Illegal everything, no-knock warrants, and the right to BearKats

Here are a few disparate items that deserve Grits readers attention.

Suing property owners to reduce crime
Rather than prosecute individual crimes in criminal court, the Harris County Attorney is suing property owners seeking an injunction to end illegal behavior.

'The Right to BearKats'
I've seen reports of quite a few Texas departments purchasing these vehicles and ones like it.

Grand jury no-bill in police shooting becomes issue in Austin DA's race
A racially charged police shooting in Austin remains a flashpoint after separate grand juries refused to indict either the surviving civilian who was accused of driving his car at a officer or that officer's partner who shot the passenger in response. The grand jury's no-bill of the officer has become an issue in the DA's race, with Charlie Baird saying he would take the case back to the grand jury if elected. Grits has not followed the details of this case closely, but I can speak generally from past experience to say, while I like Travis County DA Rosemary Lehmberg well enough on many issues, she's never been aggressive when it comes to prosecuting police officers who are unduly violent or abuse their position, dating back to her position as Ronnie Earle's first assistant. Even when misconduct is obvious, serious charges tend to get pled down to misdemeanors. She may be vulnerable on that score.

'No-knock' warrants may mean civil liability for SAPD
The Texas Civil Rights Project won a victory at the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which "found that the officers' failure to knock and announce their presence before entering the women's home might have violated their Fourth Amendment rights to be free from illegal search and seizure." Reported the SA Express-News, "The court sent the case back to San Antonio for a jury trial later this year that also could determine whether the city is on the hook because the cops were following its policy of “'no-knock' entries during raids."

'The War on Drugs Has Failed: Is Legalization the Answer?'
See a report from one of the presenters at an event in Houston held by the Baker Institute (as in former Republican Sec. of State James Baker) titled, "The War on Drugs Has Failed: Is Legalization the Answer?"

Consultant: Privatize Cameron jail
Consultant MGT recommended that Cameron County privatize its jail, but it's unclear if privatization would reduce costs or only reduce accountability. Savings would supposedly come from "pension liability, health insurance, liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, insurance rates in general, overtime, inmate health care, food service and commissary costs."

'A strange business to be in'
Business Insider posts excerpts from a Corrections Corporation of America presentation to investors and declares it's "one of the creepiest presentations we've ever seen," though they're "not judging," merely concluding that "it's a strange business to be in: Caging humans for profit."

'Illegal Everything'
I'm not a tremendous fan of John Stossel, but this segment titled "Illegal Everything" includes rare commentary on seafood-related felonies, which long-time readers should appreciate, as well as the criminalization of children's lemonade stands.