A Goolsby "War Story" About My Investigation of Corruption in a South Georgia Prison Work Camp

[Photo from electis.blogs.wm.edu]

One of my proudest career accomplishments happened early in my career when I was a young Assistant D.A. in south Georgia.  It involved my investigation of fraud and corruption at one of the county prison camps, or "work farms."  The abuses--including thefts by guards and prisoner abuse--are too numerous to list here. 

For instance, prisoners told me about witnessing guards loading meat from the work camp kitchen into their car trunks.  Also, although money was budgeted for recreational items, there wasn't a single ball of any kind anywhere in the camp!  Where did all the money go?  Another abuse involved the camp's deplorable solitary confinement cell, which was called "the hole."  It was literally a hole dug into the ground, into which rain water, snakes and rats would venture and keep company with the unlucky prisoner confined there. 

What could I do?  Look, I was a tough young prosecutor.  I was no "bleeding heart!"  But, in my heart, I knew that the horrendous prison conditions and crimes were unconstitutional and flat wrong! 

Although I was just out of law school, and new on the job at the D.A.'s Office, I knew I must do something.  But I also soon learned that the local politicians were part of the problem and would not help.  Therefore, I decided that the best disinfectant would be to focus the news media spotlight and public scrutiny on the prison problems. 

So, with help from a cooperative criminal defense lawyer friend, we essentially utilized a preliminary hearing about a prisoner's escape case to expose the work camp abuses to the news media and public.  Over the course of several days, we produced witness after witness who testified about all the fraud and corruption at the work camp!  The lawyer for the local sheriff and county commissioners tried to intervene and stop the hearing.  But the magistrate judge, who seemed to enjoy the media attention, sustained my objection that the county's attorney had no standing to object!  The hearing continued until the public airing was complete.  The news media also helped with headline after headline about the prison problems.

Fortunately, this story has a happy ending!  After this public exposure, the politicians could no longer hide! The politicians scurried like roaches under an overturned woodpile!  Several county commissioners finally got behind an effort to clean up the work camp.  A number of prison employees either retired or were fired.  Several more were prosecuted by me for theft.  The prison kitchen now had meat to serve!  Also "the hole" was eliminated!

So, now, I hope you can see why this investigation of public corruption is one of my proudest early career accomplishments! 

A Goolsby "War Story:" Strange Things I Have Seen in Georgia Courtrooms!

[Photo from Wikipedia]

Sometimes, as a former state and federal prosecutor, (and presently, as an Augusta, Georgia criminal defense lawyer), I think I have "seen it all" in courtrooms around the State of Georgia!  Here is just a small sample:

1. I once tried a criminal case against a lawyer who wore a pea green leisure suit and gray hush puppies during the trial!

2. I once tried a criminal case in a Georgia courtroom which had brass spittoons strategically located around it!

3. I once tried a case against a lawyer who actually put those courtroom spittoons to good use during the trial!

What unusual things have you seen where you work?!

Criminal Justice Careers and Former Students

As you may know, we are the Goolsby Law Firm, LLC, Augusta, Georgia father and son criminal defense lawyers (and divorce attorneys).  Previously, I was also a federal prosecutor for over 20 years.  As an AUSA, I primarily prosecuted white collar crime and public corruption.  But there is also another aspect to my career as a criminal lawyer of which I am also very proud!  For many years, I have also taught criminal justice courses, part-time, at two local universities, (Brenau University and Augusta State).  I sometimes view my teaching gig as a "hobby that pays!"

I also derive a number of other benefits from teaching.  For instance, teaching as an adjunct college professor requires me to keep up with the latest criminal laws and policing trends.  Also, teaching, part-time, offers me an opportunity to engage in some lively discussions with bright college students about an array of issues related to criminal justice. 

Finally, I also enjoy teaching because I get to meet and interact with former students, following their graduation, as they enter the "real world" of ciminal justice, as attorneys, probation officers, juvenile court case workers, and law enforcement officers.  I cannot describe the pride I feel when I meet and work with my former criminal justice students!  Teaching is an occupation which keeps on giving!

Cemetery Theft and Hot Places In Hades

[Photo from stockphotos]

Sometimes, it seems like nothing -- not even a cemetary -- is sacred any more.   We have posted here before about the growing problem of cemetery thefts.  And now, it has happened again.  This time, it is in California.

According to various news reports, thieves have stolen approximately 113 bronze vases from graves located in a Newhall, California cemetery.  It seems like this is happening all over the country.

As I have concluded before, we can only hope that there is an especially hot place in Hades reserved for anyone who will steal from or desecrate a grave, or cemetery.  Sadly, nothing is sacred any more.

Are crimes and criminals getting bolder and bolder?  Are there an solutions?  Or are we all just going to Hell in a handbasket?  What do you think?

A Goolsby "War Story" About Bridges, Trains, and Getting to Court on Time!

[Photo from babble.com]

As a Georgia trial lawyer and history lover, I have always enjoyed times spent sitting around in court and talking with other (older) attorneys, while waiting for the judge to take the bench.  Some of these conversations and "war stories" about the "good ole' days" of practicing law in Georgia are priceless!

One recent conversation involved the topic of the importance of getting to court on time for a trial.  After all, you never want to keep a judge waiting!  A fellow lawyer, from a nearby town, described his experiences as a young lawyer.  He pointed out that the railroad tracks ran between his law office and the local courthouse.  Inevitably, a train would always be passing through town whenever he was running late for court.  Incredibly, the lawyer said his solution was to park his car, grab his briefcase, jump aboard the moving train, climb down on the other side, and dash off to court on foot!

