Archives for February 2015

Study Shows Three-Fold Increase since 2000

The killing of two high school students in Washington this week is the continuation of a trend the FBI has seen over the last 14 years—a three-fold rise in the number of mass shootings in the United States. The report found 160 mass shootings between 2000 and 2013, but more than 70% of the mass shootings occurred during the last half of the study. FBI officials found that more than two-thirds of the attacks took place in a school or in the workplace, and that, in almost half of the mass killings, at least three people died.

According to behavioral experts, the perpetrators generally fall into two categories: individuals who felt picked on, belittled or mistreated; and those who sought attention. Most psychologists believe that such persons can be identified before they engage in deadly action, often by students, teachers, co-workers or others. FBI officials say that they are contacted on a regular basis by local authorities seeking assistance with the evaluation of potential threats.

Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney

Maryland Super Lawyer Jonathan Scott Smith has aggressively defended individuals in Maryland for more than 30 years. Long known and respected by his peers for effective representation, he has earned an AV-rating under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System. Attorney Smith has received the Client’s Choice Award from AVVO stars (the highest rating possible), based on an average client review of 5.0. He has a perfect 10.0 (Superb) rating as a litigation attorney from AVVO. The American Lawyer Magazine and Martindale-Hubbell both listed him as a 2012 Top Rated Lawyer.

Top-Rated Criminal Defense Lawyer in Howard County

If you are under investigation for or have been charged with a crime, we can help. Contact us by e-mail or call us at 410-740-0101 to schedule an appointment. We represent criminal defendants in Howard County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince Georges County and Montgomery County in Maryland.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-nn-na-mass-shootings-fbi-20140924-story.html

Law Enforcement Agencies Recognize Need for Special Training to Deal with Mentally Challenged Suspects

Acknowledging the increasing likelihood that police officers will have to question and perhaps detain persons with mental challenges, police departments across the country are sending officers to specialized training to help them defuse potentially volatile situations. Experts point to decreased funding for state mental health programs, noting that many individuals who would have been institutionalized in state mental hospitals are now on the streets. When ordinary citizens encounter difficulties with mentally unstable people, their inclination is to call law enforcement officers, forcing officers to handle situations for which they have little training.

Many departments have instituted what is known as “crisis intervention training,” or CIT. The CIT program came into being in Memphis, Tennessee, in response to a public outcry when police shot a mentally ill man who was threatening suicide. Reports indicate that up to 3,000 police departments nationwide now employ some form of CIT program.

The focus of the CIT programs is on alternatives to the use of force. Officers learn how to calm down suspects, and how to identify ways to resolve tensions without threats or use of violence.

Top-Rated Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney

Attorney Jonathan Scott Smith, a Maryland Super Lawyer, has fought for the rights of criminal defendants in Maryland for more than 30 years. Because of his record and reputation for effective representation, he has been awarded the Client’s Choice Award from AVVO, based on an average client review of 5 stars (the highest rating possible). He has a perfect 10.0 Superb rating as a litigation attorney from AVVO, and has also built an outstanding reputation with his colleagues in the legal profession, earning an AV-rating under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System. Smith was also recognized as a 2012 Top Rated Lawyer by The American Lawyer Magazine and Martindale-Hubbell.

Criminal Defense Lawyer in Ellicott City and Columbia, MD

We will help you protect your constitutional rights. Contact us by e-mail or call us at 410-740-0101 to schedule an appointment. We represent criminal defendants in Howard County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince Georges County and Montgomery County in Maryland.

http://www.npr.org/2014/09/23/349098691/as-run-ins-rise-police-take-crash-courses-on-handling-mentally-ill?sc=tw