Legal
High-Tech ?Peeping Toms? Spy On Women, Children
Piping & Core Driller Location: New York NY 10017 US Category: Engineering, Information Technology, Construction Degrees Required: 4 Year Degree Employment Type: Full-Time Manages Others: No Requirements: MUST HAVE A CAR A college or technical school degree in Information Technology, Information Systems or Engineering preferred. Minimum one-year technical degree or equivalent from college or technical school AND 2-4 years related experience. Proficiency in a broad range of CCTV and Access Control products and security architecture. Direct field technicians in installation of cabling and device set up and wiring Ability to work with power tools and ladders. Relevant experience either through employment or personal use/activities. Proficiency in Network architecture and protocols, database management, and fiber optics. Electrical expertise including knowledge of digital electronics, AC & DC circuits and understanding of parallel and series resistor circuits and there effects SKILLS: Strong troubleshooting and problem solving skills. Ability to quickly learn to use new software tools, with respect to (NVMS) Network Video Management Systems. Effective verbal and written communications skills. Team player – ability to work well in a close employee/support environment. Must be comfortable working in a dynamic environment with constant changes. Must be comfortable with travel, sometimes on short notice, and occasional after-hours support requirements. EOE Requirements: The Technician will complete installations of Video surveillance and Access Control systems. The incumbent needs to be versed in running Cat6 and 18 gauge wiring, along with running all types of conduit through concrete walls of residential buildings to enclose the […]
Source www.hoteljobresource.com
Coast Guard to propose cruise ship video surveillance rules
Nearly four years after passage of a comprehensive cruise safety law, the U.S. Coast Guard is getting ready to propose a rule for three of the trickiest provisions in the legislation. The proposed rule, expected out in June, will outline how cruise lines can comply with a requirement in the Cruise Vessel Safety and Security Act that they deploy technology for “capturing images of passengers or detecting passengers who have fallen overboard.” Also addressed in the rule will be how a cruise ship’s video surveillance system should be operated to document crimes on the ship and assist in their later prosecution. Advocates of the law say the provisions will make passengers feel more secure about taking a cruise. But the cruise industry has raised red flags about the cost and practicality of applying the law. In one instance, a cruise line told auditors at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that just doubling the time it keeps video footage from 14 to 28 days would cost an extra $21.8 million. Most of the 15 provisions in the 2010 act, such as peepholes in cabin doors and standard rail heights, had been translated into Coast Guard guidance by June 2011. The remaining ones involved complex technologies and, in some cases, language in the law that didn’t set a clear benchmark for gauging compliance. In the case of detecting when persons fall overboard, the law called for compliance “to the extent that such technology is available.” The Coast Guard asked for input […]
Source www.travelweekly.com
Police Car Dash-Cam Bill Didn’t Deserve To Die
There may be good reasons, sometimes, for a governor to veto a bill. Unfortunately, we don’t know of a good reason why Gov. Chris Christie would “pocket veto” legislation requiring all new police vehicles to be equipped with a dashboard video recording device. And, we do know a lot of reasons why this measure should have been signed into law. The bill, A-4193, in the just-ended legislative session, was sponsored by Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, D-4th Dist., following Moriarty’s personal experience with an apparently bogus traffic violation. Charged in his Washington Township hometown with drunken driving by a local officer who had a long history with the lawmaker, Moriarty was able to establish his innocence when the officer’s own video camera revealed what really happened. But having a camera in a police car is about more than just supporting the testimony of an officer or helping a citizen escape a bad rap. Passersby caught on camera may turn out to be potential witnesses to a crime. Cars driving erratically at one moment may be involved in a hit and run moments later. In an era when every mom-and-pop store has security cameras and every other grandmother carries a phone that shoots video, there’s really no excuse for failing to install and use cameras in police cruisers. Moriarty’s bill even established a funding mechanism through a surcharge on drunk-driving fines. Unfortunately, the bill doesn’t require retrofitting of older patrol cars with cameras, just their installation in newly purchased vehicles. It will […]
Source www.nj.com
San Jose, CA Police May Tap Residents’ Private Security Cameras
