Hoover Area General Law Blog

A movement is underway to examine the veracity of information offered by jailhouse informants, in part because of DNA testing that has exonerated people who were convicted based on informant testimony. Those who have been charged with crimes in Alabama might gain from increased scrutiny of informants. Several states have tightened regulations on the use of jailhouse informants because they are more likely to have ulterior motives.

Some of the new rules that have passed include mandatory pretrial hearings about whether the prisoners' testimony is allowable and requiring the prosecution to disclose deals that were made to bring about the testimony. Alabama has not yet passed any such laws, but the movement is gaining momentum nationally and may have an impact on future criminal trials in the state. According to the Innocence Project, almost 20% of former prisoners who have been freed by DNA evidence were originally convicted, at least in part, because of false informant testimony.

Some people in Alabama might be surprised at how much information companies that make apps will provide to law enforcement. The only states that require probable cause and a warrant to search private user data are California, Utah and Washington.

Home security company Ring, which has been purchased by Amazon, goes a step further, openly sharing data with law enforcement. The company's security services allow users to see who is ringing their doorbell. However, Ring comes with a communication portal for law enforcement that permits them to request the footage. If users say no, law enforcement only needs to go to the company to request the data. Many other companies only require a subpoena to release user information, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Some companies only offer limited information without a warrant, but many will turn over IP addresses along with names and contact information in response to a subpoena. Snapchat says it will share any information it considers necessary.

Going through a divorce does not have to tear a family apart. When done right, it can strengthen the bond that each parent has with their child, while minimizing toxicity and facilitating independence. Maintaining parent-child relationships is often done most successfully through joint custody. Joint custody means that the courts award the rights and responsibilities of care to both parents after a split, rather than just one.

If you are interested in filing for joint custody but you have reservations regarding how it might work in practice, it is a good idea to spend time researching ways to maximize the benefits of joint custody. The following are behaviors you can adopt that will increase the likelihood of maintaining a joint custody agreement that works for everyone.

For some, getting a traffic ticket is nothing more than a short-term inconvenience. However, for low-income individuals in Alabama and many other states, it can have a long-term impact on their lives. Those who are unable to pay a fine may be sent to jail, and these individuals may be required to pay a fee for each day that they are there. People can also be charged a supervision fee if they are put on probation.

These fees can be on top of the $500 or more needed to make bail. According to the Supreme Court, defendants cannot be forced to pay fines or fees if they don't have the means to do so. However, Tennessee law allows the state to suspend a person's license for failure to pay a fine. Many groups are working to reform the fine and bail system in an effort to provide relief to those who are struggling to pay their debts.