When Law Enforcement Cavorts with Criminals

I speak regularly of the fact that almost no one in law enforcement receives training on animals from animal experts. Instead the field of "animal law" is littered with con artists, quacks, sexual perverts and criminals.   Previously I discussed the National Sheriffs' Association here and the Virginia Animal Control Association here.  Also being led down the garden path is the National District Attorneys Association, which is just as bad as the American Prosecutors Association.

The National District Attorneys Association runs a "National Center for Prosecution of Animal Abuse" which offers many webinars on "animal abuse." Sounds good, right? Let’s look deeper.

In 2014 they offered the following Webinars:

Collaborative Animal Cruelty Investigations. 

Presented by Joe Stafford (Director of Animal Law Enforcement) and Rod Novotny (Animal Law Enforcement Training Manager) with the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, Colorado

Grant Writing 101: Securing Funding for Animal Care.

Presenter: Adam Liebling (Director of Grants Compliance & Communication Grants Management, ASPCA)

"Feeding, housing, and caring for seized animals can be a costly necessity within an animal cruelty case. Learn how to find and be awarded grants to help defray these unexpected costs."

I wonder if he’s going to present on how the ASPCA and PETA asked a Florida judge for $1 million dollars for "animal care" that included bills for luxury hotel stays, catered lunches and "chocolates for the ladies."

Investigating and Prosecuting Juvenile Animal Abusers

Presenter: Jennifer Rallo (Assistant State’s Attorney with the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office)

"Research tells us that juveniles who enjoy harming animals are more likely to commit future acts of violence against humans. This webinar will provide an overview of the prosecution of the youthful offender and offer practical advice in how to best approach building your successful case against a youthful offender and how to achieve the best sentencing results."

Because as we all know, giving a juvenile a criminal record and sentencing them to prison time is really good for their "future."

Pretrial Motions – The Framework for Evidence at Trial

Presenter: Diane Balkin (Animal Legal Defense Fund, Criminal Justice Division Attorney)

Pretrial motions are an integral part of trial preparation. Court rulings regarding motions may dramatically affect the substance and procedure at trial. The prosecution of crimes against animals is still a relatively unexplored area. This webinar will discuss standard practice motions, such as motions for discovery and motions to suppress evidence and statements. Additionally, other motions such as “other/similar transactions” (Rule 404(b)) and Frye hearings (regarding expert testimony as to pain, suffering, etc.)

Understanding and Prosecuting Bestiality

Presenter: Jenny Edwards (The Chandler Edwards Group)

Bestiality is an emotional, even taboo topic, and can present moral, ethical, and legal challenges for the prosecutor. The sexual abuse of an animal by a human is considered a paraphernalia or sexual perversity, by the American Psychiatric Association, and is illegal throughout the United States and many foreign countries. Animal sex abuse can happen in any county or city, and occurs far more often than you might think.

I have covered Ms. Jenny Edwards before, when I talked about her lack of any credible experience in animals, let alone bestiality.

Keeping up the fun, in 2013 they offered the following Webinars:

Behavioral Assessment and Rehabilitation of Animal Cruelty Victims

Presenter: Dr. Pamela Reid (ASPCA Behavioral Assessment Unit)

Dogs rescued from cruel conditions, including puppy mills, hoarding situations and dog fighting, run the gamut from friendly, sociable animals to extremely fearful—even feral—creatures.

Common Issues When Investigating and Prosecuting Animal Neglect Cases

Presenter: Geoff Fleck (Animal Legal Defense Fund, Criminal Justice Program)

This talk will address common issues that police and prosecutors confront when investigating and litigating animal neglect cases with an emphasis on three key procedural issues: (1) warrant writing; (2) pre-conviction tools to recover costs and get the animals out of the system ASAP; and (3) winning the merger of charges issues on the grounds that each animal qualifies as a separate victim.

Of course each animal is a separate victim!  If the animal owner had a tank of goldfish that's 10 extra victims to ramp up the charges against the poor luckless owner that went up against these loons. 

The Dog in the Evidence Locker Problem: Managing Live Evidence in Animal Cruelty and Fighting Cases

Presenter: Stacy Wolf (Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel for ASPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement Division)

In an animal cruelty or animal fighting case, the arrest of the perpetrator is often just the beginning of a long road for the animal victims seized in the case. It may take many months, even years, before the criminal case is resolved. During that time, the animals must be housed, fed, and provided with veterinary care.

Note: They recommend "Voluntary written surrender" so that they can resell off the animals immediately.   That "voluntary" surrender is usually at the point of a gun. 

Bloodstained Dirt: Cockfighting in the United States

Presenter: John Goodwin (Director of Animal Cruelty Policy, The Humane Society of the United States)

"What do public corruption cases targeting sheriff's departments in Tennessee and Virginia have in common with DEA investigations targeting drug cartels? What do large scale gambling facilities have to do with severe animal cruelty? The answer: cockfighting. While illegal in all 50 states, cockfighting thrives in the jurisdictions with weaker laws."

