PAYNE COMPILES YEARS OF LAW WORK INTO BOOK FOR STUDENTS

LONG BEACH - Dr. Thomas Payne, an associate professor of criminal justice at The University of Southern Mississippi, has compiled his years of work and research into a supplementary textbook to be used on the secondary and collegiate classroom level.

The book, Ergo. A non-lawyer Guide to Police Use of Evidence Search and Seizures: Hey, can they do that?, gives the reader case scenarios and is designed to be used as a supplemental text and to be understood by the non-lawyer.

"The concept of the book evolved over several years from teaching constitutional law and law of evidence to public law enforcement officers," said Payne.

Payne said he got his inspiration for the book from his cousin, a high school teacher. She mentioned she needed a scenario-type book to answer questions her students had about certain situations relating to law.

Payne has several years of experience in law enforcement. His career in law enforcement began 27 years ago when he became the youngest deputy on patrol for the Harrison County Sheriff's Department.

While a deputy, he earned his master of science degree in criminal justice from Southern Miss Gulf Coast.

He later received his doctorate in adult education with an emphasis in criminal justice from Southern Miss and a jurist doctorate in law from the University of Mississippi.

In addition to his duties as an associate professor at Southern Miss, Payne is currently a Municipal Court judge for the city of Gulfport and operates a private law practice, Tom Payne and Associates PLLC.

For more information on Payne's book, contact him at (228) 867-2623 or visit www.2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=20175 on the World Wide Web.

-30-