The Justice Voice

Is it legal to masturbate at work? While this might not seem like a question that pops up often, it’s actually widely asked. However, the answer to this question greatly depends on a number of circumstances. Masturbation is a natural part of human existence, and is a totally healthy thing to do, but what happens if you feel the need to rub one out during a work shift? Could you get fired? Worst yet: Could you be charged with a crime? Private vs Public Property Public indecency is illegal in public spaces in every state, but does your place of employment count as a public space? Furthermore, isn’t the privacy of a bathroom designed to keep private things private ? This archived discussion poses a series of good points regarding the legal language surrounding public indecency in private and public spaces. In particular, the legal language surrounding public exposure and indecency laws leaves a lot of room for interpretation when it comes to finding out if it is legal to mastu...

A 13-year-old Texas girl has been arrested for brutally stabbing and beating her mother to the point of near-death — but her case is far from the only one of similar caliber in recent headlines. In fact, the number of cases of parenticide and attempted-parenticide reported by news outlets appear to be increasing. News 4 San Antonio reports that an unnamed 13-year-old girl stands accused of trying to murder her own mother by stabbing her over 30 times. Police who responded to the scene of the violent incident say that they also found bloody brass knuckles in the home, as well as a bloody dumbbell weight. Her identity isn’t being released due to her being a minor, but she is at least still in custody while awaiting trial. Strangely enough, her father has shown up to her initial court appearances in support of her. The aforementioned case in Texas is far from the only recent case of a child trying to murder one of their parents. In October 2023, a 13-year-old Florida boy name...

Even though the term serial killer wasn’t coined until the 20th century, the concept itself has existed since the dawn of man. Numerous people have been called “the world’s first serial killer” throughout time, but one notable person often gets left out of the discussion. That man was Gilles de Rais, a 15th century nobleman-turned-serial-killer. Gilles de Rais was a French nobleman who lived in the 15th century and was known for his military service. He fought alongside Joan of Arc in the Hundred Years’ War, serving as one of her most trusted commanders. He played a key role in several of the war’s most important battles, including the Siege of Orléans. Despite his bravery on the battlefield, he ultimately fell out of favor with the French court and was stripped of his titles and lands. While he is remembered for his association with Joan of Arc, he was also a skilled military strategist and a respected leader in his own right. Why was he stripped of ...

Sebastian Alexander Shaw, an American serial killer and rapist, was born in Vietnam and terrorized the city of Portland, Oregon in the early 1990s. During his killing spree between 1991 and 1992, Shaw committed at least three murders that shocked the community and sparked a massive investigation. Shaw’s case is similar to many other serial killer cases in that he had been on police radar at least once over the course of his killing spree. If he had been investigated sooner, the lives of at least three people would have been saved. Early Life Born under the name Chau Quang Ho, Sebastian Shaw was born in Phuoc Tuy, Vietnam. When he was young, he moved to Oregon with his father, Van, who had remarried and had two more children with his new wife. During 4th grade, Chau’s teacher reported that he had temper tantrums, but little is known about whether or not this was a persistent issue. Chau enjoyed high school, but struggled with some issues and once tried to overdose on aspiri...

Las Vegas is known as the entertainment capital of the world, attracting millions of visitors each year. However, if you find yourself involved in a fight in Sin City, you could be facing serious legal consequences. If you get arrested for fighting in Las Vegas, the first thing you should do is exercise your right to remain silent and request an attorney. It’s important to remember that anything you say or do can be used against you in court. The penalties for fighting in Las Vegas vary depending on the severity of the offense and any prior criminal history. If you are charged with misdemeanor battery, which involves causing bodily harm to another person, you could face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. If the offense is more serious, such as felony battery with a deadly weapon, you could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Additionally, a conviction for a violent crime can have long-lasting consequences, including difficulty finding empl...

The three strike rule, also known as habitual offender laws, is a controversial policy in criminal justice that requires a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for individuals who commit a third serious crime. This policy was introduced in the United States in the 1990s as a way to deter repeat offenders and reduce crime rates. Proponents of the three strike rule argue that it is an effective tool in reducing crime rates and keeping dangerous offenders off the streets. They also argue that it provides justice to victims of crime and their families. However, critics of the three strike rule argue that it is a harsh and unjust policy that leads to disproportionate sentencing and overcrowding in prisons. They argue that the policy fails to address the root causes of criminal behavior, such as poverty and lack of access to resources. Critics also point out that the policy disproportionately affects people of color and low-income individuals. According t...

