Lawyers Using Databases To Grab Clients

bc90021 writes "It seems that lawyers are using jail-house email lists to send potential clients letters offering their services. One couple, on finding their son who'd been missing for two days, '...was astonished that deputies failed to call them when their son was arrested -- though contact and medical information was in the young man's wallet -- yet managed to inform people who wanted his business.'"

Comments

I for one think this could be great...

[ItMustBeEsoteric]

Using spam to punish criminals. Priceless!

Re:I for one think this could be great...

[vrTeach]

This is more like a spyware/adware thing. Or, as the site-formally-known-as-gator calls it "Online Behavioral Marketing." I think the next step will be a browser hijacker for IE with Robert Vaughn and Ron Konowski--"show them you mean business."

Re:I for one think this could be great...

[Anonymous Coward]

I would much prefer to see criminals punishing spammers.

I can see it now...

[chrisopherpace]

Get out of jail today!
Want to make your member^H^H^H^H^H^Hjailtime longer^H^H^H^H^H^Hshorter? Just give Smith at Law a call, we will do the rest! Guaranteed results! You only have to take^H^H^H^Hmake one pill^H^H^H^Hcall!

How much would it suck

[Anonymous Coward]

To go to jail for spamming, and then get spammed by a lawyer?

ah america

[NeoTheOne]

you have to love the legal system here in the US...on the other hand it does make it easier to obtain a lawyer. www.lawyertree.com, when lawyers compete you win!

Crime and Punishment

[The_Mystic_For_Real]

Will this be a new punitive measure? "I hereby sentence you to six months in prison and one hundred pieces of spam."

Miranda for the new century

[Minwee]

You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
You have the right to be speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning.
If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense.
You have the right to receive exciting new offers from spamvertise.com.
If you choose to opt out of our mailing list, your user preferences will be reset some time in the future.

Re:Follow that Ambulance!

[yintercept]

From Article: Lawyers who drum up business with direct mail argue that it gives people facing such charges as driving-while-intoxicated a much better way to get legal help than rifling through the yellow pages.

For the lawyers hawking services, you have the best chance of clinching the deal if you can get to the client before they sober up.

Oh well.

[rice_burners_suck]

One couple, on finding their son who'd been missing for two days, '...was astonished that deputies failed to call them when their son was arrested -- though contact and medical information was in the young man's wallet -- yet managed to inform people who wanted his business.'"

I'd bet he politely asked to place a phone call, but the officer responded, "What good is a phone call if you're unable to speak?" The rest, as they say, is history.

Who Needs to Chase Ambulances

[Kurt Wall]

...when you can chase paddy wagons instead? This redefines the term "captive clientele."

Titanic

[Anonymous Coward]

If the Titanic was loaded with lawyers, it wouldn't have been a disaster.

Which is better?

[Shoten]

I know that if I were ever arrested, I'd rather have a lot of potential defense attorneys notified than my mom. For one thing, I'd need a lawyer, and for two, my mom is a frickin' moron. :)

business as usual in texas

[painehope]

I'm a resident of Harris County (Houston ), and they've been doing this for at least 7 years ( which is how long I've been getting arrested as an adult ;) I'm 24. ).

Every damn time I get out of jail I end up w/ my mail box stuffed for at least a week w/ lawyers' ads. Even if I sat out my time and thus the case is closed.

And as far as calling his parents, unless his medical paperwork mentioned contact w/ a legal guardian, an adult's relatives are never contacted. Shit, you're lucky if you get your phone call until you make it to the main detention center ( which is a big help if you can make bail ).

Spam and Lawyers

[cliveholloway]

LoL - scum of the earth squared. If only we could somehow bring SCO into this equation I think we'd have the "most... evil... story... ever...".

cLive ;-)

Re:What do you expect from scummy lawyers?

[Anonymous Coward]

I really wish people would get over this business about "scummy lawyers". Last year I ran over a little kid. If it hadn't been for my lawyer and the story we made up, I'd probably be in jail right now!

So the law school and MIS depts have combined!

[HungWeiLo]

SELECT vehicles FROM tbl_People WHERE ID='ambulance' AND country='US'

Re:The need for scummy lawyers?

[TrentL]

Personally, if I'm charged with a crime I don't care wether he's scummy or not, I just want him to get me off.

No, what you want in that situation is a hooker. I know it's hard to tell the difference between hookers and lawyers, but hookers are usually cheaper.

Re:Ah...

[stilwebm]

Capitalism at it's best.

It's called a captive market.

Re:Yeah, and you're why they're still around

[the_mad_poster]

Soooo.... your theory is that we need more honest criminals?

Or, that we just need less criminals, and more honest people?

So, isn't it safe to break that entire thing down to: "if people were honest we wouldn't need lawyers and this wouldn't be an issue?"

You typed an awful lot there without really saying a whole lot. You sure you're not a lawyer? :-p