Researchers Look for Ways to Address Unconscious Racial Bias

For decades, psychologists have been looking for the root causes of racial bias or stereotyping. Many have been startled to discover that, even when people consciously pay close attention to their actions and perceptions, most (if not all) still subconsciously make judgments based on ethnicity or skin color. As these actions have been highlighted in the acts of law enforcement officers, researchers have put a greater focus on understanding and changing the unconscious or unknown factors that lead to race-based distinctions and decisions.

It’s not that researchers have just concluded that much bias is subconscious. Until the last 15 years, though, most researchers targeted their efforts on conscious acts of racial bias or profiling. Evidence now suggests, though, that to have a meaningful impact, any therapy or education must address the subconscious tendency toward bias.

The research is still in the early stages, but researchers have found that certain strategies have led to changes, some temporary, others more permanent. Calvin Lai, a doctoral candidate at the University of Virginia, has conducted research that shows that something as simple as showing subjects pictures of famous and well-respected persons of color—Mahatma Ghandi or Nelson Mandela, for example—next to white persons considered universally evil—Hitler, Stalin—brought about a measurable change in racial bias.

Top-Rated Personal Injury Lawyer in Ellicott City and Columbia, MD

Attorney Jonathan Scott Smith, a Maryland Super Lawyer, has protected the rights of injured people 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.

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If you have been treated unfairly because of your race, 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.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2014/09/20/the-bias-fighters/lTZh1WyzG2sG5CmXoh8dRP/story.html

Prosecutors Decline to Press Charges in Speedway Accident

A New York grand jury “no-billed” NASCAR legend Tony Stewart after its investigation of his involvement in the death of another driver at a racetrack in upstate New York in August. Stewart, a three-time NASCAR champion, struck and killed driver Kevin Ward, Jr., at a dirt track in Canandaigua. Police said that Ward was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the accident, but that Stewart was clean.

According to witnesses, Ward and Stewart were together on the track when Ward spun out while racing next to Stewart. Witnesses say Ward then climbed out of his vehicle and started walking down the middle of the track, while other drivers were still responding to a caution flag. Testimony indicates that Ward was waving at Stewart, trying to confront him. A driver in front of Stewart veered and safely avoided Ward, but when Stewart tried to swerve around him, he struck ward with the right rear tire of his car. Ward died almost immediately, due to blunt force trauma.

NASCAR has since enacted a new rule that drivers may not climb out of a disabled vehicle until safety personnel arrive, unless the vehicle is on fire.

The likelihood of criminal charges was minimal, say experienced prosecutors. They note that law enforcement officers and district attorneys are reluctant to press charges for actions that occur during sports competition, unless the acts were clearly outside the scope of the athletic event.

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

Regardless of the charges you face, we will aggressively 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://omnifeed.com/article/espn.go.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/11582576/tony-stewart-face-charges-death-kevin-ward-jr?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=sports

Dog Learns to Locate Storage Devices—Helps Police in Child Pornography and Fraud Cases

A Connecticut police officer has successfully trained a dog to detect electronic storage devices including flash drives, USB devices, laptops and digital cameras. The Connecticut police department has already successfully used the dog to locate external electronic storage devices containing evidence in child pornography cases, as well as murder and fraud investigations.

The biggest challenge, according to the officer who trained the dog, was identifying and isolating a single chemical that the dog could reliably identify, and that would be present in all or most types of digital storage devices. It took time, but police were able to find a single chemical common to all types of electronic storage units. They have indicated that they will not disclose the specific chemical, for fear that manufacturers will develop new technologies that don’t use it.

Ellicott City, MD, Criminal Defense Lawyer

With more than three decades in practice, attorney Jonathan Scott Smith has a long track record of obtaining positive results for people facing criminal charges throughout Maryland. He takes a thorough approach to criminal defense, carefully examining the facts and circumstances of your case, confirming that police followed proper procedures, and that your constitutional rights were not violated.