Amy Fisher, also known as the “Long Island Lolita,” became infamous in the early 1990s for her involvement in a highly publicized crime. Fisher was a 17-year-old high school student when she began a sexual relationship with Joey Buttafuoco, a married man who was twice her age. In May 1992, Fisher went to Buttafuoco’s home and shot his wife, Mary Jo, in the head. Mary Jo survived the attack but was left partially paralyzed. The incident became a media sensation, with Fisher’s young age and attractive appearance garnering significant attention. The media dubbed her the “Long Island Lolita” and her story became a symbol of teenage recklessness and violence. Fisher was ultimately convicted of first-degree assault and sentenced to 5-15 years in prison. Fisher’s crime was shocking in its brutality and senselessness. Her relationship with Buttafuoco, which began when she was just 16 years old, was deeply inappropriate and predatory. The fact that she w...

Edmund Kemper, also known as the “Co-ed Killer,” is one of the most infamous serial killers in American history. Born on December 18, 1948, in Burbank, California, Kemper had a troubled childhood. He was physically and emotionally abused by his mother, who often belittled him and referred to him as a “weirdo.” Kemper’s parents divorced when he was nine years old, and he was sent to live with his paternal grandparents in North Fork, California. Kemper’s first murders occurred when he was just 15 years old. He killed his grandparents, Maude and Edmund Kemper Sr., shooting them both with a .22 caliber rifle. He then called his mother, who was living in Montana at the time, and told her what he had done. She instructed him to call the police and turn himself in, which he did. He was sent to the Atascadero State Hospital for the criminally insane, where he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Kemper was released from the hospital in 1969, at the age...

As a true crime writer, I’ve covered a number of notorious serial killers over the years. While many of these murderers are known for their heinous crimes, there are a select few who stand out for their incredible intellect. These individuals are not just ruthless killers, but also possess a high level of intelligence and cunning that allowed them to evade capture for years. One such killer is Ted Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber. Kaczynski was a former mathematics professor who held a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. His I.Q. was estimated to be between 160 and 180, putting him in the category of a genius. Kaczynski used his intelligence to create and send explosive packages that killed three people and injured many others over the course of nearly 20 years. It wasn’t until his brother recognized his writing style in a manifesto that Kaczynski was finally caught. Another highly intelligent serial killer was Edmund Kemper, also known as the Co-Ed Killer. Kemper ...

As someone who has been writing about true crime and criminal justice for years, I’ve seen the many flaws of our justice system up close. From wrongful convictions to excessive sentencing, there are many ways in which our system fails those it’s supposed to protect. One of the biggest issues with our criminal justice system is its reliance on punishment rather than rehabilitation. Too often, individuals who have committed crimes are thrown into prison without any real attempt to address the underlying issues that led to their behavior in the first place. This approach not only fails to address the root causes of criminal behavior, but it also perpetuates a cycle of recidivism. Another issue with our criminal justice system is the racial and socioeconomic disparities that exist within it. Studies have shown that individuals from marginalized communities are more likely to be arrested, charged, and sentenced to harsher penalties than their white, middle-class counterparts. It...

Could you be living in a dangerous state? Most states have cities that vary in crime rate depending on the neighborhood, but what about the most dangerous states overall? The following is a list of the most dangerous states in the country, and what exactly makes them dangerous to live in and visit. Alaska According to several sources, the state of Alaska is statistically the most dangerous state in the country. This is due to the enormously high crime rate this otherwise sparsely populated state experiences. According to Property Club , as of 2022 Alaska’s violent crime rate is 30.89 per 1,000 people. Alaska is home to a staggering number of reported sexual assaults as well as aggravated assaults. Tennessee Tennessee’s crime rate is nearly as high as Alaska’s, though it does have a substantially higher population. Nonetheless, the amount of violent crimes in this Southern state is pretty high with more than 46,000 violent incidents reported to police in just 2021 alone...

