it but down the road if you ever run for ... | |
| Search Warrents | 12/12/2006 |
| Q: My question to you is Do authorities need a search warrant before searching a person? A: The police do not need a search warrant to search a person BUT they do need probable cause to search ... | |
| Fraud | 12/10/2006 |
| Q: I know someone who have applied for things in their ex husbands name but wasn't approved for ... A: I assume the person applied for some type of credit and falsely filled out the credit application. ... | |
| credit card fraud | 10/24/2006 |
| Q: My boyfriends mother filled out pre- approval apps for credit cards in my boyfriends name. We just ... A: It's a federal crime to fill out false credit applications. I think it actually falls under the ... | |
| SEARCH AND SEIZURE | 10/21/2006 |
| Q: my friends and i got pulled over for illegal turn and they searched the car the car is my mom's car ... A: If you gave them permission to search the car, drunk or otherwise, they could search the car BUT it ... | |
| issues regarding speedy trials? | 10/1/2006 |
| Q: I need to know what kind of issues there are regarding speedy trials? Thank you. Kristin A: The 6th amendment to the constitution gurantees a speedy trial. Most states have laws that set the ... | |
| Answer | 9/25/2006 |
| Q: i have resently pressed charges of assult on my ex boyfriend for hitting me and i want to drop the ... A: Even though you are the victim, in any crime it is the state that prosecutes and it is the ... | |
| Warrants | 9/24/2006 |
| Q: How do you go about getting a warrant lifted when someone is in jail. A: Not sure what specifically you are asking but a warrrant is an order by a judge to arrest someone ... | |
| DUI | 9/7/2006 |
| Q: I am taking a friend to court, he got a DUI last month when he fell asleep at the wheel and hit a ... A: Your best bet would be to talk to a lawyer because I'm not a legal expert but that does cost money. ... | |
| Problems of identification | 9/5/2006 |
| Q: Philip - given that in suspect cases reviewed by the Innocence Project the greatest percentage of ... A: I was just having this conversation with someone yesterday. Unfortunately, not only in death penalty ... | |
| research | 8/23/2006 |
| Q: I m sorry for the trouble I was hoping u could help me on a script im writing. 3 characters (A,B,C) ... A: Character "A" would be the suspect of an arson...even though he may have not have started the fire, ... | |
| Research | 8/8/2006 |
| Q: Philip--I am a writer and I have sold a book which has the following scenario and I need to be ... A: The police and paramedics would respond and the drowning victim would be taken to the nearest ... | |
| Lotto scam | 7/13/2006 |
| Q: I am well aware of all the internet, lotto, credit card scams out there, so this is not a question ... A: The U.S. Secret Service investigates counterfeiting and credit card fraud so you might contact them. ... | |
| ticketed for false reporting | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: What is falsing reporting considered in AZ law? What definition can police use as a false ... A: False reporting is when you report a crime that did not happen. For instance if you reported your ... | |
| legal definition | 6/22/2006 |
| Q: what is defined as work release? I was told this guy my sister has been writting to is on a ... A: Work released is generally when you are allowed to leave prison/jail for the day...go work your job ... | |
| Records | 5/25/2006 |
| Q: My Name is Ryan Honnstad, and I am from Lake Crystal Minnesota. My question is… is it possible to ... A: You would need to check with your state police on the procedures in your state for sealing/expunging ... | |
| Requests for phone records | 5/14/2006 |
| Q: I know that on the state level, the requirements that need to be met by Law Enforcement for phone ... A: The first requirement in either state or federal is that you are the subject of a criminal ... | |
| seatbelt violation | 3/14/2006 |
| Q: I was given a ticket for not wearing my seatbelt. I live in Washington state. That is the only ... A: Every state is different. In Florida, where I live the law is that an officer has to have a ... | |
| warrants(probation) | 2/7/2006 |
| Q: My question is about a friend of mine that was on probation for possession of a controlled substance ... A: Warrants don't necessarily get lost but the probation officer could have filed for a warrant and the ... | |
| warrants(probation) | 2/7/2006 |
| Q: My question is about a friend of mine that was on probation for possession of a controlled substance ... A: It is possible that the officer did not check for a warrant but normally if they check your driver's ... | |
| 4th admendment | 1/11/2006 |
| Q: just a quick question, does the 4th admendment protect us from illegal search and seizure from ... A: Under certain conditions "security guards" can detain you for the police such as shoplifting in a ... | |
