Reddit mentions: The best criminal law books

Sorry for the cut and paste below. I typed it in response to another person's question regarding the same issue, but that person deleted their post before I could post my reply:
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There are many officers who get it right the first time, and put in the hard work to get through a marriage. I know know all three of them (joke).

There is a slightly higher prevalence of divorce statistically among officers. IIRC it's even higher among correctional officers. I'm now happily married, and I don't forsee that changing.

I think your desire to stay married has a far greater impact on your divorce potential than does a career in law enforcement. If you read through my response earlier, it certainly wasn't my ex-wife's fault that I changed. Does your current wife support you having a law enforcement career? Are you open with her about the very real changes that can occur in you?

Read and have her read Emotional Survival in Law Enforcement. I found it to be an excellent help, and addresses some of the psychological issues at hand.

LEO spouse here.

My advice to you: read " emotional survival for law enforcement." Get a good understanding of hypervigilance. Understand that even when he's off duty he'll still be eagle eyed and spot things you wouldn't have noticed. Get used to sitting with your back facing the room when you go out to eat. Also, you may have to stop eating at your favourite pub because he's arrested half the kitchen staff.

When my spouse was on shift (he's a detective now), he enjoyed bringing in my cooking and his shift reported enjoying eating it. Give him some time to get settled into his shift and become more familiar with the force's operating procedures and his shift mates.

You can't go wrong with communication and that may be hard for him. There are going to be times where he doesn't want to, or he simply can't talk about what happened on shift. Also, it isn't your responsibility to carry the burden of those things and he probably won't want to unburden himself to you. Seriously though, reading the book can help a lot.
http://www.amazon.com/Emotional-survival-law-enforcement-officers/dp/0971725403/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421116153&sr=8-1&keywords=Emotional+intelligence+for+law+enforcement

My spouse says that is is important for him to maintain friendships outside of law enforcement. That gets more and more difficult as he becomes immersed in the "brotherhood." He won't work the same hours as other people and it might be difficult to schedule those social times. But those the importance of those friendships is that they remind him that he is not just a cop. If you don't work to maintain those friendships, pretty soon you'll find that the only friends you have are other LEO's and their spouses. While the LEO family ( and trust me, it will be your family) is great, it doesn't give your spouse a chance to put 'put down his badge.' He needs that kind of break for his own well being and your's too.

Defensive driving is absolutely different in a manual. There are additional things you have to keep in mind and countries around the world with a majority of manual drivers put substantial effort into developing best practices. The best known of these is the Roadcraft "System of car control", originally developed for the UK police service and now much more widely used. If you want more information, look for Roadcraft, publications by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (especially the UK arm), RoSPA, or similar groups. Most of what I list here you would learn in many European driving programs.

Some basic tenets are:

Stay in gear until you have a better one to be in. Do not go to neutral while in motion. Do go to neutral when you are stationary and when movement could cause harm. Consider applying the handbrake if it makes sense to do so.

The clutch only needs to go down when you are shifting, or when not doing so would cause a stall. This is usually during the final part of braking to a stop.

Do keep both hands on the wheel except while shifting. Get your hand back on the wheel when done.

You can shift down several gears at once easily if you brake first in gear (foot off the clutch) and then shift.

> How can I maximize the amount of time I stay in gear so I can make an evasive maneuver if I need to? If I'm in 3rd, and the light in front of me turns red, do I shift to second immediately, slow down as much as possible, and finally shift to neutral right at the end? Do I fully depress the clutch once, move the gear selector to second in case I need it, and wait until I coast to a stop to shift to neutral and let out the clutch? Or do I just slow down in third as much as possible, then depress the clutch and shift to neutral?

When braking, what is important to prioritize is steering and braking control. A shift is not a "free" activity, it takes a degree of physical control away from operating other controls. This leads to a natural sequence of "position/speed/gear", where when dealing with a hazard, you should adjust position first, followed by speed, followed by gear. Once this is done, negotiate the hazard while on the throttle. It becomes pretty obvious how to drive with this in mind.

In this case, brake and remain in 3rd. If you are coming to a stop, declutch as you reach idle, stop, and then go into 1 (if setting off immediately) or N ("when a stop becomes a wait"). If instead of stopping, you need acceleration, go directly to the gear you need and accelerate.

The key here that is missed by many people is that while it's important for safety to keep the driveline engaged, it's not usually because of the need to "accelerate out of danger". It's rare that you can do that in traffic unless you're on a bike. You stay in gear because the inertia of the driveline has a stabilizing effect on the vehicle, because there is a natural and very powerful antilock effect, because even if you don't have enough power to accelerate much you still have enough power to affect vehicle balance, and because it's easier to shift from gear to gear than from neutral to gear.

The same applies if you are going faster. If you're going 50 in 5th and need to turn at 20, brake in gear until you are at 20-25, shift to 2nd, then complete the turn. You can make large block downshifts skipping several gears easily so long as you brake before you downshift.

> - If I'm in 3rd and I'm coming up to a perpendicular turn onto a new road, do I shift down to second and get fully in gear before I make the turn? Do I shift into second as I make the turn? Do I depress the clutch, coast through the turn, and shift to second as I drive away? Do I just stay in third (seems fast)?

Brake in 3rd until you are at the proper speed for the corner about one "big u-haul" worth of distance from the corner. Declutch, shift into 2nd, engage clutch, then negotiate the turn. It may take practice to brake to the right speed at the proper point. Ideally you have one phase of braking followed by one gear change followed by acceleration through the hazard.

> - I would love to read something about shifting from 1st to 2nd quickly in the context of pulling out into a busy intersection instead of taking off from the starting line.

If you're pulling into a busy intersection, there should be no real need to go to 2nd. 1st will usually take you to at least 20-25mph and if you need more speed than this to negotiate an intersection, you probably shouldn't be doing what you're doing.

