Occupy Wall Street is Back

New York - For those who don't know, Zuccotti Park has been liberated again, once more falling into the hands of Occupy Wall Street.  Thanks to the lawyers at the New York Civil Liberties Union. the Center for Constitutional Rights, and the National Lawyers Guild’s New York City chapter, barricades meant to keep the protestors out were found to be unconstitutional as well a violation of zoning laws.  Here is the letter responsible for it.

Unfortunately erecting a tent is not allowed but thankfully the charges against two dozen of them were dropped. 

Andrew Cuomo Expands DNA Database

New York - It's not just graffiti artists in New York who have something to worry about when it comes to criminal prosecutions.  Now it's the average citizen.

On January fourth Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed expanding the state's DNA database, which was created in 1996.  Wanting it to include anyone convicted of any crime under the state's Penal Law no matter how big or small, will provide police officials with the widest DNA database in the country.

Supporters hailed the measure, stating it would help to go after criminals as well as let innocent people out of jail. Critics however claim those who support it are blinded by “the CSI Effect”, the named after television show that portrays DNA technology as infallible.

Legislative director for the New York Civil Liberties Union Robert Perry said this is like being “under surveillance 24/7. If your DNA ends up matching DNA at a crime scene, you now become subject to criminal suspicion, but there are plenty of innocent reasons for DNA to turn up at a crime scene."

Perry said DNA evidence is given great weight by police investigators and prosecutors, meaning they may often overlook traditional police work that points to a different suspect.