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CBS News
24-07-2025
- CBS News
When license plate readers get it wrong
In 2018, Brian Hofer and his younger brother were driving to visit their parents for Thanksgiving. It should have been a routine trip. But that evening they found themselves held at gunpoint by a group of law enforcement officers. The incident was the result of technology gone wrong. Hofer's vehicle had been flagged as stolen by an Automated License Plate Reader — ALPR — system. When he drove by, the reader alerted authorities. "Your life definitely is different after you have guns pointed at you," he said. This incident is one of over a dozen cases verified by CBS News during a six-month investigation into incidents of wrongful stops and even several instances of ALPR technology being abused. The consequences of ALPR errors can range from the inconvenient — such as mistaken toll booth charges — to the potentially dangerous, such as Hofer's armed detainment. In some instances the technology was improperly used by authorities, such as in Kansas, where law enforcement officers used license plate reader systems to stalk former partners in two separate incidents. In use since at least the late 1990s, automated license plate reader systems have advanced quickly in recent years. They now marry high-speed, high-resolution cameras with artificial intelligence to scan every license plate passing through a designated field of vision. The data is then compared against license plate numbers in databases. Thousands of agencies use these systems daily to scan plates in real time and identify potential matches. Departments use ALPRs as a crime-fighting tool to gather evidence for investigations and reduce crime as well as for traffic compliance. According to a survey from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, every police department overseeing more than one million citizens reported using the technology, as did 90% of sheriff's offices with 500 or more sworn deputies. Law enforcement officials told CBS News that the technology has allowed them to do their job more efficiently and has helped solve crimes ranging from stolen vehicles to missing persons cases. Pat Yoes, the national president of The National Fraternal Order of Police, an organization of hundreds of thousands of sworn law enforcement officers, said in an emailed statement to CBS News that ALPRs are "extraordinarily important in cases where there is an immediate threat to life or safety, as in an abduction or an armed threat driving to a target," adding that the information can be valuable in generating leads and closing cases. He said transparency is key. "The community should be made aware of the new technology, how it's used in the field, how it contributes to public safety, and how it addresses any privacy concerns," he said in the statement. "Technology like ALPRs is a valuable tool for many law enforcement agencies to make their communities safer." The rise of ALPR systems comes as law enforcement agencies across the country face staffing and recruiting challenges. A 2024 survey by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, a professional association, found that U.S. agencies are operating at a nearly 10% staffing deficit. ALPR technology is one way to help fill this gap in manpower. License plate reader errors may occur for a variety of reasons. In some cases, letters or numbers are interpreted incorrectly by the Optical Character Recognition, or OCR, software. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, common issues including glare or misaligned cameras could impact accuracy. CBS News found that mistakes are often due to a mix of machine and human or administrative errors. In Española, New Mexico, a 12-year-old was handcuffed after an ALPR camera misread the last number of a license plate on a vehicle driven by her older sister as a '7' instead of the '2' it actually ended with, according to a lawsuit filed against the city. A month later, in a separate incident, a 17-year-old honors student was held at gunpoint in Española on his way home from school after officers mistook his vehicle for one associated with an individual who was being sought in connection with a string of armed robberies. In Aurora, Colorado, in 2020, a mother and her family, including her 6-year-old daughter, were pulled over at gunpoint and forced to lie face down on hot pavement. Again, ALPR technology was central to the stop. Police mistakenly flagged their Colorado license plate as matching that of a completely different vehicle from a different state — a stolen motorcycle registered in Montana. The incident, captured on video and widely condemned, led to a $1.9 million settlement from the city in 2024. The ACLU warns ALPR cameras could infringe on civil rights and violate the Constitution's Fourth Amendment by encouraging unreasonable searches. Despite widespread use, there is no federal legislative framework for ALPR use. Hofer, who has been involved in privacy advocacy for over a decade, is now the executive director of Secure Justice, an organization that aims to reduce government and corporate overreach. He says manual verification is necessary to see whether ALPR "hits," or matches, are accurate. Even so, he said, such checks are insufficient because data errors could cause a plate to "match" an incorrect entry in a database. "There are billions of scans a day in America. If there's even just a 10% error rate, that means there are so many opportunities for abuse to happen," Hofer said. Some concerned citizens are taking action. Last year, residents of Norfolk, Virginia, filed a federal lawsuit against the city, and in Illinois, two residents have sued the Illinois State Police over ALPR systems, arguing that their use violates Fourth Amendment rights. The latter case was dismissed without prejudice in Denault contributed to this report.