I think it's worth emphasizing that when you need to take off quickly, a well executed handbrake start will always be faster than a foot hopping start. This is because you don't have to move your feet first as part of the launch. It's worth getting good at
them for this reason alone.

> - Stop-and-go traffic is actually the one thing that I can find a ton of info about online. All advice is welcome, but I'm really looking for other traffic topics.

Again, I think one thing that is often neglected by American drivers are handbrake starts. They are not inconvenient at all once you are fluid with them, but it takes time to learn the skill. In most of the world you must demonstrate them on your drivers test to get a license. They're not a beginners trick to be abandoned when you learn more, they remain useful and make urban driving easier.

> - I learned to drive in neighborhoods. Once I got in actual traffic, I realized I was spending way too much time coasting with the clutch depressed. In the event of an emergency situation, I can always slam the clutch with the break, but if I need to speed up instead of slow down I want to at least have the gear selector in the gear that will give me the most power so I can quickly evade trouble. I think ideally I should get faster at shifting and keep the car in gear as much as possible.

You don't need to get fast at shifting, most of the time, and you should not be shifting just to get the revs into an optimal need for acceleration unless you foresee the need for acceleration or control. Again, shifting is not a free action, and you should address position/speed/gear in series if possible.

It's good that you're trying to give up the habit of coasting on the clutch. There are times when it's appropriate for a short period of time but you absolutely want your default habit to be braking in gear. If you completely forget the clutch and you stall, you'll still have better stability under braking than if you had dove for the clutch.

> - I can't tell if there is something wrong with my clutch, or if I'm just driving around in parking lots / heavy traffic incorrectly. If I'm fully in 1st or 2nd and let off the gas, my car sort of surges instead smoothly crawling along. Passengers can definitely feel it, and it honestly feels like it's putting stress on some part of the drivetrain. If I leave the clutch fully depressed and tap the biting point of 1st or 2nd to sort of push it along, kind of like reverse, it feels better and more like driving around in my automatic did. When people say to not "ride the clutch", are they talking about doing this or are they talking about something else?

Pretty much. Bad motor mounts can make this much worse, so get those checked out too!

I hope this helps. If you want references, check out UK drivers training videos on youtube. Reg Local (a former UK police driving instructor) has done some really excellent ones.

edit:

The system of car control (Reg Local):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u5ksf29ylI

Block gear changing (Advance Driving School):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI2kN1IvNnc

Roadcraft:

https://www.amazon.com/Roadcraft-Drivers-Handbook-Philip-Coyne/dp/0117081876

Actually, the main focus of my blog (The Graveyard Shift) is for writers of mystery, thriller, suspense, and some romance. But everyone is welcome. Students use the site as a research tool, and some people are simply curious about police procedure and forensics. You're right, though, the information doesn't apply to every genre.

By the way, here's a book that might be useful. It's not the one mentioned below but it features the same and similar topics.

http://www.amazon.com/Police-Procedure-Investigation-Writers-Howdunit/dp/1582974551/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1305388238&sr=1-1

Thanks for visiting the site. I hope you find something there that's useful to your writing. Also, please let me know if I can help with research, etc.

Also if you are really interested in knowing your rights and how to exercise them I highly recommend
You and the Police
by Boston T. Party. An amazing book that will make you appreciate the freedom that you have and how you had better exercise that freedom or you will lose it. You should buy two while you are at it because you will make everyone you know read it.

Any other kit there is that I should get or think of getting soon?
Yeah - handcuff keys. Issue ones are crap, small, easy to lose. You can buy for a few pounds longer handcuff keys. Also, get a pull reel key chain (https://www.amazon.com/1-5-PULL-REEL-Chain-EXTENDS/dp/B001VGO9TU) you can whack your handcuff keys on it, and then clip it to your belt - you'll never lose them. I bought one during my first week on patrol and I've kept it since. Also get a folder - preferably with a zip. You can put your tickets and paperwork in there - easier to carry around etc.


Any pre-reading material that would be useful to get in the know? Heard of Blackstones but unsure on the exact ones to get.

If you mean the big books don't bother. As someone whose got the books and passed CID, Sgt's and Inspector's exam - they'll be too much and too in depth for you at this stage. Something like this should suffice; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blackstones-Police-Operational-Handbook-2018/dp/0198806159/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=TWP162QJ2QYWCRJEWA7N


Obviously I should start upping my fitness in preparation as well.
Yup. I would recommend ideally you look at some self defence. If your force is like mine, the stuff they teach you is almost useless and largely consists of push the person away, shout get back, Pava them. I would recommend somewhere that'll teach you mixed martial arts, or something like Judo so you can take people to the ground - even kickboxing. I've had the misfortune of knowing plenty of probationers who fought they were tough only to get battered because they found themselves in someone's house, hemmed into the corner of a room and couldn't readily access their kit. You need to know how to inflict a decent amount of damage should the situation ever arise - not trying to scare you but given the nature of Policing it could quite literally be the difference between getting the offender in handcuffs or you ending up in a coffin.


THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU NEED TO KNOW...
Brush up on the Cake fine legislation.
https://cakeoffencesact.uk/police/index.xhtml
I'll refer you to S11(2)(a)(i) and when you finish your training S11(2)(a)(iii)

Your girlfriend and I are kindred spirits ❤️

I was watching something a while ago where Spitz and Fisher's Medicolegal Investigation of Death was mentioned, so immediately looked it up and drooled, but at $120-130, it's not happening any time soon (I'm also in an adjacent field, not forensics directly, it's just an interest, so I can't justify it). However, the recommended books from that one are pretty gnarly. I highly recommend giving it a look. There'll be a coffee table-type book among those, I'm sure.

