Beyond the Brief

Beyond the Brief


Latest Episodes

Mom Mistakenly Jailed.  Missed Christmas with Active Duty Son
January 02, 2025

On Christmas Eve 2022, Jennifer Heath Box got off a cruise ship in Florida, excited to return home to Texas and spend Christmas with her children before her son was deployed. Instead, police arrested

Creepy AI-powered Surveillance Cams in 5,000 Cities and Counting
December 16, 2024

Not long ago, if police wanted to know where someone drove, they would have to follow that person for days, taking significant resources. But new technology allows the government to track everyone nea

“Fish Cops” Flounder the 4th Amendment
November 26, 2024

In Pennsylvania, officers of the Fish and Boat Commission have the power to trespass on any land or water without a warrant. For one couple, that lead to repeated harassment at their lakeside home fro

When Lawsuits Go Viral with  @CivilRightsLawyer 
November 14, 2024

The proliferation of video is changing how Americans fight for their civil rights, and much of it is happening right here on YouTube. I'm Kim Norberg of the nonprofit civil liberties law firm the Inst

Officer Caught Snitching on Domestic Abuse Victim
October 24, 2024

In 2013, a Clovis, California police officer found out that his girlfriend Desiree Martinez had reported him for physically abusing herwhile Desiree was trapped in a room with him, leading to further

Town Council Blocks Business for Causing…Competition?!?
October 10, 2024

In America, the government doesnt get to pick winners and losers in the marketplace. Yet states and cities throughout the country block new business to protect established interests. Thats when IJ s

Popular Family Store Fights Bogus Eminent Domain
September 28, 2024

Can the government take your land just because they dont like you? Thats happening to Brinkmanns Hardware, a beloved local store in Long Island. After a lengthy fight, the town of Southhold, NY is

Rebel Ridge:  Fact or Fiction?
September 25, 2024

The film Rebel Ridge came September 6 and shot to #1 on Netflix. It depicts a former Marines attempts to get his money back after it was taken by police through civil forfeiture. That story sounded p

Carrying Cash is NOT a Crime
September 13, 2024

Its legal to travel domestically with any amount of cash. Its legal to travel in and out of the U.S. with more than $10k if you declare it. But that doesnt stop law enforcement from searching trave

To Serve, Protect, and…Fish for Cash? Bogus Traffic Stops Violate 4th Amendment
August 22, 2024

On a typical day, police officers pull over more than 50,000 drivers. If youve had a recent encounter with police, chances are good it was during a traffic stop. Traffic stops can lead to searches, a