Time Business News
16-06-2025
- Health
- Time Business News
Addiction and the Criminal Justice System: A Broken Cycle
The criminal justice system has become a surrogate detox ward, funneling individuals with substance use disorders into a labyrinth of arrests, courtrooms, and prison cells. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Americans enter correctional facilities not primarily for violent offenses, but for drug-related infractions—petty possession, parole violations, or crimes committed to sustain addiction. Beneath the surface of our legal apparatus lies a complex web of untreated trauma, systemic failure, and a medical condition still largely treated as a criminal act. Finding the right support system can make all the difference in overcoming addiction. In the heart of the Northeast, individuals struggling with alcohol use can find help through New Jersey alcohol rehab programs that offer personalized care. These facilities provide a safe environment, evidence-based therapies, and compassionate professionals dedicated to guiding patients through each stage of recovery. Whether through inpatient or outpatient services, these programs aim to restore hope and stability. With the right resources and community support, those affected by alcohol dependency can begin rebuilding their lives and embracing a future free from addiction. The origins of this broken system trace back to the punitive ethos of the 1970s, when the War on Drugs declared battle not on substances, but on people—particularly communities of color. Legislators imposed mandatory minimums and three-strikes laws, equating drug use with moral decay rather than public health. This adversarial stance against addiction perpetuated stigma and discouraged compassionate intervention. Instead of recognizing substance use disorder as a chronic brain disease, society codified it as a criminal identity. The result was a judicial architecture that responded to illness with incarceration, and to desperation with cuffs. Today, over 1.2 million people languish in American prisons and jails with some form of substance use disorder. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, nearly 65% of incarcerated individuals meet the criteria for addiction, yet only a fraction receive adequate treatment. Minor drug offenses account for a disproportionately high percentage of arrests, overwhelming the system with cases that could have been diverted to healthcare settings. The toll is not evenly distributed. Black and Hispanic communities are disproportionately arrested and sentenced despite similar drug usage rates across racial groups. Low-income individuals, already teetering on the margins, face harsher penalties due to lack of legal representation, inability to post bail, and implicit judicial bias. The system, in practice, often penalizes poverty more than crime. For many, the only time they experience withdrawal is in a cell. Jail becomes an impromptu detox center—one often devoid of medical supervision or compassion. The process is harrowing: cold sweats, violent vomiting, seizures, hallucinations. In extreme cases, especially with alcohol or benzodiazepine dependence, unsupervised withdrawal can be fatal. Yet correctional healthcare remains grossly underfunded and understaffed. Incarceration also exacerbates co-occurring mental health conditions. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and psychosis often go untreated or are mismanaged, leading to behavioral infractions that extend sentences or result in solitary confinement. Such environments do not rehabilitate—they corrode. While incarceration presents an ideal juncture for intervention, the system squanders this chance. Fewer than 11% of incarcerated individuals with addiction receive professional treatment. Even more concerning is the resistance to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), such as methadone or buprenorphine, which have shown exceptional efficacy in managing opioid dependence. In many jurisdictions, MAT is banned or limited due to outdated ideologies equating it to 'substituting one drug for another.' The result is a relapse rate nearing 85% within the first year of release. Instead of addressing the biochemical and psychological roots of addiction, the justice system reinforces the cycle of abstinence, relapse, re-offense. The days immediately following release are treacherous. Individuals reenter society with a diminished tolerance and high cravings, making them extraordinarily vulnerable to overdose. The overdose death rate within the first two weeks post-release is up to 129 times higher than the general population. Reentry services are chronically underfunded and fragmented. Employment is scarce, especially with a criminal record. Stable housing is elusive. Support networks, if they existed before, have often dissolved. Many face parole conditions that are unrealistic or punitive, such as mandatory drug testing without accompanying treatment. The result? A return to the very behaviors that led to arrest—a cruel, predictable loop. Not all paths must lead to prison. Across the country, innovative models are proving that justice and treatment can coexist. Drug courts, for instance, offer supervised rehabilitation as an alternative to jail time, with structured treatment plans, frequent check-ins, and accountability mechanisms. Though not perfect, these courts have been shown to reduce recidivism and improve long-term recovery rates. Restorative justice programs aim to heal the root causes of criminal behavior by fostering empathy and accountability rather than punishment. Meanwhile, community-based treatment centers provide wraparound services—medical care, counseling, vocational training—without the trauma of incarceration. Addiction is not a crime. It is a multifaceted medical condition that requires evidence-based intervention, continuity of care, and societal compassion. The current system fails not just those incarcerated, but the communities that absorb the collateral damage of untreated addiction and broken lives. To dismantle this cycle, we must recast our approach: decarcerate addiction, integrate treatment into every stage of the justice process, and allocate resources toward prevention, not punishment. Only then can the revolving door be replaced with a pathway to recovery—and justice reimagined not as retribution, but redemption. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Yahoo