| Being arrested in a foreign country... | 1/10/2006 |
| Q: I recently was arrested outside of a bar in Windsor, Ontario on New Years Eve for "Public ... A: To be safe you should either appear for court or talk to a canadian lawyer. Hopefully you have ... | |
| Time off for good behavior | 12/28/2005 |
| Q: I often see (on Court TV) reference to a prisoner's getting "time off for good behavior". Does a ... A: It depends on the laws in your state. I haven't looked at the law lately but in Florida if you ... | |
| Help! | 12/10/2005 |
| Q: Unforchantly I am facing some problems. I have an aggressive roomate who has been trying to through ... A: Unfortunately it would seem you are in a difficult situation with little you can do at this point. ... | |
| i want to be a homicide detective | 12/3/2005 |
| Q: My name is Nicole. I am a jr. at a private school in New York. I want to be a homicide detective. Do ... A: You would have to be a police officer first and then you would normally progress to be a detective ... | |
| Gunshots | 11/12/2005 |
| Q: What happens in the USA if a police officer fires his or her gun in the course of their duty but ... A: It is not like the cop shows on TV. When a police officer fires his gun even accidentally, there ... | |
| curious | 10/28/2005 |
| Q: This is more of just a curiousity question. I was wondering if a city policeman can stop a car for ... A: In Florida the answer to your question would be no.If an officer tried to stop you in his ... | |
| she may be in trouble | 10/24/2005 |
| Q: My 19 year old daughter just told me she "thinks" there is a warrant for her arrest. How can we find ... A: Sorry I did not get back to you sooner but we had a hurricane and I just got my electric back. ... | |
| Warrents | 10/21/2005 |
| Q: What kind of evidence does a judge need to issue an arrest warrent? My mother is a manager at a ... A: An arrest warrant could be issued but it would require more than the police taking your mother's ... | |
| Need help today....very important. | 9/21/2005 |
| Q: Yesterday (tuesday)I was walking on this busy street which is next to the street that i live on. ... A: Call the police!The police would be very interested in helping you. Technically, this person may ... | |
| Juvinille rights | 8/23/2005 |
| Q: Can a police officer give a minor a jaywalking ticket? A: It depends on the age of the minor and the laws in your state. For instance in FL a child under the ... | |
| Credit card | 8/19/2005 |
| Q: Thansk for any insight you may have for me. I'm also an Expert here in the Macintosh computers ... A: It is highly unlikely the police would consider arresting a family member over a dispute involving a ... | |
| would my friend get into trouble? | 8/13/2005 |
| Q: this is a hypothetical question. paul and andrew went to a shooting range to test paul's gun. after ... A: A lot would depend on the laws in your state concerning the possession of guns and the ages of Paul ... | |
| suicide by illegal gun | 8/11/2005 |
| Q: i know somebody that recently killed himself with an illegal gun that he acquired(i dont know how he ... A: The police could not legally search the house unless they got a search warrant. Even in murders ... | |
| False Report of an Assault | 7/23/2005 |
| Q: What is the penalty for filing a false police report? Is that person arrested by the police, or ... A: The penalty for filing a false police report would depend on the law in the state that it was ... | |
| Quick Question | 7/5/2005 |
| Q: My Nephew was visiting me here in Las Vegas,Nv..He is from Utah. On his way home he was pulled ... A: You should initially contact a lawyer for either the criminal charge or a civil law suit or both and ... | |
| police procedure in prison | 6/30/2005 |
| Q: I am writing a screenplay and am looking to see if my situation is too far fetched. A man is in jail ... A: In Florida your story would not be far fetched at all. As long as the police are conducting an ... | |
| police records | 5/8/2005 |
| Q: I was wondering if there is a way for a person to get a copy of there own police record? A: In Florida anyone can get a copy of anyone's arrest record for a small fee ($20.00?) by contacting ... | |
| Question about Rights of a JUROR to not have suspect in room during interview... | 3/15/2005 |
| Q: My husband got called for Jury Duty , he couldnt believe that the Murder suspect was allowed to SIT ... A: A lot of people might agree with you but under our system the defendant has the right to be there ... | |
| taping conversations | 2/21/2005 |
| Q: Are there any rules or laws concerning an officer taping conversations without the person being ... A: In Florida it is permissable for a police officer to tape a conversation without your knowledge but ... | |
| Police hierarchy | 2/14/2005 |
