The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution was designed to protect U.S. citizens from abuses of privacy by government power. In Fourth Amendment cases, justices are tasked with deciding whether a defendant’s right to privacy was violated or whether an illegal search and/or seizure occurred. But how are these decisions made, and does broader representation on the court alter such decisions?

With youth specifically, there are questions about both comprehension of their rights and ability to protect such rights during interrogations.

To better understand the full scope of the Third Amendment, we first have to acknowledge the history that led to its creation.

Gun ownership in the United States is about more than laws or crime rates—it is also influenced by people’s beliefs and emotions about safety.

In the United States, the First Amendment guarantees five rights: religion, petition, speech, press, and assembly. It establishes that people living in the United States can express their opinion without government interference and penalization. Contextualizing the current political climate, what does this mean for American citizens? Are these rights applied or does support for assembly vary depending on the stance of the message? It’s important to ask whether we support the

When they drafted the Constitution in 1787, the Founders were not only creating a system of governance, but they were also designing a system that could withstand human nature. They had just lived through abuses from the monarchy and the chaos of revolution and understood something profound: Humans are capable of both great wisdom and great error. The Framers were not only political theorists, but also keen observers of human nature. Therefore, they established the Constituti

When tragedies strike, lawmakers often respond with bills named after the victim—Amelia’s Law, Megan’s Law, Caylee’s Law—you can find examples all over the country. Crime control theater research on several of these policies suggests that bills like this can have unwarranted support, even if the policy is ineffective or harmful. And legal scholars have long expressed concern that tying legislation to a sympathetic victim creates emotional momentum that overwhelms critical ev

By: Idalia Pinal Imagine you are a young person who just moved to a new country. You have gotten into some legal trouble, and now you’re asked to sit down in a room and talk things out with the person involved (such as the victim, a judge, an attorney, or a mediator). You are supposed to explain your side, take responsibility, and possibly make things right, but the rules, the language, and even the way people talk are all unfamiliar. This process is called mediation, a form

By: Ashley Gale Vaughan, J.D. Most legal disputes in the United States are resolved outside of the courtroom through a set of processes known as Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). ADR includes informal resolutions like settlements in civil cases and plea bargains in criminal matters, as well as more formal alternatives such as mediation and arbitration. These processes allow people to resolve conflicts without the time, cost, and unpredictability of a trial. But why does A

Psychologists tend to categorize countries along a spectrum from individualistic to collectivistic countries. More individualistic countries, such as the United States, tend to prioritize independence, self-expression, and personal freedom. More collectivistic nations, such as South Korea, tend to prioritize community, conformity, harmony, and loyalty. Research suggests that these difference in ideologies can also result in differences in attributions for criminal behavior, w

As an adolescent, what was your primary motivator for success? Did you succeed because you were driven by rewards (e.g., recognition, monetary benefits, autonomy), or were you motivated to avoid punishment? Most people tend to respond more positively to rewards (i.e., positive reinforcement) than punishment. However, the juvenile justice system is set up to focus more on punishing bad behavior than rewarding good behavior. This creates a situation where systems are more likel

Sentencing guidelines are advisory recommendations that help judges determine appropriate sentences based on a person’s criminal history...

Henry Alford was accused of murder and was facing the death penalty at trial . Despite maintaining his innocence, in order to avoid the...

For many, justice means punishment – going to jail, paying fines, or “doing the time” for the crime committed. But what if punishment is...

According to the American Bar Association , the number of female law students has increased since 1970, where female law student...

As April 15 approaches each year, people across America scramble to get their taxes filed. While some people have likely gotten into a...

In the juvenile justice system, youth are influenced by a variety of sources – parents, lawyers, police officers, other legal actors, and...

Do you believe the skills you learn during the training you get when you first start a job or internship are still at their peak after...

Would you hand over your unlocked cellphone to a stranger? Think about all the things you access on your phone – text messages, website...

Imagine a child in an interview with an investigator about an alleged child sexual assault. The investigator is trying to figure out the...