Annual Shred-a-Thon event helped protect community against identity theft
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – News 13, in partnership with Perry and Young Law Firm, held the annual shred-a-thon event on Saturday. The shred-a-thon is held every year to give community members a place to safely dispose of old financial records, bills, receipts, and more. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, about one in every five Americans experiences identity theft in their lifetime. Volunteers celebrate Earth Day with beach cleanup in Miramar Beach For those thieves, your garbage is a gold mine. Attorney Larry Perry says it's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to keeping your information private. The event took place today from 9 a.m. to noon in the Panama City Mall parking lots. In total, hundreds of cars came through and shredded about six tons of documents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - In the US, all criminal records are life sentences
Last week, members of Congress once again introduced a bipartisan resolution declaring April 'Second Chance Month' in the U.S. A worthy cause, Second Chance Month is a time to recognize the challenges faced by people with criminal records and to advocate for meaningful reform. Although the idea of a 'second chance' is celebrated, the reality is that the door to opportunity remains shut for millions of Americans coming out of prison. Without access to stable jobs and financial independence, many end up back behind bars or at least continue to have some kind of involvement with the criminal justice system. Each year, more than 600,000 people are released from state and federal prisons. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, about two-thirds of those released will be rearrested within three years. One of the main contributors to this staggering recidivism rate is the inability to find meaningful employment. A study from the Prison Policy Initiative found that the unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated individuals is nearly five times higher than the general population. For Black men with criminal records, the rate is even higher. It comes down to the fact that most employers conduct background checks. Even a quick internet search often reveals a past record, even if the offense was nonviolent or occurred many years ago. With limited employment options, financial stability becomes unattainable, and the likelihood of reoffending increases. If we are serious about reducing recidivism and supporting successful reentry, we should work to dismantle the systemic barriers that prevent people with criminal records from rebuilding their lives. I have three suggestions. First, we should expunge criminal records from internet search results. In the U.S., if someone goes bankrupt, there is no searchable evidence of that bankruptcy after 10 years. However, if you make a mistake with something as simple as failure to appear in court or a charge of driving under the influence, your record appears in internet searches in perpetuity. These search engine results undermine even the most well-intentioned and best-prepared job applicants. This goes directly against the basic American ideal that everyone deserves a second chance. A sensible reform would involve requiring search engines and third-party data aggregators to remove criminal records from search results after a designated period, particularly for nonviolent offenses. If Google can tweak its algorithms to demote low-quality content in search results in an effort to combat 'fake news,' it can give people who have been incarcerated a way to expunge their online record after a period of time or through some fair process, helping individuals move on with their lives without their past defining their future. Second, we should provide tax credits to employers who hire individuals with criminal records. Financial incentives can be a powerful tool in encouraging businesses to do this. A federal tax credit program specifically designed for employers who hire formerly incarcerated individuals would reduce perceived risks and encourage companies to make these hires. Although the Work Opportunity Tax Credit already offers some benefits, they are very limited in that they are available to employers of individuals who have been convicted of a felony or released from prison for a felony only within the last year. A system of tiered incentives based on retention rates could further encourage long-term employment and stability. Third, we should support entrepreneurship for people with criminal records. Not every citizen returning to life on the outside will find traditional employment opportunities, but entrepreneurship provides an alternative path. Starting a small business allows individuals to take control of their financial future and contribute positively to their communities. Unlike corporate hiring managers, customers rarely ask small-business owners about their criminal backgrounds. They care about the quality of the product or service. Entrepreneurship training programs and mentorship initiatives can help people with criminal records build sustainable businesses. My organization has demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach. By equipping individuals with practical skills and ongoing support, these programs reduce recidivism and foster economic growth. Second Chance Month serves as a reminder that redemption and rehabilitation are possible — but only if we remove the significant obstacles that stand in the way. Outside of people whose ancestors are from Africa, in America, all of our ancestors started anew and got a second chance. In this way, second chance is not a concept — it is central to what we are all about. Today, we are not living up to this basic principle. Brian Hamiltonis a nationally-recognized entrepreneur and the chairman of LiveSwitch. He is the founder of Inmates to Entrepreneurs, where he serves as the leading voice on the power of ownership to transform lives. He is well known for being the founder of Sageworks (now Abrigo), the country's first fintech company. He is also the star of 'Free Enterprise,' an award-winning show on ABC based on Inmates to Entrepreneurs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
