Victoria M. Time

Police chiefs' perceptions about Miranda: An analysis of survey data

Abstract Debate about the Miranda warnings has been ongoing since the Miranda case was decided over three decades ago. The debate became timely with the Supreme Courts decision late last year to revisit the warnings. The Supreme Court on June 26, 2000 arrived at a 7–2 decision to uphold the Miranda warnings. This article reports on a survey asking ninety-five police chiefs from the Commonwealth of Virginia about their perceptions concerning Miranda. Factors contributing to their perceptions are examined. Results indicate that the chiefs are slightly mixed regarding their perceptions about Miranda , though a majority support continued use of the warnings. Demographic factors played a small role in their beliefs. Perceived experiences with Miranda influenced their beliefs in several areas. Implications of the study were: as administrators who direct policy, the opinions of police chiefs may impact on the actions of officers. Their perceptions of Miranda , if favorable, informs whether drastic changes would be chaotic for law enforcement. As administrators of the justice systems gatekeepers, it is necessary that attention be given to their opinion.

Support forMiranda among police chiefs: A qualitative examination

The U.S. Supreme Court recently grappled with the question of whether it should overturn the landmark case of Miranda v. Arizona. Abolitionists argued the warnings handcuffed the police and allowed many criminals to go free. Proponents maintained Miranda protected offenders and engendered a certain level of professionalism among police officers. Before the Court decided to uphold Miranda, 95 police chiefs from the Commonwealth of Virginia were surveyed about their perceptions concerning Miranda. While one could categorize many chiefs as conformists who wished to keep the warnings, a significant proportion were innovators who advocated various changes. Reasons for these beliefs and their implications are discussed.

Legal pluralism and harmonization of law: An examination of the process of reception and adoption of both civil law and common law in Cameroon and their coexistence with indigenous laws

This study focuses on how the common law and civil law, two legal systems introduced to Cameroon by Britain and France respectively, have been harmonized with traditional laws to serve the needs of Cameroon. Through studies on the legal process in Cameroon, coupled with open‐ended questions to legal practitioners, and content analysis of documents, it is evident that many of the customary laws that existed prior to colonization have been excluded from much of the governing legislation. Courts do not enforce traditional laws that are capricious and obnoxious. A critical examination of the process of harmonization reveals a gradual suppression of the common law practice.

Perceptions About Changing the Miranda Warnings Among Police Chiefs

ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore health services usage among injection drug users in Anchorage, Alaska. Design: 645 participants were recruited as part of a federally funded study of needle exchanges. They completed a health services usage questionnaire that elicited information on use of a health care provider (physician or nurse) and emergency room services. Chi-square and t-tesls were used for the bivariate analyses, and multiple logistic regression was used to develop the final predictive models. Results: The majority of respondents (n = 646) were male (77 percent). Race/ethnicity included 58 percent While, 22 percent Alaska Native, and 20 percent African American. The multivariate model predieting accessing a health care provider (HCP) included ever having had chlamydia (OR 2.7, Cl 1.6, 4.5), current income from welfare or public assistance (OR 2.6, Cl 1.7, 3.9), current income from disability (OR 5.0, CI 2.2, 11.4), current income from SSI (OR.30. CI. 12, 77) and the number of days in the last 30 used opiates other than heroin (OR 1.04, CI 1.002, 1.078). The multivariate model predicting use of an emergency room (ER) was similar to that predicting use of an HCP. with the additional finding of a negative association between being African American and ER use. Conclusion: The role of public assistance benefits enabling access to health care for IDUs has policy implications. Large public programs, such as the Indian Health Service, paid for much of the health care received by the IDUs recruited as part of this study. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: Website:

Regulating Legal Misconduct in the Commonwealth of Virginia

Abstract This research reviews malfeasance committed by legal actors in Virginia over a four-year time period, and examines the corresponding sanctions imposed on them. The inquiry entails the review of disciplinary cases reviewed by the Virginia State Bar. These cases cover a vast spectrum of misconduct ranging from those seemingly venial to those that are flagrantly criminal. The sanctions imposed are examined as well as the reasons for the sanctions. Further, the study examines if rates of misconduct and severity of sanctions vary by gender. Implications that arise from the study are also discussed.