Stimulus Cash Infusion Allows For More Police Hires

Nearly $26 million dollars in stimulus cash is heading to Illinois Police Departments. The Chicago Police Department alone will be receiving $13 million, enough to allow for the hiring of 50 additional police officers. Northwest Indiana police departments will share $3.9 million. The City of Gary is expecting to hire at least 11 new police officers.

The funds are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The United States Department of Justice is handling the funding as part of its Cops Hiring Recovery Program.

For more information about the Chicago criminal defense attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

Study Shows Racial Profiling Alive And Well

In the midst of the debate surrounding the arrest of black scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has released their annual study showing that minority motorists are more likely to be pulled over and asked for consent to search their vehicles than white drivers. In Chicago, minority drivers are four times more likely to be searched in their vehicles than white drivers. In last year's study, minority drivers were five times more likely to be searched. The most interesting numbers from the study show that police are much more likely to find drugs in vehicles driven by white drivers than minority drivers. When vehicles driven by minorities were "consent searched," drugs were found 15.4 percent of the time. When vehicles driven by white drivers were "consent searched," drugs were found 24.7 percent of the time. Statewide, minority drivers were 13% more likely to be stopped than minority drivers. That number is slightly higher than last year's study.

We first reported about this issue on a July 27, 2008 post about a similar study by the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety. The current study by the ACLU indicates that the numbers are improving but lots of work needs to be done to correct this problem.

These numbers show that racial profiling is a real problem. But the numbers also show the predisposition that officers have that minorities are more likely to be up to no good are not supported by the numbers. The numbers show that officers are more likely to find drugs in vehicles driven by white drivers than minorities.

For more information about the Chicago criminal defense attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

Delaware Supreme Court Overturns Death Sentence

The Delaware Supreme Court overturned the death sentence and ordered a new trial of a man charged with killing and raping a college student. James E. Cooke, Jr., had been convicted of the rape and murder of a 20 year old college student in 1995. Cooke proclaimed his innocence, but his attorneys asked the court to find their client guilty but mentally ill. This position ran contrary to Cooke's wishes. On appeal Cooke argued that his right to a fair trial was violated. In a 3 to 2 decision the Delaware Supreme Court agreed and ordered a new trial.

For more information about the Chicago criminal defense attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

University of Chicago Paper Quotes Attorney James Dimeas

On May 19, 2009, the Chicago Maroon, the student newspaper for the University of Chicago, published an article about an alleged University of Chicago employee charged with a Robbery. The suspect had listed his occupation in the police report as being a University Custodian but a University spokesman denied that he worked for the University. The suspect was charged with assaulting a 19 year old victim outside of the victim's home and stealing his wallet and backpack. The author of the newspaper article contacted Chicago criminal defense attorney, James G. Dimeas, and quoted him about the Robbery charges the suspect was facing and the possible range of sentences.

To read the complete article click here.

For more information about the Chicago Criminal Defense Attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

Federal Appeals Court Rules Neighborhood Checks Unconstitutional

On Friday the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that a neighborhood motorist checkpoint violated the plaintiffs' Fourth Amendment rights. The Washington D.C. police department had set up a Neighborhood Safety Zone program in the Trinidad neighborhood of Washington D.C. Eleven checkpoints were set up which did not allow motorists to enter the neighborhood unless they could prove they lived in the neighborhood and had valid reasons for entering. The lower court had denied a motion for preliminary injunction by the plaintiffs' to enjoin future implementation of the program. The Court of Appeals overturned the lower court's denial of the motion for preliminary injunction by finding that the purpose of the checkpoint is not immediately distinguishable from the general interest in crime control. The court found that the plaintiffs' were likely to prevail on the merits of the case and overruled the denial of the preliminary injunction.

For more information about the Chicago Criminal Defense Attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

Bad Press For Red Light Cameras

The past few days the Chicago Tribune has published major articles which cast red light cameras, and the main suburban red light camera company in a bad light. On Sunday, the Tribune spotlighted the political back room dealings which gave rise to RedSpeed Illinois, the main supplier of red light cameras in the suburban Chicago communities. The ownership of RedSpeed is cloudy, at best. It's main office is in Kazakhstan. It is owned by a closely held Israeli group of investors. The CEO of the company lives in Staten Island New York and works out of the office of a New York Ophthalmologist. RedSpeed has contracts with over 50 Illinois municipalities. Working for this company are some heavy duty lobbyists and former state government officials. It's sales director is Greg Zito, a former state senator from Melrose Park and a longtime lobbyist for HSBC and Household International. Those companies have been the main campaign cash providers to the main supporter of red light cameras in Springfield, Representative Angelo Saviano. Another lobbyist of RedSpeed, Al Ronan is a former state legislator and a fundraiser for George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich.

