Erik B. Wallin For Attorney General - State of Rhode Island -

Newsroom

Erik Wallin, Republican Candidate for Attorney General, Calls Upon Governor to Veto Legislation Protecting Criminals and Putting Rhode Islanders in Danger

November 04, 2009 | erikforag.com | Erik Wallin

Erik Wallin, Republican Candidate for Attorney General, today voiced outrage over a bill passed by the General Assembly, H-5134 SubA, and called upon Governor Carcieri to veto it. Noting that the House Judiciary Committee held it for further study in April, but suddenly passed it on October 27th with the House and Senate following suit two days later, Wallin said, "This bill, passed in an irresponsible and rushed session of the General Assembly, puts Rhode Islanders in unnecessary danger for the benefit of the most dangerous criminals, and I call upon the Governor to veto it."

H-5134 SubA "An Act Relating to Criminal Procedure -- Arrest" requires electronic recording of all custodial interrogations in their entirety in cases where the potential penalty is up to life in prison. The legislation makes a statement or confession by an accused, inadmissible at trial, unless it has been electronically recorded. This would be true, even, if the statement was given freely, without coercion, and in compliance with all other legal requirements including those related to Miranda Warnings. "This bill does nothing other than keep competent and reliable evidence from a judge or jury, while creating a loophole through which murderers, rapists and child molesters can escape punishment and strike again," Wallin criticized.

Wallin noted that existing Federal and State Law provides defendants ample protections safeguarding the admission of an illegally obtained statement or confession. As a former Special Assistant Attorney General and Air Force JAG, Wallin stated, "From experience, nothing frustrates a jury, or the public, more than when a guilty person is set free because of a technicality. It is even more frustrating when the technicality contributes nothing in terms of improving the quality of the justice system. This bill is merely that, a needless technical loophole."

"Adding additional procedural hurdles in the prosecution of those charged with the most heinous of crimes will do little to protect the innocent but greatly increase the possibility that a murderer, rapist or molester goes free," Wallin said. "Putting law enforcement in the position of receiving a freely provided admission, but then having to ask the criminal to repeat it later on so that it is recorded, is a ludicrous example of the consequence of this ill-conceived bill."

keywords:

Related Items

Erik Wallin, Candidate for Attorney General, Proposes Anti-Corruption Legislation - The HOPE Act
by Erik Wallin | May 25, 2010 - erikforag.com

Erik Wallin, Candidate for Attorney General, today released his Honest Operation of Public Entities (HOPE) Act as part of his plan to combat political corruption that continues to plague Rhode Island. read more...

Attorney General Candidate Erik Wallin Renews Call to Attorney General Lynch to Protect the Constitutional Rights of Rhode Islanders
by Erik Wallin | May 12, 2010 - erikforag.com

Erik Wallin, Candidate for Attorney General, today renewed his call to Attorney General Lynch to protect the constitutional rights of Rhode Islanders by joining the 20 attorneys general in challenging the constitutionality of the new health care legislation. read more...

Attorney General Candidate Erik Wallin Decries Public Corruption By North Providence Town Councilman
by Erik Wallin | May 06, 2010 - erikforag.com

Erik Wallin, candidate for Attorney General, today decried continuing public corruption in Rhode Island, this time allegedly by three members of the North Providence Town Council. read more...

Attorney General Candidate Erik Wallin Commends U.S. Attorney Involvement in Central Falls Probe
by Erik Wallin | May 04, 2010 - erikforag.com

Attorney General Candidate Erik Wallin today commended the decision by the Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, Colonel Doherty, to involve the U.S. Attorney in the investigation of Central Falls Mayor Moreau. read more...

Wallin Campaign Announces Lammis Vargas Joins Campaign Staff
by Erik Wallin | May 02, 2010 - erikforag.com

Today - Erik Wallin, Candidate for Attorney General today announced the addition of Lammis Vargas to his campaign. read more...

Attorney General Candidate Erik Wallin Renews His Call for the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor or U.S. Attorney Involvement Into the Investigation of Central Falls Mayor Moreau
by Erik Walln | April 25, 2010 - erikforag.com

Attorney General Candidate Erik Wallin today renewed his call for the appointment of a special prosecutor or the involvement of the U.S. Attorney into the ongoing investigation of Central Falls Mayor Charles "Chuck" Moreau. read more...

Wallin Racks up Endorsements for Attorney General
by Erik Wallin | March 28, 2010 - erikforag.com

Rhode Island Attorney General candidate Erik Wallin announced today (March 28, 2010) his endorsement by 15 local Republican Town Committee Chairs and the Rhode Island State GOP Chairmens' Caucus. read more...

Attorney General Candidate Erik Wallin Calls on Attorney General Lynch to Protect the Constitutional Rights of Rhode Islanders
by Erik Wallin | March 24, 2010 - erikforag.com

Erik Wallin, Candidate for Rhode Island Attorney General, today called upon Attorney General Lynch to undertake an immediate review of the $938 billion dollar health care bill signed into law by President Obama. read more...

Attorney General Candidate Erik Wallin Calls for the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor or U.S. Attorney Involvement in Mayor Moreau Investigation
by | January 27, 2010 - erikforag.com

Erik Wallin today called for the immediate appointment of a special prosecutor or for the U.S. Attorney to assume responsibility for overseeing the investigation into recent allegations of corruption involving Central Falls Mayor Charles Moreau. read more...

Attorney General Lynch Again Says 'No" to Investigating Allegations of Public Corruption
by Erik Wallin | January 15, 2010 - ErikForAG.com

Erik Wallin, candidate for Attorney General, today expressed shock and outrage at Attorney General Lynch's apparent refusal to launch an investigation into actions by Mayor Moreau and his longtime friend and campaign contributor, Mike Bouthillette. read more...

Republican Candidate for Attorney General Erik Wallin Receives Endorsement of the Little Compton Republican Town Committee
by | December 08, 2009 - erikforag.com

The Little Compton Republican Town Committee unanimously endorsed Republican candidate for Attorney General, Erik Wallin, becoming the first GOP committee to do so. read more...

Republican Candidate for Attorney General Commends Governor Carcieri for Veto
by Erik Wallin | November 10, 2009 - erikforag.com

Republican candidate for Attorney General, Attorney Erik Wallin, today commended Governor Donald Carcieri for his veto of H-5134, Substitute A, "An Act Relating to Criminal Procedure - Arrest".
read more...

Erik Wallin for RI Attorney General
May 01, 2009 -

Watch Erik Wallin's first youTube video, introducing himself and his campaign.