Law for VA LEOs

This week, we talk about a new case from the Court of Appeals regarding a man who had just assaulted his girlfriend with a gun - the Court of Appeals says it was not an exigent circumstance, and we will talk about why.

We use the word "hearsay" all the time, but what does that really mean? Today, in light of a recent case, we examine the idea of hearsay and what makes something hearsay or not in a criminal trial.

Today, in Part 2 of our series on obtaining financial records, we talk about the Federal tools for law enforcement to obtain financial records in fraud, violent crimes, and other investigations.

The law regarding obtaining financial records for law enforcement in Virginia can be confusing. Today we talk about the Virginia legal tools for law enforcement to obtain financial records in fraud, violent crimes, and other investigations.

We have often reviewed the law about use of force against citizens - but what are the rules for use of force against inmates? The rules for pretrial detainees & inmates serving sentences are very different, and today we talk about how the rules are different.

This week, the 4th Circuit decided a case involving a police stop of a young man with a rifle. We talk about how to deal with cases where someone is openly carrying a firearm - which is lawful - but you believe they may have unlawful intentions.

Last week, the US Supreme Court issued a new ruling on whether police can enter a home in "Hot Pursuit" of misdemeanor suspects. Today, we talk about the ruling and what it means for Virginia law enforcement.

Virginia's New Marijuana Law takes effect July 1. Today, we look at some "frequently asked questions" regarding the new law, especially about personal use versus PWID, home cultivation, limits on possession, and traffic stops.

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court sent a case back to the lower courts where officers entered a house in response to a domestic call. Today, we talk about this case and questions about police entries into homes for domestic calls, burglary calls, and calls where someone may be in danger. We also talk about the new Virginia Search Warrant rules and how exigent circumstances might affect those rules...

This week, in a new ruling, the US Supreme Court rejected an entry into a home and a seizure of firearms based on the "community caretaker" doctrine. But what does this case mean for law enforcement's ability to respond when someone's life or health is in danger inside a home?

On Friday, May 8, the Fourth Circuit handed down an important ruling in U.S. v. Davis, regarding searches incident to arrest. The case puts significant limits on law enforcement authority to search arrestees incident to arrest. Today, we discuss this case and what it means.

Today we talk about more new laws that take effect July 1, including a huge change to Robbery law, new rules on signing traffic summonses, a ban on facial recognition, cellphone use for juvenile drivers, and protective orders for older and for vulnerable adults.

Last week, Virginia became the first southern state to "legalize" Marijuana. But the statute is actually very complicated and many of the provisions don't take effect for months or years from now. Today, we examine the statute and review the details.

The Governor signed several bills recently that make some big and some small changes to Virginia law. Today, we talk about changes to FOIA law, elimination of the Death Penalty, elimination of punishments for multiple thefts, elimination of the Habitual Offender statute, and new laws on firearms at polling places and overdose immunity.

The General Assembly's changes to when you may and may not stop a car for violating the law took effect on March 1. Today, we analyze these changes and what they mean - from headlights to tail lights to defective equipment.

The new search warrant law that went into effect on March 1, 2021 has generated many questions. Today we look at some of the common questions about the statute.

Today, March 1, the Governor signed SB 1475 and it has become law, enacting the changes we discussed in last week's episode. This episode replaces an earlier version we posted online this morning, before that had taken place.

On March 1, the new Search Warrant law from the Special Session is set to take effect - but a "fix" is about to reach the Governor's desk this week. Either way, Search Warrant law in Virginia is about to change significantly, and we talk about the changes today.

This week, the 4th Circuit issued a new case on Qualified Immunity for law enforcement, and the General Assembly acted on proposed statutes for law enforcement liability. We discuss what all that means for Va. LEOs.

You can't be a police officer without relying on informants - citizens, victims, other officers, and criminals - to make traffic stops, get search warrants, or investigate crimes. Today, we talk about how the courts weigh information you get from others, and two new cases this week about that issue.

The General Assembly started, this week, to hear new proposed bills. We talk about 4 of them, concerning police liability, mandatory compliance with investigations (& Garrity), FOIA, & assault on law enforcement.

In this episode, we talk about hotels: When do guests have a lawful expectation of privacy, when can you examine records, and when exigent circumstances allow warrantless entry.

Today, we talk about two recent cases where police responded to a dispatch for a "man carrying a gun." What does the 4th Amendment permit law enforcement to do? Can you detain the person? Frisk the person?

The 2021 General Assembly is gearing up to be as controversial as the Special Session. How does this process actually happen? Today we delve into the legislative process to demystify "how a bill becomes a law" in Virginia.

This week, we talk about 2 new cases from the Court of Appeals about Miranda - One that considers whether a person is in custody in a hospital, and another about talking to a person after he invoked his right to remain silent.