I don't quite know what forensic genetics is, but if you want to learn more about bones you should get The Human Bone Manual! I loved this book. It's what we used in my human osteology class. Of course it's much easier to learn when you have bones to look at - my professor was very good too, but there's also nice online stuff and books. What kind of job are you trying to get?

https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Philosophy-Law-Revised-Lectures/dp/0300001886

This is the book I was talking about by Roscoe Pound. It will be slightly outdated, because he published it in 1922, but it's a great starting point (written specifically for beginning law students)

https://www.amazon.com/History-American-Law-Third/dp/0684869888

This was the textbook we used in my 3L Legal Philosophy class, but I wouldn't be intimidated by that, it's very easy to understand.

Other than that, just googling "introduction to philosophy of law" will give you an array of options. Pick one, and go from there. Remember, it's going to take more than just one introductory text to get you comfortable with the subject.

As regards boots, I've always worn Doc Martens or Solovair. Just what I find most comfortable.

Don't buy any other kit yet - you don't need it. Once you do, start here.

The book you're likely to need for training school will be Blackstone's Handbook for Policing Students. I suppose you could buy it now and start reading if you wanted to, but otherwise wait until you're told to.

The only 'extra' book I would recommend is this handbook - I've always found it very useful.

Otherwise, I previously wrote a long post of advice for new starters here.

Good luck!

The classic, age-old question. Money or fulfillment. For me, I balanced the two, chasing the money but at the same time finding fulfillment by looking adjacent to what I was doing to see who had a 'better' job in my industry/company.

One caution. Police officer is a very tough job, and it's not for everyone. In particular, if you have a lot of compassion for people and feel the things you experience deeply, my advice is look elsewhere for ways to help people.

Here's a great book on surviving as a first-responder. It's absolutely worth your time to read it and talk with some other officers - particularly those who are still on the beat and have been in-role for 10+ years.

Awesome video.

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I love how you describe the effort vs reward calculation that criminals are using when scanning ports.

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It reminds me of Burglars on the Job by Richard Wright, et al. which described how burglars approached their attempts on houses.

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https://www.amazon.com/Burglars-Job-Streetlife-Residential-Break-ins/dp/1555532713

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A link for everyone who is curious. Great read! Great insight into the criminal mindset.

Leo wife here! We have a sub that I can send over to you. It's not very active but it's good for support when you need it. If you're in my state, I'll send you a link to our group (where they will verify you).

So here's the thing, academy is fucking awful and so is your FTO period (ours was about 12 months but they recently upped it to 18 months). One thing I HIGHLY suggest is purchasing this book. It will help you understand what is happening to him and how to not fall into the situation you described. Depending on your department, your guy will have to swap shifts a few times so you'll be thrown upside down a few times over the next two years. There's benefits and cons to each one.

My advice for now? Just survive. Do what you can to keep your lives together but get through it with as little resentment as you can. It'll be over and once he's on his own, it will be so much better because he's not having to follow the exact process of whomever is educating him ex: one trainer expected you to be out of the car before him but wouldn't tell you that. Another wouldn't let Dude use the online system the entire 10 weeks because sometimes it went offline, which has happened twice in the last few years. There will be times he will want to quit and you will have (if you've agreed to do so) to keep him invested and going. There is a high rate of divorce in our community but I've also seen a lot of really successful relationships too. It's all about making yourselves come together as a family and not losing sight of it or prioritizing it lower. The ones I see splitting are the ones spitting, "she knew what she got into. This job is my life! She has to work around ME forever." Nah. This is a one way ticket to trouble. There's gotta be respect.

For holidays and events, do them on his off day. Don't start living totally separate lives. It's so easy to do and sometimes you will just have to go to events anyway but make sure you can get him to some of them. Keep as many non first responder friends as you can. Nobody will get your situation like other LEO families but it can be easy for them all to start getting negative about work or becoming an echo chamber. My husband's personality has changed and he has become more rigid because he sees so many awful things. Having "regular" friends reminds him that WoW, metal concerts, family dinners, soccer - they're all still part of who he is.

There are things you can't drive yourself crazy about and that's women who specifically creep on guys with a badge, females on shift either on his beat or dispatch, where he is at all times, mandatory overtime (it'll happen, and I tell people we will arrive an hour late to an event just in case), and sometimes when he needs space. Too much space is bad but it's shit like, today my husband had to (TW GORE/MISCARRIAGE) dig through a shopping bag of human tissue because homeless woman miscarried in a stairwell. And that's not even the worst or weirdest thing he's seen this month. You will have to decide as a team if you want to talk about that stuff or not (we do). Some wives also pretend there isn't a real threat to life (yet two guys almost got killed on shift in the last 2 months) and some pretend every call is going to be the end (though statistically chances are small and Dude went a very long time before he ever had to pull any weapon on anyone). You'll have to find a balance. We did talk about what happens if he is injured or killed in action and what our expectations were.

Anyway. I could go on forever. Feel free to PM me anytime though!

> I am having a very tough time getting a reputable website with good information

Michigan Penal Code: MCL Act 328 of 1931

> hold it in my hand pointed at the ground, in hopes they will decide it's not worth it and leave me be?

> so I am open carrying as a deterrent?

Can you articulate how these acts represent "self-defense" and is not displaying in a threatening manner, nor intended to induce fear in another person??



> MCL 750.234e: (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), a person shall not willfully and knowingly brandish a firearm in public.


> (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to either of the following:

>>(a) A peace officer lawfully performing his or her duties as a peace officer.

>>(b) A person lawfully acting in self-defense or defense of another under the self-defense act, 2006 PA 309, MCL 780.971 to 780.974.



> MCL 750.222(c): (c) "Brandish" means to point, wave about, or display in a threatening manner with the intent to induce fear in another person.

Can you articulate how the situations you describe (beating a shovel on the ground, or you being a smaller person picked on by somebody wanting to fight) represents "self defense" as described by the MI Self-Defense Act?

> MCL 780.972: (1) An individual who has not or is not engaged in the commission of a crime at the time he or she uses deadly force may use deadly force against another individual anywhere he or she has the legal right to be with no duty to retreat if either of the following applies:

>>(a) The individual honestly and reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent the imminent death of or imminent great bodily harm to himself or herself or to another individual.