Seriously? John Goodwin?? The convicted criminal in five states?  The felon? The former member of the Animal Liberation Front, an FBI certified domestic terrorist group? John Goodwin who once stated: "We will never, ever, ever work with anyone who helps the FBI stop the A.L.F."  

Investigating and Litigating Equine Neglect Cases

Presenters: Scott Heiser (Animal Legal Defense Fund, Criminal Justice Program) and Dr. Jennifer Cole (Equine Veterinarian)

"The investigation and prosecution of equine abuse/neglect cases commonly involve complex medical issues that are either missed by inexperienced investigators or mishandled by novice prosecutors. These types of errors create tremendous opportunities for the defense to undermine otherwise highly viable criminal cases."

I wonder if they will be mentioning the Henneke Body Scoring System?  And if so, will they be mentioning the little inconvenient fact that Dr. Henneke has publicly stated that prosecutors and law enforcement are misusing his system and it was NEVER designed to be used in animal cruelty cases?

Cases of Animal Abuse: The Role of the Forensic Veterinarian

Presenter: Dr. Rachel Touroo, DVM, Director of Veterinary Forensics, ASPCA Anti-Cruelty

Veterinary forensics is a recently emerging branch of veterinary medicine. Learn about the critical role veterinarians play in animal abuse cases.  

You know from Ms. Touroo who has almost no hands-on experience with actual animals. 

Blood “Sports”:

Investigating and Prosecuting Animal Fighting Cases

Presenter: Geoff Fleck (Criminal Justice Program Contract Attorney, Animal Legal Defense Fund)

Explore the horrific and clandestine world of animal fighting through the experienced eyes of a former prosecutor. Geoff Fleck will discuss specialized investigative techniques including effective warrant application and execution, the evidence to look for and seize, and trial strategies designed to insure a successful outcome in these often difficult cases.

Back in 2012 they offered the following Webinars:

Anticipating Defenses in Animal Abuse Prosecutions

Presenter: Diane Balkin, Contract Attorney with Animal Legal Defense Fund (retired Denver Deputy District Attorney)

Part of the prosecution strategy in any criminal trial is to anticipate the defense. There are certain defenses common to all types of crimes such as self-defense, identification, lack of intent, etc. Crimes against animals also involve more unique defense tactics and statutorily available defenses. It is critical for the prosecutor to carefully analyze his or her case to determine the strengths and weaknesses. The facts may be weak with strong witnesses or the reverse may be true. In this free, 60-minute webinar, Diane Balkin, a contract attorney for the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Criminal Justice Program, will discuss the most common defenses in animal cruelty cases and how to prepare for them.

Combating Animal Cruelty: The Past, Present and Future

Presenter: Dr. Randall Lockwood, Senior Vice President of Forensic Sciences and Anti-Cruelty Projects, ASPCA

Review the history of efforts to fight animal abuse and neglect in America from the early days of animal protection to today.

Taught by a man who has made his career out of defining exactly what is a hoarder of animals and why.   Literally he made it up.  An entire category of crime made up by one man and taught to law enforcement nationwide as an 'expert witness.' 

Planning for a Large Scale Seizure

Presenter: Joel Lopez, Sr. Manager of Operations, Field Investigations and Response, ASPCA

Responding to hoarding and other cases that involve large numbers of animals requires comprehensive planning.

Trial Strategies in Animal Cruelty Prosecutions

Presenter: Geoff Fleck, Esq., Animal Legal Defense Fund

This webinar will discuss specialized techniques for successfully prosecuting animal cruelty cases. Learn about jury selection, opening statements, presenting the state's case, cross-examining the defendant, and making an effective closing argument.

Common Issues Law Enforcement and Prosecutors Confront When Investigating and Litigating "Puppy Mill Cases"

Presenter: Scott Heiser, Esq., Animal Legal Defense Fund

This one hour talk by Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Scott Heiser will cover a host of factual and legal issues relevant to any puppy mill case, including:   an overview of the USDA’s regulatory impact on these types of cases.

Back in 2011 they offered the following Webinars:

The Veterinarian as an Expert Witness

Presenters: Diane Balkin, Animal Legal Defense Fund and Dr. Rob Reisman, ASPCA.

Veterinarians play a crucial role in identifying, reporting, and testifying in animal cruelty cases.

Nothing better than encouraging vets to turn on their patients and turn them into the police, right?  It turns out that Diane Balkin is an animal rights activist. 


Prosecuting Animal Hoarding: Why, When and How

Presented by: Dr. Randall Lockwood, Senior Vice President of Forensic Sciences and Anti-Cruelty Projects at ASPCA

"Animal hoarding cases represent a significant proportion of animal abuse and severe neglect cases."

As you can see, the vast majority of training offered to District Attorney's is taught by perverts, quacks, self-professed experts and criminals.