Police would be able to tap into San Jose residents’ private video cameras under a new proposal that would expand investigators’ watchful eye over the city but already is raising big brother-type privacy concerns. Councilman Sam Liccardo’s proposal, unveiled Thursday and set to be discussed by a City Council committee next week, would allow property owners voluntarily to register their security cameras for a new San Jose Police Department database. Officers then would be able to access the footage quickly after a nearby crime has occurred. It is the latest effort designed to shore up public safety in a city that has seen its reputation as one of the safest big cities in America take a hit in recent years as crime rates have surged and officers have left in droves. The issue is taking center stage heading into the June primary to replace outgoing Mayor Chuck Reed as five local leaders jockey for position as tough-on-crime candidates. Liccardo, among several council members running for mayor, unveiled the proposal in response to the string of arson fires that terrorized his downtown-area district this month. Police used surveillance videos provided voluntarily by nearby property owners as key evidence in identifying a suspect they arrested on suspicion of burning about a dozen buildings. "It became apparent that there’s a lot of evidence out there that residents want to provide," Liccardo said, predicting that the cost would be nominal because existing city technology employees could maintain the database. The new database "is […]
Source www.emergencymgmt.com
CO State Lawmakers Want To Restrict How Long Governmental Surveillance Can Be Kept On Citizens
DENVER – Republican lawmakers at the state Capitol want to send "Big Brother" to his room. Legislation being proposed would require government entities to purge their surveillance video and images within six months of the recording. According to the bill’s sponsor, State Rep. Polly Lawrence, R-Roxborough Park, this is in direct response to surveillance concerns at the federal level. "It has really been brought to our attention with the NSA and their surveillance techniques and their data collection on everyone across the United States," said Lawrence. "I don’t think the government should be surveilling its citizens and retaining that information indefinitely." Government surveillance can include security cameras at state or local buildings, H.A.L.O. cameras, photo red light, photo radar and toll collection devices. Her proposal is to make sure government entities are not keeping tabs on citizens unnecessarily. "If we hadn’t had that in Boston, we wouldn’t have found the Boston bombers, but do we need to let the government retain that information indefinitely," said Lawrence. "Surveillance helped protect me in a significant way. My life would be very different without the vindication of that video," said Shawn Johnson. A downtown H.A.L.O. camera captured Denver police beating Johnson and his friend, Michael DeHerrera, in April 2009. "The surveillance helped our case significantly. It changed the narrative, it gave us a voice," said Johnson. Denver Police saved the video as part of the investigation. Denver Police policy is to purge H.A.L.O. recordings after 30 days, unless the recording is needed […]
Source www.thedenverchannel.com
Illinois? Eavesdropping Law Under Attack
Continuous Video Recording in Progress Continuous Video Recording in Progress I’ve been following the Chris Drew travesty fairly closely. Why should police be treated differently than other citizens? If Illinois law was on the books in California, for instance, would Scott Olsen be a household name? Or other Occupy incidents, like the various pepper spraying videos? If police are doing their job, they shouldn’t be worried about a spectator videoing their actions, and if they are doing something questionable, citizens should be able to collect evidence of police wrongdoing. Anyway, there are rumblings that the law could be thrown out as vague, or unconstitutional. When a Cook County jury in August acquitted a woman of violating Illinois’ strict eavesdropping law, an unassuming man with wire-rimmed glasses and wispy white hair sat in the gallery, quietly taking notes. Chris Drew had good reason to keep an eye on the case — he’s facing trial on the same felony charge of eavesdropping on a public official, which carries up to 15 years in prison. An artist whose ’60s upbringing instilled a deep respect for questioning authority, Drew, 61, is accused of making an illegal audio recording of Chicago police during a 2009 arrest for selling art on a downtown street without a permit. Drew intended the incident to be a test of the city’s permit laws. But now his case has wound up at the forefront of a much bigger effort to challenge the constitutionality of Illinois’ eavesdropping law, which makes […]
Source www.b12partners.net
U.S. Patent And Trademark Office Grants MOBOTIX?s Requests For Patent Review
