New Crime Predicting Technology Introduced In Utah

The American criminal justice system is meant to operate under the assumption that all persons are innocent until proven guilty. When individuals are accused of committing criminal activity, they may hire an experienced criminal defense attorney or one will be appointed for them. It is within this system of due process that the accused are meant to either be found guilty or released from accusations.

Unfortunately, the public’s interest in preventing crime sometimes steps upon this process of assuming innocence until guilt is proven. For example, new crime prediction technology recently introduced in Utah may unintentionally rob individuals of presumed innocence in the eyes of law enforcement.

The new technology is predictive rather than reactive. This means that it is designed to help law enforcement agencies prevent crime by targeting geographic areas believed to inspire criminal activity on any given occasion. If police are led to believe that crime will occur in a given area, officers may act aggressively and without presuming the innocence of those they encounter in targeted areas.

The public certainly has an interest in preventing crime. But law enforcement must take care to use predictive crime analysis in such a way that it does not act without a presumption of innocence on the part of those individuals living or traveling inside a targeted geography. Otherwise, practical protection from unreasonable search and seizure, etc. might become memories. Because once an area is targeted as a likely site for crime, law enforcement may not be inclined to presume the innocence of anyone within it and may react accordingly.

U.S. Supreme Court Rules On Important Fourth Amendment Case

The U.S. Supreme Court has long insisted that Americans have the greatest legal expectation of privacy when they are in their homes. Home has been treated like a sacred place in the Court’s history. As a result, the government is rarely allowed access to a citizen’s home without first meeting very specific and tailored requirements.

When law enforcement officers or agencies access a criminal suspect’s home without adhering to these specific requirements, that individual’s criminal defense case will almost certainly be impacted by that inappropriate invasion of privacy. For example, if law enforcement officers enter a suspect’s house without a valid warrant and seize evidence from that home, the evidence may potentially be excluded from the case against the suspect due to the insufficient or improperly executed warrant.

However, the sacred nature of a person’s home may ultimately be compromised if another occupant of the home grants permission for law enforcement to enter and conduct a search. In one recent case, the Supreme Court ruled that law enforcement officers lawfully entered the home of one suspect despite his objections. After the suspect had been arrested, his girlfriend allowed officers access to the house, despite the fact that the officers had no warrant and the girlfriend was under no obligation to let them in.

It is important for each of us to understand our right to privacy under the law. If law enforcement officers ask to enter your home and they do not have a valid warrant, you have a right to say no. However, if another legal occupant of your home grants them access, their presence may then be considered lawful.

Free Consultation with Criminal Attorney

If you have been charged with a crime or are being investigated as a target for a crime, you need to get legal advise. Call Ascent Law for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.

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Michael Anderson

About Author

People who want a lot of Bull go to a Butcher. People who want results navigating a complex legal field go to a Lawyer that they can trust.

That’s where I come in. I am Michael Anderson, an Attorney in the Salt Lake area focusing on the needs of the Average Joe wanting a better life for him and his family. I’m the Lawyer you can trust.

I grew up in Utah and love it here. I am a Father to three, a Husband to one, and an Entrepreneur. I understand the feelings of joy each of those roles bring, and I understand the feeling of disappointment, fear, and regret when things go wrong. I attended the University of Utah where I received a B.A. degree in 2010 and a J.D. in 2014.

I have focused my practice in Wills, Trusts, Real Estate, and Business Law. I love the thrill of helping clients secure their future, leaving a real legacy to their children. Unfortunately when problems arise with families. I also practice Family Law, with a focus on keeping relationships between the soon to be Ex’s civil for the benefit of their children and allowing both to walk away quickly with their heads held high.

Before you worry too much about losing everything that you have worked for, before you permit yourself to be bullied by your soon to be ex, before you shed one more tear in silence, call me. I’m the Lawyer you can trust.