We started off the week celebrating our country's independence, and we're still working to make good on the promise of fundamental rights and freedoms for all. Here's what we were working on this week:
The Good Samaritan Law. We've been working with advocates and medical professional to counteract the dangers of allowing the state's Good Samaritan Act to expire. Now, three prominent physicians are asking police departments to abide by the law and not bring charges against people who call 911 during a drug overdose. From the RI Medical Society's letter:
“[T]he Attorney General’s position fails to recognize that his coercive approach is precisely what the Good Samaritan law is designed to counteract: the fear of many people dealing with an overdose is calling for medical assistance and thereby becoming an unwilling participant in the criminal justice system by that act. We have a public health crisis that cannot be resolved by the criminal justice system.”
DNA Collection Begins. We're one dangerous step closer to a comprehensive DNA database now that the state can collect, analyze, and catalog your DNA even if you have never done anything wrong. Here's what you need to know about the law and your rights.
And The Award Goes To... Journalist Dan Kennedy offers his annual round-up of what he calls "outrages against free speech" with the The 2015 Muzzle Awards. This year's list includes 10 officials from across New England who have diminished free speech in some way. Check out the post on our blog about the awards and the list of "winners."