Attorney Smith has built a strong reputation with clients and colleagues, earning honors as a Maryland Super Lawyer, and an AV-rating under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System. Recognized as a 2012 Top Rated Lawyer by The American Lawyer Magazine and Martindale-Hubbell, he has also received the Client’s Choice Award from AVVO, based on an average client review of 5 stars (the highest rating possible). He also holds a 10.0 Superb rating as a litigation attorney from AVVO.

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To learn how we can help protect your rights in a criminal matter, contact our office online or call our office at 410-740-0101 to schedule an appointment. We defend people throughout Howard County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince Georges County and Montgomery County in Maryland.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-23/a-police-dog-for-the-digital-age-she-can-smell-the-usb-drive-you-re-hiding.html

A Baltimore mom allegedly left her 4-year-old child in a car in the Maryland Live! Casino as she gambled. Around 6:30 in the evening, security workers heard and saw the child crying in the parked car, Anne Arundel Police Lieutenant T.J. Smith said.*

Evidently, the woman had entered the garage around 10 in the morning. The temperatures at the time the child was abandoned were near freezing.

As workers were about to take the child to the hospital, the mother showed up. She was just 24 years old. She has been arrested and is charged with several crimes, including second-degree child abuse, confining an unattended child under 8 years old and neglect of a minor.

It is not clear whether the mom had returned during the day to check on the young child. The child was treated at the Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie.

The child showed no signs of physical abuse and was healthy except for the hunger and cold.

Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney in Maryland

Attorney Jonathan Scott Smith has been protecting the rights of those accused of crimes for more than 30 years. His work has earned him the respect and recognition of his peers and clients. He has been given a 10.0 Superb rating as a litigation attorney by AVVO and a Clients’ Choice Award by AVVO, which is the highest rating based on client reviews. Additionally he has been rated by his peers as AV-Preeminent,** the highest peer rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, for the past 25 years in a row.

We Fight for Your Rights

Our law firm handles criminal defense cases involving charges of child neglect and abandonment, child abuse, robbery, violent assault, burglary, theft, drug offenses and other crimes. We represent clients throughout Maryland, including Columbia, Clarksville, Sykesville, Fulton, Elkridge, Frederick, Mt. Airy, Ellicott City, Laurel, Westminster and Baltimore, and throughout Howard County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince George’s County and Montgomery County in Maryland.

Contact the Smith Criminal Defense Law Firm

To discuss your situation with an attorney who can help, please contact us by e-mail or call our office at 410-740-0101 to schedule an appointment. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

*Past results are no indication of future results.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-alicia-brown-child-neglect-20140101,0,6418003.story#ixzz2th38qvAI

**AV® Preeminent™, BV® Distinguished™ and Rated are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings fall into two categories — legal ability and general ethical standards.

Black Guerrilla Family Lieutenant Cops to Plea on Drug Smuggling Charge

Based on evidence obtained from a female corrections officer with whom he was involved, a man authorities say was the second in command in the Black Guerrilla Family gang has pleaded guilty to a drug smuggling charge, reported The Baltimore Sun. The man, who joined the gang in 2011, was apparently the cellmate of the BGF’s jail leader. The drug smuggling ring was apparently run from within the state’s correctional system, with the assistance of a number of corrections officers. In April 2013, it was announced that 25 people, including 13 corrections officers, had been charged with racketeering as well as drug and money laundering.

In the case involving the BGF’s number-two man, authorities intercepted a call between the suspect and the corrections officer with whom he was involved on which the suspect discussed using a debit card to obtain money to purchase drugs. When police brought the corrections officer in for questioning, they found that she had kept a ledger for her lover, listing all of his illegal transactions. The corrections officer also pleaded guilty to smuggling controlled substances.

