Criminal Justice

Terror by Night

by John W. Whitehead January 31, 2024

“We’re all potential victims.”—Peter Christ, retired police officer Sometimes ten seconds is all the warning you get. Sometimes you don’t get a warning before all hell breaks loose. Imagine it, if you will: It’s the middle of the night. Your neighborhood is in darkness. Your household is asleep. Suddenly, you’re awakened by a loud noise. Barely ten seconds later, someone ...

The Deadly Toll of Warrior Policing on Steroids

by John W. Whitehead February 3, 2023

“This is warrior policing on steroids.”—Paul Butler, law professor That the police officers charged with the beating death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols are Black is a distraction. Don’t be distracted. This latest instance of police brutality is not about racism in policing or black-on-black violence. The entire institution is corrupt. The old guard—made up of fine, decent, lawful ...

When Police Become Judge, Jury and Executioner

by John W. Whitehead October 14, 2022

“You know, when police start becoming their own executioners, where’s it gonna end? Pretty soon, you’ll start executing people for jaywalking, and executing people for traffic violations. Then you end up executing your neighbor ‘cause his dog pisses on your lawn.”— “Dirty Harry” Callahan, Magnum Force When I say that warrior cops—hyped up on their own authority and the power ...

Dismantling the Constitution: Police No Longer Have to Honor the Right to Remain Silent

by John W. Whitehead July 15, 2022

“That was when they suspended the Constitution. They said it would be temporary. There wasn’t even any rioting in the streets. People stayed home at night, watching television, looking for some direction. There wasn’t even an enemy you could put your finger on.”—Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale We are witnessing the gradual dismantling of every constitutional principle that serves as a ...

A Vicious Cycle in Blue: Police Violence Kills Three People a Day

by John W. Whitehead April 5, 2022

“If you don't want to get shot, tased, pepper-sprayed, struck with a baton or thrown to the ground, just do what I tell you.”—Officer with the Los Angeles Police Department Police violence has not lessened. Police shootings have not abated. Police reforms have largely failed. In fact, according to the latest research, police violence kills three people a day. Despite all ...

Abolish the FBI. Now.

by Scott McPherson January 21, 2022

In late December, pollster Scott Rasmussen released an interesting report. A poll conducted earlier in the month of 1,000 likely voters uncovered a welcome development: Americans don't trust or like the FBI. Even more revealing is the wording used in the poll, which actually came in the form of a statement that read: “Roger Stone, an adviser to former President Donald ...

Predators with Badges

by John W. Whitehead November 8, 2021

“Sexual predation by police officers happens far more often than people in the business are willing to admit.”—Former Seattle police chief Norm Stamper We are a nation on the brink of a nervous breakdown. Undeniably, the blowback from COVID-19 lockdowns and mandates continues to reverberate around the country, impacting the nation’s struggling workplaces, choking the economy and justifying ...

The Police State’s Reign of Terror Continues

by John W. Whitehead October 6, 2021

Rights aren’t rights if someone can take them away. They’re privileges. — George Carlin You think you’ve got rights? Think again. All of those freedoms we cherish—the ones enshrined in the Constitution, the ones that affirm our right to free speech and assembly, due process, privacy, bodily integrity, the right to not have police seize our property without a warrant, or ...

Red Light Robberies Across America

by James Bovard August 1, 2021

Crime is surging in American cities, but the official data leave out the most frequent source of highway robberies. More than 400 cities have set up red light cameras that are institutionalized racketeering that subverts public safety. Tens of thousands of American drivers have been injured and many people killed as a result of reckless revenue pursuit ...

The Abby Honold Act Will Gut Justice

by Wendy McElroy March 1, 2021

You are hauled in by the police and accused of rape. Being innocent, you demand to know details of the accusation: when, where did the crime occur, and on what’s the evidence? The police respond, “the young woman’s allegation is the only evidence, and her account has shifted several times about when and where. Now prove you did not ...

End Police Tyranny by Repealing Laws

by James Bovard November 1, 2020

“I can’t breathe,” George Floyd protested as a Minneapolis cop pressed his knee onto Floyd’s neck for eight minutes while Floyd was lying face down. Floyd’s death sparked violent protests, looting, and arson attacks in Minneapolis and St. Paul. It is just the latest reminder that politicians and judges — through federal law and judicial interpretation — have turned ...

No, the U.S. Supreme Court Will Not Save Us

by John W. Whitehead September 24, 2020

The Constitution is not neutral. It was designed to take the government off the backs of the people. — Justice William O. Douglas The U.S. Supreme Court will not save us. It doesn’t matter which party gets to pick the replacement to fill Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. The battle that is ...