Public Records On The Web–Interesting Site

  Thanks to Abbie Mulvhill, Law Librarian, DC, AbsTracked Blog, for this reference to Public Records Wire, an open system for cataloging, sharing and discovering new public records databases. The system promotes the databases that are most used and voted upon with the goal of enhancing overall quality of public records databases.

You can find a lot of public records from this site–a good resource.

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

president@piava.org

 

The Meaning of “Doh!”

  I’ve used the term “Doh!” in several posts in the past.  See PI Arrested, UVA Students Kidnapping and National Background Check. 

Some readers may not get the connection of my using the term with specific stories.  The term “Doh!” means:

Expressing frustration at the realization that things have turned out badly or not as planned, or that one has just said or done something foolish.  Also (usu. mildly derogatory): implying that another person has said or done something foolish. Oxford English Dictionary,  See definition.

According to OED, Doh! was popularized by the American actor Dan Castellaneta who provides the voice for the character Homer Simpson in the U.S. cartoon series The Simpsons.  Castellaneta said:  “The D’oh came from character actor James Finlayson’s “Do-o-o-o” in Laurel & Hardy pictures.  You can tell it was intended as a euphemism for “Damn.”

So, “Doh!” is especially usefully when referring to something akin to “How could I be so stupid?”

If you want to hear the correct pronunciation and inflection of “Doh!” Listen to 32 Dohs!

See you later,

 Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

president@piava.org

NYPD Operation Lucky Bag–Doh! Doh! Doh!

  I am “shocked,” “shocked”, I tell you that this is a true story of NYPD gone wild!

It seems that NYPD has been running a police decoy program in NYC lately–”Operation Lucky Bag.”  Here is the con.  NYPD leaves shopping bags, backpacks, purses, wallets etc. in and around subway stations or stores.  Anyone who finds the item, picks it up and does not turn in to a uniformed police officer in the vicinity is arrested and charged with, let’s see, grand larceny!  Lucky Bag started in 2006 and among the first 220 arrests about 100 were people with prior charges and convictions.  The rest were “clean.”  In dismissing one case, a Brooklyn judge noted that the law gives people 10 days to turn in property they find.  The judge suggested that NYC had enough real crime for the police to fight without the need to provide fresh temptations.  Oh, and the law does not provide that found items be turned over to a police officer.  Fortunately, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office began to dismiss Lucky Bag charges.  See NY Times Story Here.

I know some readers may not understand the significance of the use of the term “Doh” in the title.  My next post will explain all.

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

president@piava.org

More On NY Overturned Murder Conviction

  The New York State Investigation Commission is looking into recently overturned murder conviction of Martin Tankleff.  I posted the NY Appeals Court story on overturning the conviction based on new evidence turned up by private investigator Jay Salpeter.  See Prior Post Here.

Tankleff was convicted of the 1988 slaying of his parents.  The State Investigation Commission is investigating how Suffolk County, NY, police and prosecuting authorities handled the initial investigation.  The Commission has not enforcement powers, but it can gather evidence, refer cases to authorities or propose a special prosecutor.  Jay Salpeter, Tankleff’s private investigator who uncovered the “new evidence,” said that he had met and spoken with the Commission on more than one occasion.  See NY Times Article, and see more recent update Newsday Article

This incredible story shows the value of private investigators’ role in the criminal justice system.  It is obvious, if all allegations are true, that the local police and prosecutors investigated, prosecuted, locked up a guy and walked away.  Apparently, they did not listen claims of innocence from Martin Tankleff himself, or his family and friends. 

Prosecutors are subject to the NY Bar’s ethic rules as well as to the American Bar Association’s model rules of professional conduct.  The Rules provide that the prosecutor’s primary goal is to seek justice, not convict.  The prosecutor must assure that the defendant is tried by fair procedures and that guilt is decided on proper and sufficient evidence.   Maybe that rule was forgotten in this case?  See prior post on prosecutor’s ethical standards Here

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

president@piava.org