Unreasonable Search and Seizure

In the article from the Houston Chronicle, "Long wait. Finally, a jury can decide if deputies can intrude without warrant and arrest without probable cause." the author revisits an old arrest that happened 6 years ago. On Jan. 4, 2002, two brothers (Sean Carlos Ibarra and Erik Adam Ibarra) allege, sheriff's deputies unlawfully stormed their property without a warrant, falsely arrested them without cause and destroyed film in a camera. The camera had been used to photograph the deputies as they conducted a drug raid in the neighborhood. I agree with the author that the police goes to far in some situations, especially this one. It seems the police force were frustrated by the citizens filming their activities in the neighborhood and decided to confront the Ibarra brothers.

The author is stunned that is has taken six years to wait for justice, but the lawsuit filed by Sean Carlos Ibarra and Erik Adam Ibarra finally went to trial this week. I agree with the author that "the case will further test whether sheriff's deputies have the right to enter people's homes without probable cause and with apparent impunity. It will ask whether law enforcement officers can seize cameras from law-abiding citizens, destroy film and pay no price for their actions." The deputies' attorney, Cliff Harrison, said the incident began when Sean Ibarra resisted deputies at the scene. But the officers, who had no cause to confront Ibarra, should have given Ibarra nothing to resist in the first place. The Ibarra brothers, found innocent of all wrongdoing when they were tried on charges of resisting arrest, have already paid a heavy price for the deputies' improper liberties. This is just another example of the police force overstating their powers. I am glad the author brought this case to light and shows that the government does go back and try to right wrongs. Even when it is their own employees who are the ones abusing the power.

Capital Punishment in Texas

"Capital punishment should continue," is an article written by Mike Hashimoto of the Dallas news. In this article Hashimoto is arguing for keeping capital punishment in Texas. Hashimoto gives some strong opinion's for capital punishment. Hashimoto states that capital punishment is "the ulitmate punishment for crimes that demand finality" where as a criminals given a life sentence can still escape and cause more destruction. Also Hashimoto says that capital punishment "sends a powerful message" to detterent crime.

And finally Hashimoto concludes that capital punishment is applied fairly, accurately and sparingly. Hashimoto then lists some statics to prove his point about the fairness "U.S. Justice Department statistics found that black defendants were convicted of 51.5 percent of all murders but made up only 41.3 percent of death row populations. A white murderer, the study found, was about twice as likely to receive a death sentence as a black murderer. " I think this is a good article for pro stance on capital punishment. Hashimoto brings up good points and his article is easy to read and flows nicely.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/columnists/mhashimoto/stories/DN-deathhashimoto_15edi.ART.State.Edition1.42ce26c.html