On April 16, 2020, the Massachusetts Supreme Court issued a decision that may likely set the standard for the use of digital technology in criminal cases. The case is Commonwealth v. McCarthy (SJC-12750), and involved the tracking of an individuals movements over a period of time by use of ALPR cameras (license plate recognition). The […]

In a colorfully written 53-page opinion very important for police officers, the US First Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the “community caretaking function,” previously only applicable to automobile searches and seizures, is now applicable to private premises, including residences. The case is Canglia v. Strom, and was issued March 13, 2020. In this […]

With a public health state of emergency impacting the entire nation, first responders are among the select group of essential employees working outside of the home. With almost daily changes to working conditions, several labor questions have arisen. Unions have cooperated with local governments in making staffing and other changes during this crisis, while at […]