Big Brother coming to a neighborhood near you

San Diego has rolled out police controlled public surveillance "streetlights." These cameras gather data for the exclusive use of law enforcement.

While there has generally been no expectation of privacy in public places, actual public surveillance is a step further. Soon, a CCTV system, like the one which exists in Britain, may be coming to the United States.

Cop lies in search warrant, 2 end up dead during search

Houston police discovered "material untruths or lies" in an affidavit that was used for a drug raid search warrant.

The officer may have fabricated information from a non-existent informant in order to get a Judge to sign the search warrant. 

In order to obtain a search warrant, an officer will typically write an affidavit for a Judge a review. If the warrant, by itself, provides probable cause for a search, such as a raid, then the Judge will sign it and approve the raid. The entire process depends almost entirely on the word of the officer.

Two people were killed during the raid and drugs and weapons were found in the home that was the target of the search.

Island County Judge dismisses case to due roving security cameras looking at peoples' notes

An Island County Judge, by happenstance, noticed that security cameras in the court room were looking around and focusing on certain areas where sensitive materials, such as jurors' notes, defense counsel's notes, and similar items were located.

The Judge informed a separate Judge, who was presiding over a jury trial. The Trial Judge reviewed the videos and dismissed the case. The Sheriff's Office was in charge of the in-court cameras.