>>(b) The individual honestly and reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent the imminent sexual assault of himself or herself or of another individual.

I highly recommend reading Andrew Branca's Law of Self-Defense book ($10 for Kindle version!) or/and Massad Ayoob's Deadly Force book ($11 Kindle) for an more in-depth exploration of the principles. Branca also does a state-by-state statute breakdown.

Crime Scene to Court - Has a UK focus but delves into all fields in fair detail without overloading you, its a good reference manual.

Forensic Science - May be a bit of a hefty one but also covers everything.

Practical Skills in Forensic Science - Probably better for when actually studying but has a lot of the information for being a forensic scientist rather than just knowing forensic science.

I would say those three, as well as those that ayeroger has mentioned will be all you need for an overview of the subject, if you have any specialist fields in mind I have a wide selection of reading material.

Do you want to read CASES or do you want to learn about the entirety of an area of LAW?

If you are more interested in the "whole" view of a certain area of law, I would recommend reading a treatise or something on an area you're interested in. Cases alone are interesting somewhat, but usually they are just a smaller piece of a much bigger topic. It would be like trying to learn about a forest by just studying one tree.

For example if you like Law and Order you probably are interested in criminal law. A book like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Loewys-Criminal-Nutshell-West-Publishing/dp/0314194967/

Would give you a very thorough understanding of criminal law as a whole. Case by case reading might help you understand certain particulars (like the procedure for holding someone in jail in order to pay off outstanding fines) but without being able to see the whole picture it's going to seem really meaningless and confusing.

As a new driver - learn to not need to hit your brakes hard unless in emergency. Learn to be really gentle on brakes and acceleration, and you will be able to run 25,000 miles or more on your tires and brake pads.

Also - just because you have a license, it doesn't mean that you should stop leaning. Even though this may not be your country, I would highly recommend all new drivers to read this: http://www.amazon.com/Roadcraft-The-Police-Drivers-Handbook/dp/0117021687

In the UK, you pass a basic test (= way more involved than the USA testing from what I have seen from my sons). You can then voluntarily take an advanced drivers test (6 months of training, then approx 2 hours of test with a current or retired traffic policemen in your car). It's a massive learning experience, and stays with you for your whole life (whether driving left or right cars, on left or right roads!)

Here's a small example (in no way substituting for the book or the training): UK advanced drivers learn this mnemonic: Can My Safety Be Given Away? C-M-S-B-G-A ... standing for:

• C = Course. Look ahead and always plan your course for the next several seconds e.g. through a maneuver, obstruction or intersection (e.g. where on the road do you want to be for the upcoming blind left bend? And could an idiot be cutting the bend coming the other way?).
  
• M = Mirror. Always look in all mirrors before initiating any action (this will prevent you pulling out into a car unexpectedly overtaking you, for example).
  
• S = Signal. Look for who on the road or pedestrian would benefit from a signal (i.e. in your head, think who you are signaling to).
  
• B = Brakes. Do you need to slow down for the obstruction? If so, finish braking before your turn. (Why? Because one day you will be on a slippery roadway and making this a habit will avoid you trying to brake hard and turn at the same time, and will therefore avoid you skidding off the road.)
  
• G = Gear. Yes, even for automatics. What gear do you want to use to get through the maneuver. For a manual, you can brake from say 5th, thinking ahead that you will need 2nd gear, then go straight to the right gear - i.e. NO need to go up and down the box sequentially if you know what you are doing. For automatics ... what gear is best for a hill, etc.
  
• A = Acceleration. Go smoothly through the sequence of brakes / gear / acceleration, holding constant throttle in a turn and then moving smartly away as the turn ends.
  
  It takes tons of practice to make this instinctive, thinking each step, talking to yourself, and then talking to your instructor to verbalize these steps, and to call out everything you notice around you.
  
  (Example: look at the tires of all trucks, to see if anything is flapping or looks wrong. Why? Because if that tire blows out, the truck will very likely swerve into your lane. Be very cautious driving past any such trucks, and give yourself as much escape space as possible.)
  
  One of hundreds of examples I learnt from my awesome instructor and from the policeman that assessed me.

I'm pretty sure they can actually come in without a warrant or without knocking now as long as they have 'probable cause' and yes, illegally-seized evidence can be used in some circumstances... --> Understanding Search and Seizure Law

I'm also not one to typically advertise something... but as an ent who has had to deal with the law once or twice, I highly suggest this book to all other ents, for their own safety and the safety of their fellow frients. You and the Police!

Alright thanks for the clarification. Sorry if I come off fervent, this kind of stuff has never failed to irk me seeing as how actively and enthusiastically its carried out. For those that want to learn more:

• NPR
  
• Huffington Post
  
• Democracy Now
  
  Then their source documents dealing with:
  
  
• "Preventing the rise of a black messiah" (you can find the source document transcribed)
  
• Getting MLK to kill himself (source document transcribed)
  
• A great book that goes further into the subject

It's definitely worth pursuing.

I can totally recommend investing in a copy of the Police Riders Handbook (not the new edition, it's terrible and a waste of money), and also the Police Drivers Handbook.

They are dry as hell to read, but it is definitely possible to teach yourself at least the basics of the system and begin to apply it, without ever needing to pay quantities of money to IAM or Rospa. Then, once you're back in the black so to speak, you'll have a baseline to work from and a decent knowledge of what is expected.

Bikesafe actually threw in a goodiebag for us that contained an IAM book that gives you a good foundation.

Beyond that, Nick Ienatsch's book is a great read too for sportier riding.

I dont have any information on the PA exam. But I do know a good study guide https://www.amazon.com/Barrons-Police-Officer-Exam-9th/dp/1438001339

basically just study grammar/spelling/comprehension :) Good luck

Hopefully this isn't a day late and a dollar short, but I recently read an article about In Defense of Flogging.