Insulting a police officer might sound like a good idea, but is it illegal? It really all depends on the situation and context, so the answer isn’t just a simple yes or no . If you want to know if you can get arrested for insulting a cop, the following will attempt to explain the legality of it. Fighting Words Before you start acting foolish toward a police officer believing it’s your “First Amendment Right,” you might want to learn a thing or two about the concept of “Fighting Words.” To put it plainly, the Fighting Words Doctrine allows governments and people who work for them to limit your free speech if they believe you’re going to incite violence or retaliatory violence. In other words, if your idea of an insult is to essentially challenge someone to a fight or cause them to feel like you might become violent, then you might not want to have a war of words with a cop. So-called “fighting word” insults could absolutely get you ...

There’s a first time for everything — including getting in trouble with the law. If you find yourself on the wrong side of the law for the first time, you probably have a lot of questions. One question you might have is whether or not you’re going to jail. Could you go to jail on your first arrest? The answer isn’t a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ unfortunately. Jail vs Prison In most arrests, the first place you’re taken by an officer is jail — where you either stay until you’re bailed out or you’re released on your own recognizance. However, in some cases, you may be arrested and cited by a police officer — but then released. This is called a “cite and release” arrest, and many states in the U.S. implement these types of arrests for certain low-risk crimes. For example, in the state of California a police officer will cite and release you on the promise that you’ll appear in court in association wi...

Is your child a bully? It’s not a pleasant accusation to face, especially when your instinct as a parent is to defend and protect your children. However, this is a growing issue in the U.S., and not everyone’s child is as innocent as they wish them to be. The reality of the matter is that some children are indeed bullies, and sometimes the accusations against them are absolutely true. So what do you do if your child is accused of bullying another child in school? According to Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center , approximately one out of five students r eport that they are victims of bullying in school. That presents a figure of around 20% of school-aged kids in the United States — which illustrates a prolific problem. The evidence of this growing problem also can’t be denied by observing the various legislative moves being made in various states regarding bullying. In fact, as of 2022 every single state in the U.S. has some kind of anti-bullying ...

More bullying incidents are in the news this week — with one California child being put in the hospital after her bullies allegedly beat her up at Columbia Middle School. The teenage girl has been suspended due to the so-called zero-tolerance-policy in the school district, even though her mother says that she is the victim in this situation — and has been a victim of bullying both on and off campus for some time. ABC News 7 reports that 13-year-old Lauryn was beaten so badly that she was left “battered and bruised.” The teenager, who resides in the California city of Adelanto, had to seek medical care at an area hospital after the incident that took place last week. The fight was captured on video, which went somewhat viral at the time, and resulted in the suspensions of several students — 13-year-old Lauryn, included. The California teen’s mom says that her daughter has been cyberbullied by the students who jumped her at school last week, and that...

Doxxing is the act of exposing someone’s private information online. It’s usually done maliciously by cyberstalkers with the intent of harassing a victim through public embarrassment, defamation or intimidation. Getting doxxed can be an incredibly frustrating experience at the least, and at the worst it can be a terrifying, damaging and life-changing situation. Nonetheless, there are a lot of misconceptions and myths regarding this topic — such as whether or not it’s illegal to dox someone, or whether or not it can ever be justified. What exactly is doxxing? As mentioned above, doxxing is the act of exposing another person’s private information. This information includes a person’s unlisted telephone number, their private address, medical records, bills of any kind or any kind of documents pertaining to expunged or “sealed” court records. Sharing a person’s private photos without their permission can also count as doxxing. Furtherm...

Getting arrested is no fun, whether it’s your first time or something you tend to do a lot, but it’s not the end of the world (depending on the type of arrest, of course). It’s actually not uncommon to get arrested in the United States. According to Statista , the number or overall arrests in the U.S. usually reaches into the 10s of millions per year — with the exception of 2020 seeing just over seven millions arrests. If you become one of those 10 or so million people in any given year, the following information could be useful. Understand why you’ve been arrested To make an arrest, a police officer or detective must have probable cause to be believe that you’ve committed a crime. It is the officer’s responsibility to explain to you why you are being arrested and what specific crime they believe you committed. The arresting officer is required, by law, to read your Miranda Rights. You have the right, furthermore, to ask the officer what probab...