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AG Encourages Collaboration on School Safety Measures

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine encourages local teams of law enforcement and educators to attend a new school safety course that will be offered around the state beginning in January and to collaborate on required school safety plans.

12/19/2012

Trending in the Courts

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering two cases of interest to the criminal justice community this term. Decisions are expected by mid-2013.

12/18/2012

State v. Platt — Twelfth District Court of Appeals (Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Fayette, Madison, Preble, and Warren counties), Nov. 13, 2012

Question: Does a peace officer violate a suspect’s Fifth Amendment right if the officer does not inform the suspect that anything he says will be used against him in a court of law?
 
Quick Answer: No, as long as the suspect is told the substance of his constitutional rights, there is no need to issue a Miranda warning verbatim.

12/18/2012

State v. Miller — Second District Court of Appeals (Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, and Montgomery counties), Nov. 9, 2012

Question: If peace officers attempt a “knock-and-talk” but the occupant immediately slams the door and refuses to talk, do the officers have any authority to issue commands to the occupant? 
 
Quick Answer: No. Without a search warrant, the officers have no authority to command the occupants to open the door or to open it themselves.

12/18/2012

State v. Powell — Second District Court of Appeals (Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, and Montgomery counties), Nov. 2, 2012

Question: Is a suspect’s consent to search freely and voluntarily given when law enforcement doesn’t read a consent to search form verbatim?
 
Quick Answer: Yes, as long as the form is explained to the suspect, and it’s signed freely, the consent is freely and voluntarily given.

12/18/2012

State v. Roberson — Second District Court of Appeals (Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, and Montgomery counties), Nov. 2, 2012

Question: When multiple peace officers have secured the premises, may they search a suspect’s luggage for a firearm without a warrant?
 
Quick Answer: No, the allegation that there is a firearm on the premises does not create exigent circumstances if the scene is secured. A warrant is needed to search.

12/18/2012

State v. Garcia — Eighth District Court of Appeals (Cuyahoga County), Nov. 1, 2012

Question: When a peace officer in his patrol car tells a citizen to stop and talk to him, is this a consensual encounter?
 
Quick Answer: No, it’s an investigatory stop for which an officer needs reasonable suspicion.

12/18/2012

Campbell v. City of Springboro — Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals (Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee), Nov. 29, 2012

Question: Can a canine officer’s handler be civilly liable when the canine bites a suspect in the line of duty?
 
Quick Answer: Maybe. It may depend on whether the dog’s state certification remains current and whether the dog goes through periodic maintenance training.

12/18/2012

United States v. Oehne — Second Circuit Court of Appeals (Connecticut, New York, Vermont), Oct. 25, 2012

Question: If a suspect informs peace officers that he has a lawyer for a separate, unrelated charge, must officers abandon all questioning?
 
Quick Answer: No, because a suspect’s request for counsel must be unambiguous.

12/18/2012

United States v. Smith — Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals (Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin), Oct. 4, 2012

Question: Does a peace officer exceed the scope of a Terry investigatory stop if he approaches a suspect with a gun drawn and proceeds to handcuff the suspect?
 
Quick Answer: No, but the officer’s actions must be reasonable under the circumstances.

12/18/2012