photo: ep_jhu

The result of a drug test may be positive, but that does not mean that the one being tested used the alleged substance. The test may have revealed a false positive. There are many reasons for a false positive result on a drug test. The lab that performs the test may have tainted the sample, the lab may also have poor quality equipment or lab technicians, or you may another type of medication or food in your system that taints the results. Some of the more common prescribed and OTC drugs that can cause a false positive on a drug test are:

• Vitamin B2 – (THC false positive)
• Tylenol 3 – (may detect traces of opiates)
• Robitussin DM – (Heroin, Opiates, Morphine false positives)
• Adderall – (could, as an amphetamine show a false positive for Meth)
• Ibuprofen – (false positive for THC/Marijuana)

A longer list can be found at this AskDocWeb article as well as a long list of references providing information on the numerous types of false positives. If you have incorrectly failed a drug test it is important to contact a qualified criminal defense attorney who can accurately prove in court that your diet or use of vitamins and prescription medication may have created an inaccurate result. A failed drug test could cause you to be fired from your job, prevent you from applying for new jobs, impose large fines and perhaps even create jail time. Therefore, having a lawyer equipped to deal with drug scarios is important in mainting your job and life.

photo:TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³

Upon choosing the “escorts” category on backpage.com the user must agree to the following disclaimer that shows how sex oriented the categories activities are:

Disclaimer
This section contains sexual content, including pictorial nudity and adult language. It is to be accessed only by persons who are 18 years of age or older (and is not considered to be a minor in his/her state of residence) and who live in a community or local jurisdiction where nude pictures and explicit adult materials are not prohibited by law. By accessing this website, you are representing to us that you meet the above qualifications. A false representation may be a criminal offense.

I confirm and represent that I am 18 years of age or older (and am not considered to be a minor in my state of residence) and that I am not located in a community or local jurisdiction where nude pictures or explicit adult materials are prohibited by any law. I agree to report any illegal services or activities which violate the Terms of Use. I also agree to report suspected exploitation of minors and/or human trafficking to the appropriate authorities.I have read the disclaimer and agree to all rules and regulations including the Terms of Use.

Most posters under this category do not mention any means of  trade of sexual acts for money but one ad did state, “Looking for some entertainment tonight . . . my rates are $150 per hour and $100 per each additional hour” and added posed pictures of a young adult female. One can be sure that a posting like that on a site like backpage.com will scream PROSTITUTE to the Salt Lake City undercover task forces concentrating on stopping online prostitution.

photo: Be.Futureproof

Prescription drug abuse is the number one cause of injury death in Utah. In Utah, death by overdose is more prevalent then automobile fatalities. The data concerning death rates in Utah also highlights the fact that Utah is the state with the highest rate of prescription pain killer abuse in the country. Oxycodone and methadone are the most abused pain killers and responsible for the majority of these deaths in Utah. In May, Gov. Herbert signed a group of new bills into law that concern drug abuse and misuse. These bills aim to reduce the availability of serious prescription drugs, increase common knowledge surrounding the risk of taking such drugs, and better control the drugs ie: adding Soma (a muscle relaxer) to Utah’s controlled substances list. Before these bills, the law usually only dealt with street drugs, something that created a safe environment for at-home prescription drug abusers. Now, perhaps the law will slow their targeting of repetitive groups of street users .

photo: killermonkey

James Fallon, neuroscientist at University of California-Irvine studies the brains of psychopaths. Surprisingly, Fallon found that his ancestry is full of violent people and alleged murderers; he immediately scanned his own brain and found little to no activity in the orbital cortex, something free-wheeling people and sociopaths almost always possess. Other brain patterns are also very common in violent criminals: the amygdala, something that controls aggression and appetites, is low functioning. With activity very low in these two areas, the part of the brain that controls rage, violence, eating, sex and drinking grows stronger; all matching Fallon’s brain activity. Fallon also  found the “warrior gene” in his DNA which regulates serotonin brain affecting your ability to regulate your moods and therefore a cause of aggression, very common in violent criminals. Science-wise Fallon is a violent criminal or murderer! However, scientists like Fallon that study criminal behavior and genetic makeup say that all of this is not enough to create a genuine psychopath; abuse or violence in adolescence is almost always the final and necessary ingredient. This shows that, as Fallon says, “He once believed that genes and brain function could determine everything about us. But now he thinks his childhood may have made all the difference.” This is why Fallon feels compasionate for the violent criminals he studies, they just got, “a bad roll of the dice.” (Hagerty, 6/29/10, NPR)

photo: basictheory

Oakland California, like the rest of California, is experiencing a serious budget shortfall. The police force in Oakland will be realizing serious layoffs after midnight tonight. Police Cheif Anthony Batts listed 44 situations that his police force will no longer have the ability to respond to after the 80 officers are let-go tonight. Below is a list of some of these crimes.