16-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
In the US, all criminal records are life sentences
Last week, members of Congress once again introduced a bipartisan resolution declaring April 'Second Chance Month' in the U.S. A worthy cause, Second Chance Month is a time to recognize the challenges faced by people with criminal records and to advocate for meaningful reform. Although the idea of a 'second chance' is celebrated, the reality is that the door to opportunity remains shut for millions of Americans coming out of prison. Without access to stable jobs and financial independence, many end up back behind bars or at least continue to have some kind of involvement with the criminal justice system. Each year, more than 600,000 people are released from state and federal prisons. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, about two-thirds of those released will be rearrested within three years. One of the main contributors to this staggering recidivism rate is the inability to find meaningful employment. A study from the Prison Policy Initiative found that the unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated individuals is nearly five times higher than the general population. For Black men with criminal records, the rate is even higher. It comes down to the fact that most employers conduct background checks. Even a quick internet search often reveals a past record, even if the offense was nonviolent or occurred many years ago. With limited employment options, financial stability becomes unattainable, and the likelihood of reoffending increases. If we are serious about reducing recidivism and supporting successful reentry, we should work to dismantle the systemic barriers that prevent people with criminal records from rebuilding their lives. I have three suggestions. First, we should expunge criminal records from internet search results. In the U.S., if someone goes bankrupt, there is no searchable evidence of that bankruptcy after 10 years. However, if you make a mistake with something as simple as failure to appear in court or a charge of driving under the influence, your record appears in internet searches in perpetuity. These search engine results undermine even the most well-intentioned and best-prepared job applicants. This goes directly against the basic American ideal that everyone deserves a second chance. A sensible reform would involve requiring search engines and third-party data aggregators to remove criminal records from search results after a designated period, particularly for nonviolent offenses. If Google can tweak its algorithms to demote low-quality content in search results in an effort to combat 'fake news,' it can give people who have been incarcerated a way to expunge their online record after a period of time or through some fair process, helping individuals move on with their lives without their past defining their future. Second, we should provide tax credits to employers who hire individuals with criminal records. Financial incentives can be a powerful tool in encouraging businesses to do this. A federal tax credit program specifically designed for employers who hire formerly incarcerated individuals would reduce perceived risks and encourage companies to make these hires. Although the Work Opportunity Tax Credi t already offers some benefits, they are very limited in that they are available to employers of individuals who have been convicted of a felony or released from prison for a felony only within the last year. A system of tiered incentives based on retention rates could further encourage long-term employment and stability. Third, we should support entrepreneurship for people with criminal records. Not every citizen returning to life on the outside will find traditional employment opportunities, but entrepreneurship provides an alternative path. Starting a small business allows individuals to take control of their financial future and contribute positively to their communities. Unlike corporate hiring managers, customers rarely ask small-business owners about their criminal backgrounds. They care about the quality of the product or service. Entrepreneurship training programs and mentorship initiatives can help people with criminal records build sustainable businesses. My organization has demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach. By equipping individuals with practical skills and ongoing support, these programs reduce recidivism and foster economic growth. Second Chance Month serves as a reminder that redemption and rehabilitation are possible — but only if we remove the significant obstacles that stand in the way. Outside of people whose ancestors are from Africa, in America, all of our ancestors started anew and got a second chance. In this way, second chance is not a concept — it is central to what we are all about. Today, we are not living up to this basic principle. Brian Hamiltonis a nationally-recognized entrepreneur and the chairman of LiveSwitch. He is the founder of Inmates to Entrepreneurs, where he serves as the leading voice on the power of ownership to transform lives. He is well known for being the founder of Sageworks (now Abrigo), the country's first fintech company. He is also the star of 'Free Enterprise,' an award-winning show on ABC based on Inmates to Entrepreneurs.