While I'm not currently in a non-fiction mood (and when I am I've got a shelf to work through) it will probably be on my to read list soon.

Here is the article I read. Good luck!

One thing I meant to recommend and forgot was to buy and read this book:

http://www.amazon.com/History-American-Law-Third-Edition/dp/0684869888/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407940051&sr=8-1&keywords=history+of+american+law

Bryan A. Garner recommends Friedman as a very good legal writer. Also, the content will give you more than a leg up in law school. It presents the entire history of and an explanation of American law. You will go into your classes with a deeper understanding than anyone else. Would make law school a lot easier, I believe.

Also, take some writing courses in undergrad.

The anticipated behaviour of the other road users is an important part of roadcraft. The knowledge of the signals that the other users are controlled by is as relevant to advanced driving as the weather conditions, or time of day.

If this is really a surprise to you, then I'd guess you're either a new driver (less than 10 years driving) or a dangerous one. If you'd honestly like to learn how to drive properly, I recommend this book based on the UK advanced driving certificate.

Read the book The Law of Self Defense by Andrew Branca. It's a quick read - only about the first half is the actual text, the second half is the appendix (state laws, etc).

That one book completely changed my mind about situations like you mentioned. A good chunk of it's dedicated to defense of others, and it was a real eye opener.

My answer to your question: I wouldn't fire unless he turned his gun towards me. I'm not going to put myself in a position where a prosecutor decides to come after me because I shot someone that didn't even know I was there. I wouldn't yell at the criminal because that same prosecutor might twist that to mean I was the instigator.

The justice system isn't there to protect you, and you shouldn't count on it to agree with your opinion on what is morally correct.

They have some books on Amazon that goes in depth on police procedure if you want something deeper.

I haven't read this, but it is an example of what is out there to help you and should give you better info than reddit.

https://smile.amazon.com/Police-Procedure-Investigation-Writers-Howdunit/dp/1582974551/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536556585&sr=8-1&keywords=writing+police+procedure

No book will prepare you for law enforcement, it has to be touched, smelled, heard, and seen. If you're already a cop then the best thing you can do to be better is to be a well rounded human being and books can help with that.

Here's the recommended reading from some of the prior threads I was able to find in the sub.

1. On Killing
   
2. On Combat
   
3. Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement
   
4. Intro to Criminal Evidence
   
5. Blue Blood
   
6. 400 Things Cops Should Know
   
7. Cop: A True Story
   
8. [Verbal Judo] (https://www.amazon.com/Verbal-Judo-Gentle-Persuasion-Updated/dp/0062107704/)
   
9. [What Cops Know] (https://www.amazon.com/What-Cops-Know-Connie-Fletcher/dp/0671750402/)
   
10. [Into the Kill Zone] (https://www.amazon.com/Into-Kill-Zone-Deadly-Force/dp/0787986038/)
    
11. Training at the Speed of Life
    
12. Sharpening the Warrior's Edge
    
13. The Gift of Fear
    
14. Deadly Force Encounters
    
15. The Book of Five Rings
    
    I've read a good portion of the above listed. I highly recommend Emotional Survival and going to see one of Gilmartin's talks if he's in your area. Below are a few of my personal suggestions.
    
    
16. Meditations
    
17. Blink - Not sure if I buy it, but interesting to think about.
    
18. [Armor] (https://www.amazon.com/Armor-John-Steakley/dp/0886773687/)
    
19. Iron John: A Book About Men
    
20. The Dictator's Handbook: Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics
    

I haven’t read it yet, but I’ve been recommended this book and have heard really good things about it.

Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement by Kevin M. Gilmartin, Ph.D.

According to "The Good Book", as a friend of mine calls it, the Springfield M1A, DSA FAL, rebarreled Garand, or HK91 (In that order, I think).

It's been a while since it was updated, so there maybe new info to consider.

Edit: lol.. I don't know how I missed "AR-10 style".. Oh well. Sorry about the irrelevance.

I got sidetracked and completely forgot to say thank you for this comment, but THANK YOU, this was really helpful. (As far as the blitz attack thing, I was assuming a physical/non-sexual assault with the intent to maim.)

(Also for non-leo/crime writer folks, I came across this book that's helpful on the basics, although like most other sources it doesn't really address the investigation procedure post-crime-scene as this helpful gentleman has done.)

Good book for dealing with a cop's life and stress is

http://www.amazon.com/Emotional-survival-law-enforcement-officers/dp/0971725403

It is also good to give to significant others or family to help them realize what you may going through.

There are several journals available like The Journal of Forensic Sciences http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1556-4029, but there are also many open access ones like The Open Forensic Science Journal, Journal of Forensic Research, or The Canadian Society of Forensic Science. The ones that are free would be a good start, because books like Forensic Science: From the Crime Scene to the Crime Lab or Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques, Third Edition (Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific & Investigative Techniques) will cost you.

You are being obtuse.

Do you realize you are critiquing one of the most respected and used manuals on driving? roadcraft Most of the text on my post was taken directly from it.

As a medic not only have I taken the course the text is for, in addition I also hold EVOC (emergency vehicle operator course) certifications. So i feel I have better understanding than most when it comes to driving.

What are your credentials to so pompously say the authors and the many research that has gone into it is simply wrong?

You need to stop being obtuse and realize that as a driver of a motor vehicle you are directly responsible to ensure the safe operation of it.
When you hit a kid in the street, your "It is up to parents to teach their kids to pay attention of their surroundings and not run in front of cars or out onto a roadway before looking." means absolutely nothing. You are solely, like i said, the one responsible, even if the kid is being an idiot.

I really suggest you give the book a read you can find the ebook here reading the full text will probably give you a better understanding of the fragments I used on my original comment and will help you understand why your rebuttals are erroneous.

If you want a less boring one I suggest this book by Ben Collins but it is not nearly as comprehensive.

