Criminal Justice

This week, you will have to write a professional letter. Your supervising attorney has asked you to

prepare a letter that will be sent to an Alabama

prosecutor.

Your client is Lester Cool. Cool lives in Alabama.

He owns a home. His neighbor across the street from Cool was away on vacation. Whenever these

neighbors are away on summer vacation, Cool has watered the neighbor's outdoor plants in the front

yard. These neighbors were always grateful that

Cool was such a thoughtful neighbor.

One day, at about 6:00 pm, when Cool was

watering this neighbor's plants, a police car pull up in front of the neighbor's house. A different

neighbor had called the police and reported

suspicious activity. The police officer approached

Cool and asked “What you doing here, man?”

Holding the water hose, Cool answered, “Watering

flowers.”

Cool stated his name and noted that he is a

religious leader at the local congregation and lives across the street. The police officer asked him to

provide identification. Cool declined to do so and

stated that he had done nothing wrong.

The police officer arrested Cool in front of his

neighbor’s house and charged him with

“obstructing government operations.” Cool was placed in handcuffs and put in the back of a police

car.

The neighbor who called the police came out of

her home and told the officer that she made a

mistake, that she knows Cool, and that he was just watering his neighbor's plants. The officer

ignored the neighbor.

Your attorney could not reach the prosecuting

attorney on the phone. Your attorney wants to

Fed Ex a letter demanding Cool's release.

Review Alabama's Stop and Identify Law:

Alabama Code Section 15-5-30: Authority of

peace officer to stop and question.

Review the APUS Legal Studies Writing Guide.

In this formal letter, explain what happened (Do

not copy the assignment. Instead rephrase the facts in your own words) and argue for your

client's release in light of the law. Your attorney

also noted to your that Cool is a person of color and is concerned that this fact may have played a

role in the arrest of Cool.

Research and discuss the statute, and case law to

support your points. You have discussed with your

client filing a lawsuit because the police wrongfully

detained and arrested your client.

This letter should not exceed 2 pages. Create any content necessary to compose a professional

letter, but you cannot change the facts (who did

what to whom).