I recounted my own experience about getting to court on time.  As you will see, I took a different, more conservative approach.  As a former federal prosecutor, sometimes, I had to travel to federal court in Brunswick, Georgia.  The late famous federal Judge Anthony A. Alaimo held court there.  The judge, a former p.o.w. during World War II, was well known for holding in contempt any lawyers who were late for court.  You never wanted to keep this venerable judge waiting, or cause him to look down from the bench in disfavor at you!  As a young lawyer, I was convinced that his piercing eyes, staring down over his eyeglasses, could burn a hole through any disobedient attorney! 

Do you recall what happened, in the first Indiana Jones movie, when the Nazi officer looked into the ark of the covenant!?  He got zapped!  I didn't want to get zapped!

So, here was my dilemma.  When staying overnight, prior to his court, in Brunswick, I had a choice to make.  I could either stay in town, or stay out at Jekyll Island, a nearby beach.  The beach idea was much more appealing!  But the problem with the beach idea was that there was a drawbridge located between the beach and town.  As a result, if you stayed at the beach, you ran the risk of being late for court, if the bridge was raised to allow a ship to pass through.  

I'll be honest here!  I was afraid of being late for Judge Alaimo's court!  So, I always stayed in town! 

What would you have done?  Would you have stayed at the beach and risked the judge's ire?  (Trust me!  You would never want this judge to zap you!)  Or would you jump aboard a moving train to get to court on time!?  You just never know what you will learn while sitting around in a courtroom and telling war stories with other lawyers!

Another "Big Brother" Example: Automatic License Plate Recognition Devices

[Photo from Wikipedia]

Look, I am not a conspiracy theorist!  And I don't go looking for violations of our freedom and privacy rights under every rock.  I am simply an Augusta, Georgia criminal lawyer, and former federal prosecutor, who enjoys practicing law with my son and blogging about criminal law. 

But, in my opinion, every freedom loving citizen should be concerned about how new technology is affecting our freedom and privacy rights.  In some ways, we are already past George Orwell's 1984.  We have discussed in this blog a number of the ways in which the government is already tracking our every move.  But have you heard about the latest method of collecting data about your movements?  

It is called the Automatic License Plate Recognition device, (or "ALPR").  In other countries around the world where this technology is already being used, it is commonly referred to as the Automatic Number Plate Recognition device, (or "ANPR," for short).  Different names, but same scary device!

Simply put, here is how this new policing device, or ALPR, works:  Police cars have mounted scanners which capture thousands of tag numbers and store the information in computer data bases, which can almost instantly tell the police if any of the motorists who passed by have any outstanding warrants, alerts, or traffic tickets.  But data is stored about innocent motorists, too.       



According to Wikipedia, these tracking devices, or ALPRs, have been around for several years and are already in common use in other nations around the world.  Now, various police agencies in this country are also implementing their usage.  For instance, various news reports indicate that, just this week, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety has approved grants totaling $500,000 for police departments to utilize ALPRs in that state.

Look, as I have said before, I am no bleeding heart!  I am a former career prosecutor.  In short, I am a strong advocate of law and order and police professionalism.  I can also see the benefits of using ALPRs, for example, in conjunction with Amber Alerts.  But part of me also worries about the growing threats to our privacy rights.  I believe that, as free citizens in a free nation, all of us should always be concerned about "Big Brother" watching us and about the potential abuses of new technology. 

For example, we should discuss ways to prevent the use of such technology to track and store the movements of innocent, law-abiding citizens.  Also, as I observed in my last blog post, concerning police monitoring of citizens through coordination of public and private security cameras, we should also be concerned that such devices could be improperly used to track the movements of opposition political parties.  Also, do we know whether such policing devices are really all that accurate?

In short, in my opinion, there should be a public discussion about such technology, careful balancing of competing interests, and clear policies implemented, before such policing devices are implemented.  But I don't see it happening!  And I don't like the idea of Big Brother knowing where I choose to shop, or vacation, or what movies I choose to see!  What do you think?  

Big Brother is Watching You, Atlanta!

[Photo from visibility911.com]

This blog is written by a former federal prosecutor.  I was an AUSA for over 20 years.  Although presently, I am an Augusta, Georgia criminal defense lawyer, I have spent much of my career fighting for crime victims and for law and order.  However, in my opinion, not everything done in the name of law enforcement is good.  And I will continue to take a stand, in this blog, against over-reaching by the police, politicians, or prosecutors, and against bad laws or practices, which erode our right to privacy or freedoms.

For instance, did you read news reports, earlier this week, that the Atlanta City Council has approved funding for a "video integration center."  This proposed center, a $2.6 million recipient of grants from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice, will coordinate the watchful eyes of public and private security cameras around Atlanta.  The camera network will purportedly watch for "suspicious behavior" and help deploy police officers where needed.  That idea sounds good.

However, have you ever wondered whether such cameras could also be used to track the movements of law-abiding citizens?  Or could cameras be used to follow the whereabouts of members of opposition political parties?  Look, my point is that we, as citizens of a free nation, must constantly be alert to any efforts which threaten our shrinking right to privacy.  Simply put, security and privacy rights should both be considered. 

What do you think?