Anatomic Path - Sternberg

Neuropath - Ellison & Love

Forensics - Spitz & Fisher

also a fun coffee table book useful for alienating visitors to your home

I haven't read it myself, but I've heard good things about Police Procedures & Investigation, perhaps that's worth a look: https://www.amazon.com/Police-Procedure-Investigation-Writers-Howdunit/dp/1582974551

When I took osteology we used this book. It was hella helpful and I really liked it. https://www.amazon.com/Human-Bone-Manual-Tim-White/dp/0120884674

I'd like to recommend Boston's Gun Bible. It has a lot of valuable information for new and experienced firearm owners.

I highly recommend the book Law 101:

http://www.amazon.com/Law-101-Everything-American-System/dp/0195395131/ref=pd_sim_b_7

It's written in an easy to understand style. I used chapters as a review for my 1L exams to understand the big picture of what I had been studying.

I bought the Barons book on amazon for about 12 dollars. Doesn't hurt to study, although a few friends have told me is isn't needed.

Wow, I tried Amazon.com and the cheapest copy I found was over $30 for a used paperback. :(

Edit: Found a link to it at Amazon where it is only $20 and ordered it. Thanks again. http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0971725403?ie=UTF8&condition=new&seller=AQYA5H2T7CWRJ

In Defense of Flogging makes the case a little less seriously, but Moskos is still pretty on point.

There's a whole series of books like this which you might find useful. It's the real-world equivalent of most of the garbage that appears on TV and in the movies in regard to police procedures.

I don't have a favorite, I have a long list of favorites. Listed below is a good starter selection. Lucifer's Hammer is the book that probably most directly led to the path I am on today. I have always liked science fiction and read it long before I would have ever called myself a prepper.


Fiction, to make you think:

• Lucifer's Hammer by Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven
  
• Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse by James Wesley, Rawles
  
• Lights Out by David Crawford
  
  Self Defense:
  
  
• Boston's Gun Bible by Boston T. Party (Kenneth W. Royce)
  
  Sustainable Living:
  
  
• The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery
  
• Gardening When It Counts: Growing Food in Hard Times by Steve Solomon
  
• Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving by Altrista Consumer Products
  
  Health and First Aid:
  
  
• Where There Is No Doctor by David Werner, Jane Maxwell and Carol Thuman
  
• First Aid -- Responding To Emergencies by the American Red Cross
  
  Free Your Mind:
  
  
• The Most Dangerous Superstition by Larken Rose
  

All the basics

https://www.corneredcat.com/contents/

A bit more advanced (in the armed self-defender context)

https://www.integratedskillsgroup.com/blog/guns-of-isg-handgun
Straight Talk on Armed Defense: What the Experts Want You to Know


Know the Law
The Law of Self Defense, 3rd Edition

Deadly Force - Understanding Your Right To Self Defense

Oh, remembered one:

He (and the rest of the family) actually had the gall to argue with Werner Spitz, regarding the results of Diane's autopsy. Spitz literally wrote the book on forensic autopsy: https://www.amazon.com/Spitz-Fishers-Medicolegal-Investigation-Death/dp/0398075441

This is a decent article: https://www.addiction.com/3425/aunt-diane/

Previous thread with great discussion: https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/3mptm3/was_diane_schulers_body_ever_exhumed_has_her_son/

Ward Churchill wrote a great book on this kind of thing http://www.amazon.com/The-COINTELPRO-Papers-Documents-Classics/dp/0896086496

Read this. Boston's Gun Bible. It covers many topics, including safety and legal aspects. It's a very good place to start.

You guys who shell up when off work might want to take a look at this: Emotional survival for law enforcement

Its pricey but a good read.

There is a slippery slope between a drink to get through a really hard day, then a drink to get through a sort of hard day, and then a drink to get through every day.

I don't mean to sound alarmist about it but there is a reason alcoholism tends to run in the industry. If its just a bad day, walk it off, move on. If its more, please consider speaking to someone and getting support.

Also, I always recommend Gilmartin's Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement even though its meant for officers' it applies to first responders in general.

If you haven't, read Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement. You can read it in just a few hours. I don't believe it is absolute gospel, but it is a good starting point.

http://www.amazon.com/Emotional-survival-law-enforcement-officers/dp/0971725403

If your dept. has an employee assistance program, speak to them.

Got a few bucks? ( $4.45 )

"With practical information and extensive detail, former PI Fallis uses real-life scenarios to show writers how investigative professionals gather evidence, interview witnesses, determine motives and find the answers they seek."

http://www.amazon.com/Just-Facts-Maam-Investigators-Investigation/dp/089879823X

I knew most of it, but it was handy, so I would recommend.

-------------------
This one handles the police end. ( I don't have it, so can't comment )

http://www.amazon.com/Police-Procedure-Investigation-Writers-Howdunit/dp/1582974551

-----------------
There's several more in their writers series. Do a search in Amazon for : howdunit for a bunch of books on crimes/investigations for writers. It's worth it if you plan on doing a lot of writing on these topics.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=a9_sc_1/176-6365676-1784133?rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3Ahowdunit&keywords=howdunit&ie=UTF8&qid=1452719352

TIL most redditors are not skilled and safe drivers.

The "space cushion" is a safety measure in case:

• you get hit from behind
  
• car in front is standard transmission
  
• car in front stalls
  
• you need to switch lanes or GTFO quick
  
• let vehicles out on perpendicular streets (where applicable)
  
• please read Roadcraft
  
  Preemptive "why do I drive no faster than 60mph?", economic reasons, I get the best MPG at that speed. I have a 26 mile round trip commute and I fill up once every 10-11 days, u mad?

My copy of The Human Bone Manual is one of my most prized possessions - it's indispensable as a reference text for bioarchaeology (or anyone in a skeletal anatomy class :D). Here's a relevant sample.