• identity theft
• grand theft
• burglary
• pass fictitious check
• embezzlement by an employee (over $ 400)
• extortion
• vandalism

If you live in Oakland and one of these 44 crimes happens to you, you must go online and notify the police. After which, probably nothing will be done. (Preuitt, Sanchez, NBC Bay Area).  The economy in Salt Lake City, Park City and Provo while not ideal is not as bad off as Oakland, California and the probability that any Utah City would allow the police to not respond to minor crimes is very low.  The political outcry in Utah would be deafening if the police refused to respond to minor crimes.

photo: C.P.Storm

Divorces are often very messy procedures in Utah. There are strong feelings that lead to bad decisions such as false child abuse allegations. In the case of child abuse the urge to protect children is often stronger then deeming the accused innocent until proven guilty. This makes child abuse a crucial weapon in divorce cases. These false accusation may stem from real facts such as a child acting suspicious or anxious, behavior that can easily be created by the divorce. However, recently the majority of false accusation are made to hurt the opposing divorcee, or gain custody of the children. Young child often fall victim to the lies of their parents and can easily convince a health care professional or therapist that the abuse did in fact occur. Even if a defendant is found innocent of these false accusations there could be dire consequences to their reputation, job, societal connections, and they shunned by their children and by others with children. If you find yourself intertwined in a case of false child abuse accusations you must acknowledge the gravity of you situation (the related laws were created to protect children first and foremost). You should not try to handle the charges on your own, no matter how innocent you feel you are. You should not speak to police, or anyone about the situation except for your attorney who should be an experienced lawyer who knows how to defend these type of cases.

photo: smokershighlife

The Timberline Smoke Shop in Logan, Utah sells spice. The store was recently targeted by the joint Cache-Rich County Drug Task Force for this legal sale of spice. A clerk from the store was arrested for violating the “Abuse of psychotic chemical solvents” law in Utah (76-10-107).  The law states, “(1) A person is guilty of abuse of psychotoxic chemical solvents if: (a) for the purpose of causing a condition of intoxication, inebriation, excitement, stupefaction, or the dulling of his brain or nervous system, he intentionally . . .  (b) the person offers, sells, or provides a psychotoxic chemical solvent to another person, knowing that other person or a third party intends to possess or use that psychotoxic chemical solvent in violation of Subsection (1)(a).” There are two big problems with this charge. First, Spice is not necessarily illegal in the large majority of the United States, including Utah. Second, the store only sells spice as incense, as most stores that offer spice do. If this store was guilty of the previously stated charge, then why are stores like Wal-Mart not charged with knowingly selling items such glue and paint thinner to young children, items often huffed to become high. More information about the Logan charges can be found in The Herald Journal. If you find yourself facing drug charges, especially those involving substances that are not strictly illegal it is essential that you hire a criminal defense attorney that knows how to handle vaguely stated and used drug laws.

photo: runJMrun

Upon entering into this new fantasy league you finally get to make use of your biases of the USSC! How will the kooky Scalia rule, and what gestures will he use? Will the justices continue to question everyday technological vocabulary?? Will Sonia Sotomayor let any Bronx slang slip, or uphold latino and minority rights?? As a member (free to join at the moment)  you can join leagues and predict how the Court will rule on cases. Which justice will fill the majority opinion and who will dissent???

photo: GavinBell

Spice is an herbal substance mixed with cannabinoids which is usually sold as an incense but can be smoked for marijuana-like effects. It has been legally and popularly used in Europe for more then a decade and has recently become popular in the United States, especially in Utah. Some of the reasons for its popularity are that it will not cause a failed drug test, it is much weaker then marijuana and other herbal smoking remedies, and it may act as an alternative to serious illegal drugs. Spice is not scheduled as a drug in the United States, or in Utah  (US DEA). However, the United States Military has banned the use of Spice, and Utah police are cracking down on businesess that
skew away from selling it purely as incense.

photo: Vincent J. Brown

Jim Donahue is an experienced police office with an extensive resume which includes work as U.S. Customs & Immigration Officer, and status as Ambassador for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund in Washington D.C. He recently wrote an article concerning a major ethical dilemma that the police face everyday: lying.

“Cops learn very early that lying is an essential part of survival, self-preservation and self defense. However, some cops don’t know where to stop. Although lying is not officially accepted behavior, in reality it is tacitly approved by our leaders and seasoned officers. There is enormous peer pressure to conform. Ours is a battle-hardened band of brothers. Nearly every cop is a superb example of humanity, but some cops cannot seem to find the line. They end up on a slippery slope, with their lives and careers sliding into a cesspool of ethical failure. Worse, they call on their brothers to conceal and protect them from scrutiny or incrimination.” (Donahue, Office.com, 7/6/2010)

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