Some of the new criminal laws that took effect July 1 greatly increase penalties for offenders who harm some of the most vulnerable Iowans — pregnant women and children.

The laws either change the offense from an aggravated misdemeanor to a felony, or bump up the charge to a more severe felony level — meaning more prison time.

Lawmakers passed HF 570, which adds a new subsection in 708. 2 that specifically focuses on domestic abuse assault against a pregnant woman when the assault includes the use or display of a dangerous weapon. That crime is now a Class D felony, which carries a five-year sentence. Previously, it was an aggravated misdemeanor for domestic abuse assault.

Continue reading “Penalties increase for crimes that harm the most vulnerable Iowans” →

Like many who fall afoul of the law, Tarra Simmons was born and raised in a taxing household environment from which few would succeed. She dropped out of school at 13 and gave birth at 15. In 2011, she was sentenced to 30 months in prison for several charges. It was in prison that, under threat of solitary confinement, she says was coerced into working for cents per hour.

After cleaning up her act, obtaining a law degree, and establishing a nonprofit to help ex-convicts, Simmons was elected to the Washington State House of Representatives in 2020. Tapping her experience as a former inmate worker, Simmons sponsored the Real Labor, Real Wages Act earlier this year that would raise inmate income to the state’s minimum hourly wage. Washington’s current hourly wage floor is $15.74. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Continue reading “Prisoner Labor: The Rate in Every State” →

The awareness surrounding crimes against children is growing, but so is the crime rate.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley said his office is working on five child homicide cases.

“A single murder case involving a child is too many,” said Attorney General Jackley. “A child is precious enough for parents and those entrusted to care for children to be aware of the surroundings and fragile conditions of children as well as educational assistance available for child care.”

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The filmmaker set up his tripod outside a South Bronx public housing complex on a recent morning, recording traffic rumbling past aging buildings, playgrounds, older people greeting one another in Caribbean-accented Spanish and a growing line at a church food pantry.

A man walking by inquired about the purpose of the shoot.

“To get a person out of jail,” said Nicole Mull, a Legal Aid Society lawyer working with the filmmaker, David Simpson.

Continue reading “Lights, Camera, Criminal Defense: Lawyers Pick Up Cameras to Aid Clients” →

If you ever find yourself exploring the expanses of North Dakota, it’s common knowledge to keep an eye out for the unexpected presence of mountain lions in Williston or the freezing cold that could turn an egg solid in Parshall. But an often overlooked factor to be mindful of is the state’s danger zones.

You heard right! North Dakota, like any other region, has its share of risky spots. Some attribute this to the icy temperatures sparking tempers, others point fingers at the need for more quality job opportunities, while some chalk it up to simple human nature. However, regardless of the reasons, the facts remain indisputable. Luckily, I came across some eye-opening research from RoadSnacks that unveils the top ten most perilous places in the Peace Garden State for 2022.

Continue reading “10 Most Dangerous Cities In North Dakota 2023: From Peaceful to Perilous” →

South Dakota lawmakers talked of home invasions and mass shootings when they strengthened self-defense protections in recent years, but the new laws are being used in scenarios that bear little resemblance to those hypotheticals.

Some situations don’t involve firearms, as with the Rapid City man accused of simple assault for taking down a 12-year-old boy on a playground, or the Mobridge man who’d been rude to a female server and knocked out the bar owner who confronted him about it. In both instances, the defendants claimed self-defense and exercised their right to an “immunity hearing” — a new kind of proceeding, created by the updated “stand your ground” laws, that allows those making self-defense claims to ask a judge to drop the charges before a trial commences.

Continue reading “‘Stand your ground’ law alters criminal justice landscape” →

A federal judge in Florida unsealed an indictment that accuses former President Donald Trump of hiding classified national security documents after he left the White House, improperly storing them and sharing sensitive information with people who lacked security clearance.

Though he’s not the only former federal official to improperly take classified documents with him after leaving office, federal prosecutors allege Trump did so on purpose and went to great lengths to conceal his possession of them.

Continue reading “Questions and answers about Trump’s indictment on federal criminal charges” →

Six months into 2023, there hasn’t been a homicide investigation in Sioux Falls.

And according to Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken, besides aggravated assaults, almost all other crimes have seen decreases per capita halfway through the year. TenHaken said a data figure he constantly watches is the number of crimes committed per capita.

Continue reading “Crime is manageable as Sioux Falls grows to 121st largest city” →

The US Supreme Court limited when prosecutors can charge criminal defendants with identity theft alongside other crimes.

In a unanimous decision Thursday, the court said a defendant “uses” another person’s means of identification “in relation to” a predicate offense when the use is at the crux of what makes the conduct criminal.

The case centered on David Dubin, who was charged with healthcare fraud for overbilling Medicaid for services his psychological examination company provided to a child at an emergency shelter in Texas.

Continue reading “US Supreme Court Narrows Scope of Identity Theft Law” →

Since the first use of DNA evidence in a criminal case in 1986, forensic scientists have considered biological material (such as hair, skin, and bodily fluids) to be relatively reliable physical evidence.

While early technology required a substantial amount of biological material to extract enough DNA to build an individual profile for analysis, researchers have since discovered that they can obtain reliable DNA from more than just bloodstains or visible fluids; they can also obtain it from “touch DNA” that is left behind on surfaces or objects such as doorknobs, window latches, or steering wheels. Although touch DNA can be essential for forensic casework, it also comes with its share of issues, including those related to:

• Low quantity of useable DNA.
• High variability in the amount of DNA left by touch; that is, high variability in the amount that one person leaves, and high variability in the amount left from person to person.
• DNA degradation,including the many factors that can cause DNA to break down over time.

Continue reading “Persistence of Touch DNA Evidence for Analysis” →