By MOBOTIX NewsDesk on January 3, 2014 mobotix MOBOTIX Corp. succeeded again in a patent dispute with San Antonio, Texas-based e-Watch Inc. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted MOBOTIX Corp.’s requests for review of four patents owned by e-Watch Inc. According to the USPTO, information presented by MOBOTIX Corp. established that there is a reasonable likelihood that MOBOTIX Corp. would prevail in showing unpatentability of the challenged patent claims. Third-party publications found through extensive search as well as documentation and presentations published by MOBOTIX at the CeBIT trade fair in Hanover, Germany, in February 2000 show that the contents of the patent claims had been disclosed prior to the application for patent. The four patents are cause of action in a patent infringement lawsuit filed by Texas-based e-Watch Inc. at the U.S federal court in San Antonio (Texas). In June, the court granted MOBOTIX Corp.’s motion for stay of the litigation pending review of the validity of the patents at the USPTO and confirmed the view of MOBOTIX Corp. that the patent lawsuit will be rendered irrelevant if the claims of the patents are cancelled in the review proceedings at the USPTO. MOBOTIX Corp. holds that the claims of the four patents are unpatentable and consequently requested cancellation of the patents at the USPTO. The requests not only comprise the claims asserted in the lawsuit but above that challenge almost all claims of the four patents. “We are pleased that the USPTO granted our requests for patent […]
Source www.securitynewsdesk.com
Agent Vi Continues Video Analytics Leadership With ObjectVideo Patent License
Agent Vi provides flexible video analytics solutions, with powerful options for both edge and server based solutions News | CIOL Bureau ROSH HA’AYIN, ISRAEL & RESTON, USA: Agent Vi, a global leader in open architecture video analytics software solutions, jointly announced the signing of a patent license agreement with ObjectVideo. The worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-bearing license to ObjectVideo’s portfolio of 55 patents provides Agent Vi, its customers and partners, protection for current and future Agent Vi products. Itsik Kattan, CEO of Agent Vi, said: "Agent Vi has been a leading provider of video analytics solutions for the past 10 years, maintaining this leading position through continued innovation and significant global expansion. Our commitment to our ecosystem of product users, sales channels and integration partners has always been our highest priority, and we are happy to have reached this agreement which allows us to shield our ecosystem through a stronger intellectual property foundation." "Agent Vi provides flexible video analytics solutions, with powerful options for both edge and server based solutions," said Raul Fernandez, chairman of ObjectVideo. "We are very pleased to add Agent Vi’s complete product portfolio to the growing list of ‘risk-free’ analytics solutions on the market. Adding Agent Vi to the global roster of licensed video analytics manufacturers further demonstrates the value of ObjectVideo’s patent portfolio to manufacturers regardless of their location and the markets they serve. ObjectVideo’s patent licensees include the leading global developers of video analytics from Israel, Asia, Europe and North America." ObjectVideo holds 55 US […]
Source www.ciol.com
Wisconsin’s Rep Larson Introduces Bill Preventing Schools From Collecting Biometric Data
Rep. Tom Larson (R-Colfax) introduced a bill barring schools from collecting or using students’ biometric data, such as blood pressure, without their parents’ or guardians’ consent. No school district in Wisconsin is known to engage in these practices. In fact, no Wisconsin law exists regarding the collection or usage of biometric data one way or another, but times are changing fast. “As technology and teaching methods evolve, who can say what’s coming ten, twenty or thirty years down the road?” Larson asked. Larson said his bill is about preventing a potential problem. “I believe the legislature owes it to students and their families to be proactive and address the issue of biometric data before it can become a problem.” Larson introduced the bill in response to a recommendation from the Assembly Select Committee on Common Core Standards.
Source chippewa.com
U.S.-Based Biometric Company Continues Patent Infringement Fight
The security industry is no stranger to patent litigation, especially when it comes to video surveillance. However, a ruling by a federal appeals court earlier this month could have an impact on the biometrics market and specifically on foreign manufacturers looking to import fingerprint scanners into the U.S. In 2010, Cross Match Technologies, a Florida-based manufacturer of biometric solutions, filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission alleging that South Korea-based manufacturer Suprema, Inc. and its reseller Mentalix, Inc. of Plano, Texas, had infringed upon three of the company’s patents. According to Kathryn Hutton, senior vice president and general counsel for Cross Match, these patents include: U.S. Patent No. 5,900,993 (“the ’993 patent”), which is a hardware patent that pertains to the optical configuration of their scanners, which use a series of lenses to generate the image on a fingerprint. The other two, U.S. Patent No. 7,203,344 (“the ’344 patent”) and U.S. Patent No. 7,277,562 (“the ’562 patent”) are software method patents that tell a user when a fingerprint image is good enough to be captured and processed. Hutton said this case started near the end of 2009 when the U.S. General Services Administration was looking into purchasing several hundred fingerprint scanners for the Census Bureau in an effort to check the backgrounds of the incoming plethora of census workers. Mentalix was eventually awarded the bid, but to the surprise of Cross Match, they were not going to be using their hardware. “We have had a long standing relationship […]
Source www.securityinfowatch.com
USPTO Grants Mobotix’s Requests For Patent Review
