Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000 17:33:33 -0400 From: radical@FDT.NET (Mike C) Subject: Should Police (Government) Be Required To Record/Document Questioning? To: LIBERTARIANS@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Hi All,
I've just created a web site called LEORAD, which is an acronym for Law Enforcement Officers' Recorded Audio Documentation. It's purpose is to enact legislation requiring police to record all questioning during criminal investigations. This includes statements by victims, witnesses, suspects and informants. Such recordings will then help to convict the guilty, protect the innocent, and prove the competence of the police.
As you might imagine, police, prosecutors, and judges are vehemently opposed to such a requirement. Why do they oppose it? Let's ask them, loudly, as the elections draw near. Their answers should prove to be both enlightening and entertaining.
While the site includes a recent letter to President Clinton explaining the need for LEORAD, and asking him to issue an executive order regarding it, that by itself won't loosen too many tongues. As usual, the job of challenging the status quo again falls to the young. It's they who must ask the difficult questions and demand answers. Few of their parents or grandparents are likely to do so. At least not until they have been compelled to look at the evidence as to the need for such recordings.
To make the asking and demanding easier, there is also a little game at the site called Truth Quest 2000, aimed primarily at teens. Here, players earn 'Warrior' status by writting a letter demanding the enactment of LEORAD, and sending a copy of it to their state House Representative, Senator, and Govenor. They then earn additional points and status by helping others to earn 'Warrior' status, and so on, and so on. The idea is to create an exponential or 'chain reaction' growth process during this year's election. If successful, the public will get a very revealing look at an aspect of police/government behavior that the majority of people are unaware of.
Unfortunately, I don't know how to reach the teens who would be intersted in social activism. Although I suspect those with a Libertarian viewpoint might enjoy this. After all, how often do you get to play a game and drive politicians nuts at the same time?
Why not visit the site and see if this is something that fits the Libertarian viewpoint? If so, let's talk about it.
The address is http://leorad.com/
Later, Mike