Introduction
Improving the tools and resources used by law enforcement is fundamental to ensuring public safety. When a suspect is arrested and charged, the individual’s mental state can be unpredictable, which leads to the phenomenon of post-crime offenses. This term refers to any offense that occurs after charges have been filed, such as fleeing from police officers, physical resistance, or tampering with evidence. This paper provides an overview of three recent news articles describing actual cases of post-crime offenses.
Discussion
In Bradenton, Florida, police chased four men accused of shooting three people in a public place. Police officers moved in at the sound of gunfire and chased a car away, which was then dealt with nearby (Dineeh & Krietz, 2023). Criminals who realized they were in the police’s line of sight and began running or physically resisting arrest are examples of post-crime offenses that would increase the punishment for the shooting. Another case of fleeing police, which is considered a post-crime offense, involved a barber in Douglas, Maine. Kyle Caley was stopped by police while walking because he smelled of cannabis. As the handcuffs were being applied, the man broke free and began running from the police because he was “scared” (IOM, 2022). This incident was considered obstructing police, so the barber will be prosecuted for this offense as well. These two cases demonstrate that fleeing from the police, regardless of the reason, be it fear or a desire to avoid punishment, is a post-crime offense. Such actions by an apprehended offender complicate sentencing and may result in additional fines or increased prison sentences.
An example of post-crime behavior, however, is not only fleeing from the police but also more deliberate tampering with evidence when the suspect realizes that he is in danger. This happened to Mohammed Ramzan, a prominent restaurateur and entrepreneur who was regularly accused of selling drugs and stealing girls throughout his career (Smith, 2023). In court, Ramzan said that such accusations were part of the fierce competition in the marketplace, and the man even contributed to the law enforcement investigation. Ramzan was suddenly stopped by police while doing his job, expecting to be stopped for speeding in a car; however, the man was arrested and charged with modern slavery. Soon after, a post was published on social media on behalf of Ramzan’s victim, showing pictures of her with bruises and alleging that the gang, allegedly led by the restaurateur, had humiliated her and used her for human trafficking. The publication attracted widespread public attention, which was followed by harassment of Ramzan, his family, and friends. Eventually, the police concluded that the girl’s story had been fabricated to gain popularity, and she was charged with a crime and defamation. This vivid example shows how someone who was initially innocent and considered a victim of a crime can fabricate evidence and become a criminal. Ramzan, who was initially charged, demonstrated the behavior of a law-abiding citizen who contributed to the investigation. Since no evidence was gathered against him, the man was released. On the contrary, the girl, who was not initially charged, deliberately committed a crime after the fact, which eventually led to her arrest.
Conclusion
In summary, post-crime offenses are those committed by an individual after he or she has already been charged and incarcerated. The paper examined three news stories in the past six months that showed that fleeing from police or tampering with evidence can be considered post-crime offenses that are punishable. Law enforcement agencies must carefully review each case and ensure that the rule of law is a priority to maintain public safety. At the same time, criminals must understand that their actions after a crime has been committed can have serious legal consequences.
References
IOM. (2022). Barber ran away from the police during drug search. Isle of Man Today. Web.
Smith, R. (2023). ‘My business was destroyed, my children targeted and I watched as my friends deleted me from social media‘. LANCS Live. Web.
Dineeh, H., & Krietz, A. (2023). 4 men charged in connection to Bradenton shooting. WTSP. Web.