New York, December 18, 2013. MOBOTIX Corp. succeeded again in a patent dispute with San Antonio, Texas-based e-Watch Inc. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted MOBOTIX Corp.’s requests for review of four patents owned by e-Watch Inc. According to the USPTO, information presented by MOBOTIX Corp. established that there is a reasonable likelihood that MOBOTIX Corp. would prevail in showing unpatentability of the challenged patent claims. Third-party publications found through extensive search as well as documentation and presentations published by MOBOTIX at the CeBIT trade fair in Hanover, Germany, in February 2000 show that the contents of the patent claims had been disclosed prior to the application for patent. The four patents are cause of action in a patent infringement lawsuit filed by Texas-based e-Watch Inc. at the U.S federal court in San Antonio (Texas). In June, the court granted MOBOTIX Corp.’s motion for stay of the litigation pending review of the validity of the patents at the USPTO and confirmed the view of MOBOTIX Corp. that the patent lawsuit will be rendered irrelevant if the claims of the patents are cancelled in the review proceedings at the USPTO . MOBOTIX Corp. holds that the claims of the four patents are unpatentable and consequently requested cancellation of the patents at the USPTO. The requests not only comprise the claims asserted in the lawsuit but above that challenge almost all claims of the four patents. “We are pleased that the USPTO granted our requests for patent review. This serves […]
Source www.securityinfowatch.com
Judge Deals Blow To NSA Phone Data Program
HC-130J aircraft In May 2013, a P-3 Orion patrol aircraft of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) cued the CGC Bertholf to a target several hundred miles off Costa Rica in the eastern Pacific. The national security cutter (NSC) launched a ScanEagle unmanned aircraft that maintained streaming video surveillance on the target and followed up with an armed MH-65D Dolphin multi-mission cutter helicopter. The arrest ultimately made by the crew of a long range interceptor cutterboat netted 1,250 pounds of cocaine and a half-dozen smuggling suspects. It also illustrated the seamless integration of air and sea assets for homeland defense. Coast Guard Vice Commandant Vice Adm. John P. Currier subsequently told Congress, “This is exactly how the system should work, and we’re very gratified to see this. The level of interoperability was simply not available with our legacy assets. It demonstrates how we apply these updated capabilities to defeat the threats in the offshore environment – and I would underscore the offshore environment is our area of greatest risk.” The Coast Guard is the maritime arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) , and Coast Guard aviation is essential to the layered security measures meant to deter, detect, interdict, and neutralize maritime threats before they reach American shores. In June, the crew of an HC-144A Ocean Sentry , a medium range surveillance aircraft (MRSA) used their sensors to spot a go-fast smuggling boat south of Puerto Rico. U.S. and Dutch vessels seized the smuggler suspects, and Ocean […]
Source www.defensemedianetwork.com
CaughtOnCamera: Marion County FL Corrections Officer Slams Inmate’s Head Into Concrete Wall
Seymour Hersh: US Troops Carrying Out ‘Battlefield Executions’ In Afghanistan Corrections Officer Slams Inmate’s Head Against a Concrete Wall in Florida Leaving Bloody Injury Video reveals the horrifying moment a corrections officer slams inmate’s head against a concrete wall Charles Broaderick smashes James Duckworth’s head against the jail wall in Marion County, Florida after accusing the man of spitting at him He then pins Duckworth to the wall by his neck as the man starts to bleed Duckworth, who had been arrested before the October incident for driving under the influence, needed stitches Broaderick was arrested and now faces an assault charge – he has also been put on unpaid leave while the case continues Dramatic video has revealed the moment a corrections officer smacked a suspect’s head against a brick wall – leaving him with a bloody injury that needed stitches. Officer Charles Broaderick, 41, was arrested, charged with assault and locked up for just 13 minutes following the attack on James Duckworth at the Marion County Jail in Florida on October 8. Broaderick and two other officers questioning Duckworth, who had been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, claimed after the incident that the had been combative and needed to be restrained. Violent: Corrections officer Charles Broaderick can be seen smashing a suspect’s head against the jail wall in Marion County, Florida in October. Broaderick now faces assault charges in the incident Pinned: Broaderick can then be seen pushing against the suspect’s neck and head […]
Source www.liveleak.com
ACLU: More Surveillance Cameras Don’t Make You Safer