| Q: I am writing a homicide novel that takes place in Manhattan. I would like to know the hierarchy ... A: Most police departments are the same but they can also be different. What you have can work but in ... | |
| Convicted of a Crime? | 1/26/2005 |
| Q: In June 2004 my wife and I got into an argument, one thing led to another and she called the cops on ... A: Based on what you told me you have been convicted;however, in most cases such as this the judge will ... | |
| Missing Person | 1/2/2005 |
| Q: A woman reports her sister missing - has not been seen for several days. Police visit and question ... A: There is no law that requires a person be reported missing nor does the husband have to talk to the ... | |
| Child molestation | 12/19/2004 |
| Q: I'm not sure if this is in your realm of knowledge but I'll give it a shot. We have just found out ... A: As for the bail, no matter the crime if you have the money you can post your own bail or if you ... | |
| Internal Affairs | 11/24/2004 |
| Q: I am a police officer and will be shortly heading the Internal Affairs Unit. Although my experience ... A: As for the organizational structure, the head of IA should report directly to the Chief of ... | |
| Police brutality | 11/12/2004 |
| Q: I really appreciate you taking the time to review my questions. The project I am working on ... A: Where do I begin? 1. I think most people know the problem exist to some extent just like abuses ... | |
| Police Procedural Question | 11/8/2004 |
| Q: Philip! :) I am a screenwriting student working on a piece, and I am running into a problem. I ... A: There could be a lot of things going on at once. I'll try and answer wiyhout making it confusing. ... | |
| Internal affairs? | 11/8/2004 |
| Q: In my book, a small town sheriff(in Larimer County, CO) is accused of murder by a citizen. What ... A: The Governor would remove the sheriff from office if he was charged with a crime and name a ... | |
| police use of force during an arrest | 10/19/2004 |
| Q: Where is the line between justified use of force during a poilce arrest by a police officer and an ... A: Good question. The use of force as defined by law is the reasonable force necessary to make the ... | |
| Federal citation | 9/4/2004 |
| Q: I receive a ticket onbase in California when the MPs happen to have a speed trap at a stop sign.The ... A: 1. In Florida you can go to traffic school and your insurance cannot use it to raise your rates. 2. ... | |
| Question About 2 Legal "Fine-Lines" | 8/25/2004 |
| Q: Mr. Sweeting: Let me say in advance thanks so much for your help. I really appreciate any help you ... A: Question # 1. In FL they could be charged with loitering and prowling which is what "peeping toms" ... | |
| enforced treatment for my aunt | 8/24/2004 |
| Q: my aunt is 72 years old, and she lives in N.Y. she is suffering from a mental illness, but she is ... A: Can't tell you about the specific laws in NY but in FL people can be forced into treatment if they ... | |
| Vagrancy\ loitering | 8/16/2004 |
| Q: I'm a law student in Israel and under survay i'm doing comparing the israeli system to the american ... A: Vagrants or the homeless have the same rights as anyone else. Problems sometimes occur when they ... | |
| Seatbelt Laws | 8/11/2004 |
| Q: Sweeting, Recently I was pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt in the town of Conway, Washington. ... A: Not sure of the seatbelt law in your state but in some states it is not permitted to stop someone ... | |
| prevented to leave the country | 8/4/2004 |
| Q: If there is an ongoing investigation of a case that involves crime, does the suspect able to leave ... A: Keep in mind that different states have different laws and then there are Federal laws but generally ... | |
| The Right of Silence | 8/1/2004 |
| Q: Sweeting, My name is Danielle and i'm a law student at the interdisciplinary center Herzliya, ... A: If you do an internet search for the US Supreme Court, you can find their web page and look up cases ... | |
| The War on Drugs | 7/19/2004 |
| Q: Hows it going Mr. Sweeting, I am currently writing a arg. research paper on the war on drugs. I am a ... A: Let me start with I'm not an illegal drug user but I am more liberal than most law enforcement ... | |
| Meaning of remand | 7/18/2004 |
| Q: I saw a rather confusing thing in the paper today saying that a gang member had been remanded on ... A: Remand is a legal term used by the courts which is made up of attorneys who like to use words only ... | |
| children sexual abuse | 7/17/2004 |
| Q: My name is Ben. I'm Israely law student.My question is:"What are the basic principles in American ... A: The simple answer is you cannot have sex with anyone under 18 years of age even if they agree to it. ... | |
| dmv question | 7/13/2004 |