It's not enough and it never will be...Our patients demand perfection and in many ways deserve it, but that's not reality. Reality is that we are imperfect persons working in an imperfect system, making choices with imperfect information, all in the hope that we are healing/helping imperfect patients. You must draw a line between your work and your life otherwise the negativity and toxicity of the work will taint the rest of your life. Unfortunately there aren't any books that talk about managing the emotional stress you will be exposed to in healthcare. I've found that books about dealing with the stress of law enforcement are a good analog.


I recommend:

Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement: A guide for officers and their families

and
Warrior Mindset: Mental Toughness Skills for a Nation's Peacekeepers


Best wishes; hope you find the strength and balance you're looking for.

I really enjoyed reading A History of American Law followed by American Law in the Twentieth Century, both by Lawrence Friedman of Stanford Law School.

>My LEO lives to work, and he's drinking away his anxieties.

This is bad. You have to have outside activities and step away from the job from time to time. This is a great book that helped me get through some rough times. I highly recommend it to all officers:

http://emotionalsurvival.com/

You can also buy it on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0971725403/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all

Yeah I would push for the country home, that being said

> he admits that's he's not rational about this

You should buy emotional survival for law enforcement and read it together. He's showing hyper vigilance.

https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-survival-law-enforcement-officers/dp/0971725403

Seriously grab it. Read it and find the parts about hyper vigilance and ptsd. show it to him. get him to talk to someone. It is imperative if he wants to stay in this career that he balance this out.

As far as the family thing goes declare it. Better to declare it than get it found out later. Even if it's relatively minor chuck it on just in case, it'll be up to whoever does the vetting to decide if it's relevant.

As for books, there's two I'd get:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blackstones-Police-Operational-Handbook-2018/dp/0198806159/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519917608&sr=8-1&keywords=Blackstones

and

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blackstones-Handbook-Policing-Students-2018/dp/0198806140/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1519917608&sr=8-2&keywords=Blackstones

As others have said, communication is key.

In addition, there are resources out there to help. He may not be receptive to this, but there are resources out there to help him deal with the stress of the job. One that was recommended to me (which I cannot personally endorse, as I haven't read it) is "Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement: A guide for officers and their families". (http://www.amazon.com/Emotional-survival-law-enforcement-officers/dp/0971725403)

There are many similar resources out there, both for you and him. In the end though, it comes down to how receptive he is, which is where the communication really needs to take place.

Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement

Every cop should read this at least once. It can be read in a weekend and it can save your marriage, health and maybe even your life

The Human Bone Manual is like a biblical source to me. Also, Stiff, by Mary Roach is some SERIOUSLY interesting stuff.

Hi! We have a subreddit wiki page of all the 'required reading' for our disciplines here.

This was my undergrad Forensic Science textbook. It's a nice overview type of book. Libraries or used bookstores tend to have this one. Pretty cheap paperback version.

Emotional Survival For Law Enforcement is a book that deals with this exact issue, and even describes it the exact same way as you do.

It's well worth reading, if you're a cop, or just in a relationship with one.

Accept it as a fact of the job and move on. You have to come to terms with it because your family, both at home and on the job need to count on you and we cannot have anyone falling behind due to any reason.

If you feel as though the thoughts are becoming something other than thoughts or haunting you, call your PD's EAP, talk with them.

If you have not yet done so read Emotional Survival for LE, it'll bring to light somethings and give you the ability to label what exactly you are thinking/feeling.

Swing and a miss on so many levels. You're like the person who struck out on your first pitch.

As a forensic anthropologist with an emphasis in genetics, I can tell you specifically what science (anthropology specifically) says about this- race is a social construct that has nothing to do with genetics, and there's no such thing as "success" when it comes to culture or "racial groups" in science.

Here's a few books you can read up on:
Demographic Methods and Concepts

The Genetics of Human Populations


and for osteology:

The Human Bone Manual


This should clear up some of the bigger misconceptions you might have. I also recomment Svante-Paabo for ancient DNA work as well.

Lee Lofland's book might be a good start for you. Police Procedure & Investigation A Guide for Writers

I’ve always been a fan of the Nutshell series. The fifth edition is the current one: https://www.amazon.com/Criminal-Nutshell-Nutshells-Arnold-Loewy/dp/0314194967/ref=nodl_

Keep in mind that when you get material on criminal law, you are just getting the statutory construction/interpretation of the black letter law. To fully under the system, you also need to delve in evidence, criminal procedure, and Constitutional law (sometimes at advanced levels and multiple jurisdictions).

For entertainment, the best TV show ever was the original Law & Order. The writers would take two or three real cases that were similar and mash them together for each episode. It got a little scary when I could start naming the cases an episode was based on.

I would recommend Law 101 by Jay M. Feinman. It goes into a fair amount of detail about constitutional law, litigation, torts, business law, property law, and criminal law. I think it would be a good starting point for you to decide where you might want to delve a little deeper.

Same in this book. Police not so much, armed homeowner, yes.

https://www.amazon.com/Burglars-Job-Streetlife-Residential-Break-ins/dp/1555532713

I have read legal advice that teaches you to offer your name, the fact that you needed to defend yourself, additional exculpatory information (such as assailants weapons), and the location of witnesses that observed the fight. The reasoning was that a simple or hardline "don't talk to the police" stance might risk that evidence being missed, or the witnesses not being interviewed in time. You NEED that stuff to clear your name, and it's probably better if you direct the cops to that evidence. You're not giving up a whole lot by giving up that little bit of information.

Other than that, he says, you take the fifth. Not much different from this advice.

The Law of Self Defense, 3rd Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F9FAJBA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_-tdMAbG5FJGAJ

I heartily recommend you read this book:

https://www.amazon.com/Law-Self-Defense-3rd-ebook/dp/B01F9FAJBA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497645297&sr=8-1&keywords=law+of+self+defense+3rd+edition

Switching on and off the hyper-vigilance required for his job can be exhausting. Sometimes Officers get caught in a routine of not talking about their problems. I suggest you read Gilmartin's "Emotional Guide for Law Enforcement". The book is spot on about what officers go through. I would encourage you to have your boyfriend read it too. He will feel like Gilmartin has been following him around and is writing about exactly what he goes through. Read it! It saves lives. Amazon link

According to Pete Earley's well researched "Witsec", Witness Protection has never failed to protect someone who followed their protocol. A single time. It's never happened.