video.surveillance.205×205.jpg Big images below. In a post last month , we told you about a new website called CommunityCam , which planned to use crowd-sourcing techniques to document and map all the security cameras in public areas throughout Denver and other nearby areas . The site’s founder mainly portrayed such surveillance devices as good things — no surprise, given that his main company sells and markets them. But the ACLU of Boulder’s Judd Golden doesn’t equate more cameras with more safety and is concerned about other possible infringements on personal privacy as they proliferate. Golden isn’t new to this issue. Back in August, he talked with us about license-plate readers , which he said had the technical capability of allowing authorities to track every driver in Boulder and beyond . So it’s no surprise he looked at the CommunityCam concept with a critical eye. Here’s a CommunityCam screen capture of Colorado from our original post. community.cam.denver.1.jpg Next, take a closer look at Denver metro, with designations for the number of cameras in assorted suburbs, plus Boulder and the city itself: community.cam.denver.2.jpg Finally, here’s a zoom-in of downtown Denver, with icons marking the locations for dozens of cameras, many just steps away from each other: community.cam.denver.3.jpg In the view of CommunityCam’s Josh Daniels, maps like these provide locals with “primarily social benefits — things like being able to plan safer, monitored routes for jogging, biking and walking. Obviously, Denver has a very active outdoor population of people, and this allows […]
Source blogs.westword.com
Department Of Commerce Mulls Privacy Protections For Commercial Use Of Facial Recognition Technology
Published on 10 Dec, 2013 COMPRO Technology Inc., a leading provider of innovative video surveillance solutions, recently launched the HD Pan-Tilt-Zoom cloud network camera TN920W to the market. TN920W offers 2MP HD high quality video imaging, up to 1600×1200 resolutions. It also features 10x digital zoom, 340° pan and 100° tilt and adopting Japan design motor with fast and precise performance. In addition, TN920W supports latest cloud technology and super easy QR code installation. It is an ideal choice for homes, offices, warehouses, restaurants and hotel lobbies. TN920W not only offers unsurpassed image quality but also wide-coverage monitoring. The megapixel resolution and 75° diagonal view angle allow TN920W to capture video from a wide area, effectively reducing the number of cameras required. On top of that, TN920W features a unique design of professional-grade Mechanical IR Cut and IR LEDs for 24/7 surveillance under any kind of lighting condition. When it comes to low-light conditions, the 12 built-in IR LEDs will be switched to additional infrared light that can capture clear images even in complete darkness. As with all TN product series, TN920W is comes with free C4Home cloud app featuring 2-way audio communication, pan/tilt control on mobile phone, preset points setup, Dropbox cloud storage, motion/audio detection, audio alarm and push notification with snapshot, and share video to others. Meanwhile, with the latest version app, you can enjoy new functions as: PTZ and two-way audio controls are now possible for shared accounts Configurable sharing options for the camera owner Support […]
Source www.sourcesecurity.com
Microsoft And Google Lead Coalition Demanding Limits On Government Surveillance
Edmond El Dabe Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) December 11, 2013 Leading California based law firm, El Dabe, is now offering extended legal services on its redesigned website. The improved website is inclusive of several new features like detailed informative blog posts, contact details as well as information on multiple legal practices offered by the firm. El Dabe Law Firm has become an established firm in multiple parts of California and is continually assisting clients in getting favorable results. Over the years, the firm has recovered millions of dollars in client settlements and is considered among the highest rated law firms in the state. El Dabe Law Firm is now offering its expert legal counsel in Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks and Huntington Beach in various practice areas including personal injury, negligence, product liability, vehicle accidents. The firm is also offering legal assistance for clients seeking help with cases of elevator injuries, escalator accidents, chemical burns and funeral home negligence. In the past decade, the firm has been successful in closing settlements favorably for cases involving vehicle accidents, slips and falls, wrongful death, dog bites, burn injuries and defective products. A new highlight of the redesigned website is the detailed blog on Injury Law Central that covers essential details on the latest lawsuits and personal injury cases in the state of California. The website’s personal blog offers informative and detailed articles on understanding personal injury laws in the state and using the right legal counsel to get favorable settlements. The topics […]
Source www.prweb.com
Michigan Bill Would Mandate Night Safety Measures Including Security Cameras