| Q: My Drivers Licence in washington state was suspended if i went to flordia dmv do you think they ... A: Florida would not give you a license if you have a suspended license from another state. I not ... | |
| police hierarchy | 7/3/2004 |
| Q: Sweeting, I am writing a murder story, and I need to know the levels in the police force, ... A: In most police departments a detective is viewed as a step above a uniformed officer. In some cases ... | |
| arrest procedures | 7/3/2004 |
| Q: I am on probation for a controlled substance. I have been following my court apointed classes along ... A: Just because you are on probation does not mean the police can search your property without probable ... | |
| police procedures | 6/22/2004 |
| Q: Can the police (or detective) go into a hospital and demand to see all personal records and ... A: No they cannot. There is nothing to prevent the hospital or any other business from volunteering to ... | |
| Crimes | 6/12/2004 |
| Q: Followup To Question - I am a writer doing research for a fiction screenplay about A 18 year ... A: Burglary or entering an unoccupied residence residence and taking property valued under $20,000.00 ... | |
| Robbery | 6/10/2004 |
| Q: I am a writer doing research for a fiction screenplay about A 18 year female stole $500,000 worth of ... A: From what you are describing it would be a burglary not a robbery. A robbery is when you confront a ... | |
| medical care of jail inmates | 6/6/2004 |
| Q: "Hello, My question is about a man I take care of. He is legally disabled according to Social ... A: They are responsible for his medical care and it sounds like they did give him the medication they ... | |
| Apparently, in illinois, if... | 4/22/2004 |
| Q: Apparently, in illinois, if a cop pulls you over and you are there for more than 20 minutes, and you ... A: I'm not aware of any such law. The courts have ruled that you can be detained as long as reasonably ... | |
| police station | 4/21/2004 |
| Q: In another scene of my story I guy is taken into the station and shown a tape on a movie screen. If ... A: The room may or may not have a one way window. From inside the room you cannot look out but from ... | |
| Constitutional rights question | 3/31/2004 |
| Q: I am a former law enf officer in jersey ( for 8 years ) I have read and heard from a few sources ... A: I have never heard of such a right. First of all when the constitution was written there were no ... | |
| drinking | 3/25/2004 |
| Q: I have a question about a situation that happened at my friend's party. There were people of 18 ... A: Once you are 18 in either case you are considered an adult and your parents no longer have ... | |
| Exhibitionism and public exposure | 3/12/2004 |
| Q: Mr. Sweeting, I have been wondering what U.S. law is in place concerning indecent exposure; and, ... A: As for indecent exposure each state has their own specific laws and penalities but generally ... | |
| Personal Mail | 3/7/2004 |
| Q: Are police allowed to search your personal mail? I have sued my city police department for ... A: If the police are using someone to search your mail illegally it is improper. Assuming it is postal ... | |
| Hi, I was wondering if you... | 2/29/2004 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could please answer a few questions for me. I am really confused about how ... A: I suggest you contact the prosecutors office and see if you can work something out to like pleading ... | |
| Question | 2/8/2004 |
| Q: I was hoping you could help me out with some advice. I was arrested a few weeks ago, and 4 tickets ... A: In most cases if you do not have a prior arrest and you are charged with a minor offense, the most ... | |
| Stop or I'll shoot? | 2/7/2004 |
| Q: Simple question, Phil.... The whole "Stop or I'll shoot" idea... How can that work? I don't ... A: The police are not required to give a warning prior to using deadly force nor are they allowed to ... | |
Crime & Law Enforcement Issues & Death Penalty
Answers by Expert:
Philip Sweeting
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Can answer questions concerning police procedures and accepted police practices, specifically : arrest, use of force, internal affairs, recruitment and hiring, constitutional rights and accreditation.
Experience
Have over 26 years of Law Enforcement experience eight of which have been as Deputy Chief of Police. Have worked for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, CALEA, as a team leader, evaluating police agencies throughout the U.S. and Canada. Have a BS degree in Political Science, a graduate of Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command, and the Senior Management Institute for Police conducted by the Police Executive Research Forum, PERF. Have consulted and testified for both plaintiff and defense attorneys as an expert witness. WEB: PolicePracticesExpert.com
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