> police there are used to is pressing charges

So where do you live that the DA doesn't press charges and the police do instead? Is it a wonderful fantasy land of someone who has no understanding of the justice system of the US?

I think you need this.

That or you could try shutting the fuck up about things you don't know. But that might be too much to ask from self righteous idiots.

> if they can legally disarm me, and I make it known that I don't consent, is there a case for me in the courtroom?

No, because they can legally disarm you.

When I say don't consent to any search, I'm referring to posts like this one from yesterday. The reason to do this is to capture for their dashcam/audio and your dashcam/audio that no searches have been consented to. That way if they do go beyond a Terry search you've got it on record.

Also, I recommend checking out the book You & the Police!. Much will have changed since this book was published, but as a basic primer on what the police can and can't legally do I believe it still remains relevant.

I'm not a police officer, but I've always heard that Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement is almost a must-have.

http://www.amazon.com/Emotional-survival-law-enforcement-officers/dp/0971725403

If you could redo the talking-to-the-cops part, what would you say? You certainly couldn't lie to them, and I'm not suggesting that you would, but you had to say something. Here's a book, You &The Police that gives some relevant advice.

Just search it on Amazon.. Should be there.

Edit: here's the link on Canadian Amazon:

https://www.amazon.ca/Emotional-Survival-Law-Enforcement-Officers/dp/0971725403

Emotional survival for law enforcement: A guide for officers and their families https://www.amazon.com/dp/0971725403/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_gdJ6Cb2V38NHD

Emotional survival for law enforcement: A guide for officers and their families https://www.amazon.com/dp/0971725403/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_YCYyCbBVD98YT

Afaik the police investigators books are aimed at those sitting the NIE and looking to become substantive Detectives.

They will go into great detail and the questions in the workbook will be aimed at serious and complex crime.

Blackstone's Handbook for Policing Students 2019 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0198828527/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_dj-wDbB2TP6B0

This would be more in line for CKP and PC students.

I have learned a lot from this one.

Both Amazon Smile links (I choose the EFF):

• Fundamentals of American Law
  
• A History of American Law

I don't know if you are in school or not but if you have access to an anatomy or biology lab that has real human bones you could use them as reference. You could look at the human bone manual https://www.amazon.com/Human-Bone-Manual-Tim-White/dp/0120884674/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467507833&sr=1-1&keywords=human+bone+manual You should also think about are the bones you are modeling male or female, Juvenal or adult because these will change the dimensions.

Law 101 basically does really short topic overviews of everything a 1L would learn

This book is a must read

https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-survival-law-enforcement-officers/dp/0971725403

Both of you should read this book.

http://www.amazon.com/You-Police-Boston-T-Party/dp/1888766093/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1419439684&sr=8-2&keywords=dealing+with+the+police

and this http://www.amazon.com/The-Gun-C-J-Chivers/dp/0743270762

and this http://www.amazon.com/Bostons-Gun-Bible-Boston-Party/dp/1888766069

Read this

(Chuckling) ... I happen to be reading Lawrence Friednman's History of American Law at the moment. There were laws in Massachusetts during the 17th century that called for any Quakers who were found in the colony to be flogged.

http://thefiringline.com

http://www.ar15.com/

http://www.glocktalk.com/

http://www.thehighroad.org/

boston's gun bible: http://www.amazon.com/Bostons-Gun-Bible-Boston-Party/dp/1888766069

the magpul dynamics training dvds

Boston's Gun Bible https://www.amazon.com/dp/1888766069/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_U3nWub1D9XQM4
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1888766069/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_U3nWub1D9XQM4

Boston's Gun Bible. I've read this one cover to cover...the info on battle rifles is invaluable, even if much of the legal discussion and AR15 info is about 10 years out of date. About 1/4 of the book is a love letter to the M14 and FAL platforms, but the Garand and HK G3 are not left out either.

You both may want to give this a read, it doesn't specifically address the problem you're facing now, but does address some that may come up later.

https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-survival-law-enforcement-officers/dp/0971725403

I'm not sure if this will help. But The International Crime Writers Association Links might offer something useful. Also the book Police Procedure & Investigation: A Guide for Writers (Howdunit)

No problem. Also, this is the book some of us mentioned. It's an important read for officers and their spouses.

I'll give the somewhat standard reading list (Standard as in these are the ones that come up the most)

Calibre Press Trilogy Street Survival, The Tactical Edge, and Tactics for Criminal Patrol. I'd be willing to bet someone on the department already owns them or even your department itself has them.

On Combat by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman

On Killing by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman

Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement

That ends the standard reading list, then I recommend this as well

Me Talk Pretty One Day-David Sedaris Because he is hilarious, and has nothing to do with police work in any way shape or form.

sort of like prison instead of flogging.

http://www.amazon.com/In-Defense-Flogging-Peter-Moskos/dp/0465021484

If the story by the witness in the link is accurate, the CCW holder was the initial aggressor and could be charged with second degree murder or voluntary manslaughter.

I've been reading this book lately, and I highly suggest it to anyone that frequently has questions like this.

These books have helped me tremendously through the hiring process so far. I took recommendations from friends and acquaintances in law enforcement and from searching through previous threads on this subreddit.

On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society https://www.amazon.com/dp/0316040932/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_GNK.ybMTBZKVX

Emotional survival for law enforcement: A guide for officers and their families https://www.amazon.com/dp/0971725403/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_EOK.ybR4XSKZY

Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion, Updated Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062107704/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_EQK.yb1MWMEPV