The words bail and bond are often confused. Bail refers to collateral given to secure a temporary release from jail for a person charged with a crime. Bond refers to a way to raise bail money if you don't have it yourself. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably. This is factually incorrect.......[Read More]

In today's world of advanced technology, cyber crime is becoming more common. Many websites contain illegal and criminal material. The two most common types of criminal activity you will find on the Web are child pornography and threats of violence or terrorism. If you come across any criminal or su......[Read More]

Policing style varies based on the type of community the officer serves. Highly legalized communities require "no frills" policing in which punishment is applied equally to everyone. Some communities expect officers to function with a high level of discretion, while other communities expect the offi......[Read More]

The role of executor of an estate and trustee are often assumed by the same person, but not always. If you find yourself appointed to one or both of these positions, it is imperative that you know upfront what your job involves. The executor of an estate is either named in a will or, if there isn't ......[Read More]

While most police officers are honest, misconduct does occur, and it affects the integrity of the justice system. Here are some of the most common types of police misconduct.......[Read More]

Police look for signs of forced entry when there is a burglary in progress.Einbruch image by Angelika Bentin from Fotolia.comThere are specific police procedures to handle a burglary in progress that has been reported to the police department. Officers who are responding to the call must.........[Read More]

Preventing police brutality is a serious, ongoing goal in America. It is difficult to balance laws and procedures designed to help police officers do their job effectively with laws protecting individual citizens when they are being suspected of a crime. Ideally, all suspects would accept arrest wil......[Read More]

Going to prison is not a pleasant experience. Even the act of being admitted to prison can be a humiliating and invasive one. When you go to prison, you are searched and examined thoroughly before they release you into the population or assign you to the cell. The length of intake searches can depen......[Read More]

There are mixed opinions about the availability of continuing education behind bars for those convicted of crimes. Educational opportunities exist for those who are incarcerated--this has become standard practice in many of America's prisons. Inmate education is an important part of the rehabilitati......[Read More]

A police car in pursuit of another vehicle at high speeds often leads to deadly consequences.police car speed, toy model car, chase criminal image by alma_sacra from Fotolia.comThere isn't a single measure of what makes a police department "conservative." Certainly, one measure is the.........[Read More]

A term of incarceration that exceeds a year is carried out in a state or federal prison. A judge, rather than a jury, determines the length of a defendant's sentence. A judge will use statutory and constitutional provisions to determine the length of the prison term.......[Read More]

Most people have little idea what the average cost is to house inmates in prison. An average bill per day to house an inmate in state prisons is about $129. The bill at some prisons is a little less depending on the cost of living in the particular state, but these figures will likely increase every......[Read More]

Pennsylvania has more that 70 county jails where those accused of crimes are housed until sentenced. Individuals serving sentences of less than two years and those waiting to be transported to state prison may also be placed in a county jail. Although there is no service that provides daily arrest r......[Read More]

Federal sentencing guidelines are produced by the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Commission, which was created in 1984 with the passage of the Sentencing Reform Act. In 1996, Congress enacted the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act (MVRA), making restitution mandatory for crimes of violence and most prope......[Read More]

Across the nation, state departments of revenue hold billions of dollars in unclaimed property. Insurance companies also hold death benefits in cases where heirs cannot be located. An heir finder works to reunite this property with those who rightfully have a claim to it.Unfortunately,......[Read More]

Police agencies and private security firms both provide services within the United States. However, there are differences in the duties and qualifications of these two kinds of entities. Private companies typically rely upon security firms, while the general public expects protection from its police......[Read More]

Violence in prison is a challenging and troubling problem. According to The Bureau of Justice Statistics, many prisons are operating at more than 100 percent capacity. Overcrowding is likely a contributing factor to violence in prison. Two models of prison violence are: the importation model and the......[Read More]

With regard to a death investigation, modus operandi (method of operating) refers to the way a criminal commits murder. Even when multiple murders occur under different circumstances, a single modus operandi could apply to each death. For example, the murderer might always or never use weapons, stea......[Read More]

Obtaining a guard card with firearm privileges requires intensive training.pistol image by Du...?an Zidar from Fotolia.comNew York State Law defines a security guard as a person employed primarily to engage in the duties of: protecting persons and property from theft, harm, or unlawful.........[Read More]

There are a number of requirements to joining a SWAT teampolice image by Robert Grzywaczewski from Fotolia.comSpecial weapons and tactics (SWAT) teams are members of law enforcement agencies that are deployed in situations that require highly skilled tactical officers, such as hostage or.........[Read More]