Highly Respected Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney

Attorney Jonathan Scott Smith, a Maryland Super Lawyer, has protected the rights of criminal defendants in Maryland for more than three decades. He is a recipient of the Clients’ Choice Award from AVVO, based on an average client review of 5 stars (the highest rating possible), and has a perfect 10.0 Superb rating as a litigation attorney from AVVO. Attorney Smith 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 listed as a 2012 Top Rated Lawyer by The American Lawyer magazine and Martindale-Hubbell.

Criminal Defense Lawyer in Baltimore, MD

Regardless of the charges you face, we will aggressively 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, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince George’s County and Montgomery County in Maryland.

Suspect Detained for Spate of “Smash and Grab” Burglaries

After a September 20 robbery at Parks Liquors in Deale, police used surveillance video evidence to identify the motor vehicle used in the crime. When they stopped a vehicle matching that description, they located tools in the car that they believe were used in the liquor store robbery as well as a number of similar “smash and grab” burglaries of small businesses throughout Anne Arundel County, reported The Baltimore Sun.

According to authorities, the suspect had a tire iron and used it to break the front-door glass at nine businesses across the county. The first known robbery, at a Starbucks in Severna Park, occurred on July 28. Though the first three break-ins all took place in Severna Park, police believe the suspect then moved to other locations in the county, from Gambrills to Glen Burnie to Edgewater. The suspect, a 54-year-old male, apparently lives in Glen Burnie. Police say that their investigation is not closed and that there may be other unsolved robberies tied to the suspect.

Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney

Maryland Super Lawyer Jonathan Scott Smith has fought for the rights of criminal defendants for more than 30 years. Because of his record and reputation, he has been a multiple recipient of the Clients’ 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 is also respected by his colleagues in the legal profession, who have given him 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.

Top-Rated Criminal Defense Lawyer in Ellicott City and Columbia, MD

We aggressively protect the constitutional rights of anyone facing criminal charges in Maryland. Contact us by e-mail or call us at 410-740-0101 to schedule an appointment. We represent criminal defendants in Howard County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince George’s County and Montgomery County in Maryland.

Baltimore Grand Jury Indicts Lawyer on Drug Conspiracy Charge

A former public defender and private defense attorney with offices in Towson faces drug-related charges, along with 12 others, after a Baltimore County grand jury returned an indictment in early October, reported The Baltimore Sun. After what authorities termed a “lengthy investigation,” police executed 10 search warrants, seizing a wide range of controlled substances, including heroin, cocaine, marijuana and prescription drugs, such as Hydrocodone, Alprazolam (Xanax), Oxycodone and Suboxone. Officers also seized a number of weapons.

Though police did not provide additional details, sources say that the attorney’s son was also charged. The charges include conspiracy with intent to distribute, as well as possession. The attorney has been a member of the state bar for more than 20 years. The indictment was based on evidence gathered between May and September.

Top-Rated Criminal Defense Lawyer in Ellicott City and Columbia, MD

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 Clients’ 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.

Baltimore County, Maryland, Criminal Defense Attorney

Regardless of the charges you face, we will aggressively 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, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince George’s County and Montgomery County in Maryland.

Glen Burnie Man Charged with Attempted Murder, Other Counts

Authorities in Anne Arundel County arrested a 39-year-old man in early October, charging him with firing twice into a car leaving a Sunoco station on Hospital Drive on September 24, according to The Baltimore Sun. Police say that evidence suggests the shooting was part of a drug deal gone bad. One person was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center as a result of the altercation.

According to police, information gathered from witnesses led them to a home in the 400 block of Ingram Court. When they executed a search warrant, they found evidence that tied the resident to the Glen Burnie shooting. Police also found a stolen handgun. The suspect faces multiple charges, including two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of reckless endangerment and a charge of using a handgun during the commission of a violent crime.

Authorities say the suspect is being held at the Jennifer Road Detention Center in Annapolis, with a bond of $5 million in the attempted murder case and $100,000 for the firearms violation.

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 Clients’ 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

Regardless of the charges you face, we will aggressively 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, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince George’s County and Montgomery County in Maryland.