See this post on Georgia Criminal Law Blog and Podcast for what can happen if your client doesn't consent to a search of his home. This is really frightening.
It is hard to say that this could happen anywhere, and my blue state, northeastern elite proclivities tempt me to say "its a Southern thing." But I don't think so. I think this happens, to different degrees, all over the country. I've had many clients who claimed police abuse, but seldom have I found it to be credible. However, there have been times when I've wondered, and investigated. I've never encountered anything close to this, but coercion and intimidation can take many forms. I've witnessed an officer tell an obviously-underage driver that if he didn't let the officer search his car, he would be in jail within an hour. Nothing was found in the car. I'm sure that is the officer's standard procedure.
Abuse by law enforcement is an issue to which I need to pay more attention. It is very easy to dismiss claims of abuse. I will listen more closely.
January 15, 2007 at 4:55 pm
very nice