Jessia Heeringa was abducted from the gas station where she worked on April 26, 2013. There were no surveillance cameras. (file photos) LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) – It has been more than seven months since Jessica Heeringa was abducted from her job, and now a Michigan representative is making a push to prevent similar incidents. Monday, Rep. Collene Lamonte (D-Montague) will introduce a bill to require gas stations that stay open past 11 p.m. to either have two employees working or install security cameras. Surveillance video is one key thing missing from the night of April 26 when Heeringa, a 25-year-old mother, disappeared from the Sternberg Road Exxon Mobil gas station in Norton Shores near the end of her shift. There were no surveillance cameras at the gas station. The case prompted Rep. Lamonte to start drafting on the bill. “This tragic event did highlight an issue that I think needs to be addressed and I want to make sure that our late-night employees are protected,” Lamonte told 24 Hour News 8 in May. Lamonte will join 24 Hour News 8 live Monday morning on Daybreak to discuss the bill. In July, Heeringa’s 26th birthday passed and she remained missing. Norton Shores detectives continue to investigate Heeringa’s case, but said six months after the abduction that solid tips have become few and far between. The reward for information leading to Heeringa stands at more than $15,000. Anyone with information about Heeringa’s disappearance or who saw anything out of the ordinary […]
Source www.woodtv.com
Mechanicsville VA Bathroom Surveillance Cameras Under Investigation
MECHANICSVILLE, VA (WWBT) – Controversy is getting served up at Mechanicsville’s Calabash Seafood Restaurant & Midway Lounge. Owner Dennis Smith installed security cameras in the men’s bathrooms, back in September. Smith says he’s paid heavy costs for repairs after repeated bathroom vandalism. He maintains no privacy laws are being violated, since no guest’s private areas are being recorded. However, the Hanover Sheriff’s Office is now investigating the camera situation. Officers executed a search warrant. The cameras were shut off. Smith says investigators are reviewing the footage. Customer Victor Little says he was shocked to spot the cameras, while having dinner at the restaurant Saturday evening. He took cell phone video of the surveillance camera, situated on the ceiling above a stall. “I was startled… I couldn’t believe there was a camera in the men’s room,” said Little. Smith says the bathrooms have been a target of damage, during the span of the restaurant’s 34 years. Smith describes an incident in August that totaled $1,000. “I had a customer go in the men’s room and tear a urinal completely off the wall, with tile…(then the man) broke a toilet,” recounted Smith of the damage. However, the cameras have caused other problems. One man was charged for ripping out one of the cameras, back in September. He says he believed his privacy rights were being violated. The incident also prompted the Hanover Sheriff’s investigation into whether any privacy laws are being broken. NBC12 legal analyst Steve Benjamin says security cameras are […]
Source www.nbc12.com
EFF Amicus Brief: Video Surveillance Of A Home For A Month Without A Warrant Violates Fourth Amendment
Profile image (Before It’s News) Just because a jogger can see the outside of your home on a public street doesn’t mean you’ve surrendered all your privacy expectations in the home. However, that seemingly obvious concept is being put to the test in a federal criminal case in Washington state, which involves the constitutionality of using a camera mounted on a pole outside a house to allow the police to watch the home for almost a month. Senior District Court Judge Edward Shea invited EFF to submit an amicus brief in the case and Monday we filed our brief , arguing prolonged warrantless video surveillance violates the Fourth Amendment . In United States v. Vargas , local police in Franklin County, Washington suspected Leonel Vargas of drug trafficking and in April 2013, installed a pole camera on a public road overlooking Vargas’ rural home . They did not get a search warrant to install or use the camera, which was pointed squarely at the front door and driveway of the home. Officers had the ability to pan the camera around and zoom in and out all from the comfort of the police station. They watched the outside of Vargas’ home for more than a month, taking notice of who visited him and what cars they were driving. They observed no criminal activity until a month after they began snooping, when officers saw him shooting a gun at beer bottles in what appeared to be target practice. Because the officer had […]
Source beforeitsnews.com
Prison Beatings Lawsuit Will Move Forward
Banner Written by Blake Hodge Friday, 15 November 2013 13:10 RALEIGH –A federal judge wants to hear more about allegations inmates were severely beaten by guards at North Carolina’s Central Prison. Eight inmates filed suit alleging guards at the prison would take the handcuffed prisoners out of sight of security cameras and beat them. Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle ordered that the case will go forward, after the state had asked the case be dismissed. Lawyers for North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services will now have access to state records and be allowed to conduct interviews with prison staff in preparation for the upcoming trial. One lawyer, Elizabeth Simpson, says, “What he said, is that we have presented enough that we should be able to get discovery and we should be able to have a chance to prove our case. What the state wanted to do was to shut it down. And Judge Boyle said no, let’s go forward, let’s find out what happened.” The lawsuit alleges officers beat inmates,resulting in inmate injuries that include broken bones, concussions, and a shattered hip. Last Updated on Friday, 15 November 2013 13:17 Banner Banner
Source www.ncnn.com