RedSpeed was launched in 2004 and quickly started getting contracts in Illinois even though they had never operated any red light cameras anywhere. To read this interesting and revealing article, please click here.

Another article in the Chicago Tribune revealed just how profitable these red light cameras have been. The article also exposes how government officials are flat out admitting that it's all about money. There's a video of the Village of Bellwood Comptroller, Roy McCambell, boasting "that intersection is a guaranteed amount of money." He made that statement during a seminar with the Illinois Muncipal League in 2007. He was talking about the intersection of 25th and Harrison Street in Bellwood Illinois. The red light camera at that intersection is bringing in between $60,000 to $70,000 a month in revenue. The article also points out that about 90% of these red light tickets are issued for failure to make a complete stop before making a right turn, and not for blowing through an intersection. To read this article, please click here.

For more information about the Chicago Criminal Defense Attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

Shamah Sentenced to 19 Years

Today, Mahmoud (Mike) Shamah was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for robberies of drug dealers he committed while he was a Chicago police officer. On Wednesday we reported that Shamah's partner, Richard Doroniuk was sentenced to 11 years for his part in the crimes. Shamah and Doroniuk would rob drug dealers of their money and would plant evidence on motorists they suspected as being drug dealers. There was also evidence introduced at their trial that a sitting judge was bribed by them. U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman said he hoped the sentence would send a message to Chicago police officers and restore the public's faith in the police. The Federal Sentencing Guidelines called for a minimum of 24 years in prison but Judge Gettleman thought that was too harsh and imposed a lower sentence. Shamah and Doronuik were originally nabbed by the FBI when they were caught stealing what they thought was real money from an inventory locker. As part of the sentence, Shamah will be required to repay $1,780 in money stolen from the robberies of the drug dealers and $7,000 from a storage locker at the police department. Shamah will be required to report to a federal penitentiary on August 10, 2009.

For more information about the Chicago criminal defense attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

Obama Accepts Kent's Resignation

In what will probably be our final post on this matter, the White House has announced that President Obama has accepted the resignation of impeached federal district court judge Samuel Kent. This means that he has officially been removed from his seat on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Earlier this month Kent became the first federal judge to be impeached in 20 years and only the thirteenth federal judge to ever be impeached. Kent's resignation comes in the midst of the preparation of his impeachment trial proceedings in the Senate.

It was only a month ago that Kent submitted his first letter of resignation that was to be effective in one year. This meant that Kent would continue to receive his $174,000 annual salary and health insurance benefits. It was after that first letter of resignation that the impeachment process accelerated resulting in his immediate removal from the bench.

For more information about the Chicago Criminal Defense Attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 800-228-7295.

Elgin Parking Ticket Appeals Process Being Challenged In Court

A South Elgin man is suing the City of Elgin claiming that the town's appeals process for parking tickets is faulty. The man challenging the appeals process is Dan Kairis. Dan's son received a parking ticket in January. Elgin had apparently set up an odd-even parking schedule along certain streets to ease snow removal and leaf pick up at certain locations. Dan showed up at the appeal hearing and argued that the city had not put up any signs. He also presented photographs showing that no signs were posted. Dan argues that the hearing officer was a private attorney paid by the town, did not allow him to tape record the hearing, did not allow him to cross examine the officer who wrote the ticket and presented evidence on behalf of the town. Dan is claiming in his lawsuit that he did not get a fair chance to face his accuser and that there was a conflict between the hearing officer's role as a judge and his actions as a prosecutor on behalf of the town.

Dan Kairis is acting as his own attorney. We wish him the best of luck in his lawsuit.

For more information about the Chicago Criminal Defense Attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

Warning! DUI Crackdown in Kane County This Weekend

The Kane County State's Attorney's Office, along with local police agencies in Kane County, have announced that they will be teaming up this weekend for the county's third "No Refusal" operation where officers will obtain on the spot search warrants against drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. While the details are not being set out, it sounds as if a court judge will be present to sign search warrants at these sting locations. The warrants could require that a motorist submit to a breath, urine or blood test. If a driver refuses to comply with such a warrant, officials have stated that they may be charged with contempt of court. The operation is scheduled to take place on Friday and Saturday but officials are not disclosing where in Kane County these operations will be carried out.

The first "No Refusal" operation took place on Memorial Day Weekend in 2008 and resulted in 14 arrests. The second "No Refusal" operation took place over this year's St. Patrick's Day weekend and resulted in just 3 arrests.

For more information about the Chicago criminal defense attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.