Law Commons^™

State Criminal Laws Could Be A Light In The Dark For The Hidden Victims Of Forced Marriage, Rebekah Marcarelli

Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development

(Excerpt)

“There’s something you need to know about me . . . I am dead,” said Fraidy Reiss, a survivor of an abusive forced marriage, as she stood alone on a stage, speaking to a crowd. “I know what you’re thinking, [I don’t] look particularly dead . . . you might want to tell that to my family [because] they declared me dead almost thirteen years ago.”

Reiss, who founded the organization Unchained at Last to help forced marriage victims like herself, grew up in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn. Right after finishing high school, Reiss was asked to …

The Curious Absence Of Provocation Affirmative Defenses In Assault Cases, Michael S. Dauber

St. John's Law Review

(Excerpt)

Kent Davis returned home on February 22, 2008, took his toddler into the bedroom, fed her a bottle, and sat down to watch some television. His wife, Rachel, noticed that their daughter had spilled her bottle, and the two began to argue. During the argument, Rachel opened the window and yelled for the police; she also spat on Davis. When she tried to call the police, Davis grabbed her cell phone and “snapped it in half.” Davis then took a knife from the kitchen and assaulted Rachel, punching her and stabbing her in the shoulder and neck until he …

The Ad Hoc Federal Crime Of Terrorism: Why Congress Needs To Amend The Statute To Adequately Address Domestic Extremism, Nathan Carpenter

St. John's Law Review

(Excerpt)

This Note argues that Congress should add such crimes to the list specified in the federal crime of terrorism statute and amend the statute’s intent requirement. This will allow the Department of Justice to more adequately use its resources to address the growing prevalence of hate groups, increase investigatory capabilities, and emphasize the threat posed by such groups. Part I explores the current federal crime of terrorism and analyzes how various terrorism-related cases are adjudicated. Part II introduces the prevailing threat of political extremists operating within the United States and shows that they should no longer be placed in …