Crime and Punishment

Is Gun Control the Answer?

Updated: 2013-01-31 02:32:33

HOME Main Is Gun Control the Answer January 30, 2013 6:32 PM Posted by Bill Otis 0 Comments The Obama Administration says it is . nbsp Personally , I confess I don't know . nbsp I have almost no acquaintance with guns . nbsp My instinct tells me that gun control is not the answer control of criminals is . nbsp Yet it certainly seems that those most in favor of controlling guns are the same people least in favor of controlling . criminals But let's assume that the Obama Administration is correct , and that gun control is the answer . nbsp That would not demonstrate , however , that we need more gun control laws . nbsp It might more peruasively suggest that we should do a better job of enforcing the ones we . have But guess what . nbsp Under President Obama , gun prosecutions are down by

Help Wanted

Updated: 2013-01-31 02:21:41

The US Supreme Court has this job announcement.

Corporations as People, Owning People

Updated: 2013-01-31 02:10:42

The Outrageous Heckling That Wasn't

Updated: 2013-01-30 22:15:45

HOME Main Help Wanted The Outrageous Heckling That Wasn't January 30, 2013 2:15 PM Posted by Kent Scheidegger 0 Comments A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes . What kind of sleazoid would heckle the father of a victim of the Sandy Hook shooting None did , despite what you may have read in supposedly reputable news sources . nbsp James Taranto has the sordid story at . WSJ People tend to pass on information that fits our templates without critically examining it , and we tend to scrutinize incoming information that conflicts with our pre-existing notions . nbsp It takes discipline and self-awareness to resist that natural tendency and subject all incoming information to equal scrutiny . nbsp News professionals should be particularly vigilant in

Delay and Further Briefing in the California Prison Case

Updated: 2013-01-30 21:16:03

HOME Main The Outrageous Heckling That Wasn't Delay and Further Briefing in the California Prison Case January 30, 2013 1:16 PM Posted by Kent Scheidegger 0 Comments The three-judge court that ordered massive prisoner reduction in California has issued an order delaying the deadline for reaching the prisoner population goal by six months and ordering further briefing . nbsp Understanding this order takes a bit of . background There were two cases challenging health care conditions in California prisons , the Plata case on general care and the Coleman case on mental health . nbsp As is usual in prison litigation , the prisoners managed to get the cases assigned to the two most pro-prisoner , anti-law-enforcement federal district judges in the state . nbsp Along with injunctions , the Plata

A Symbol for the Abolition Movement Reappears

Updated: 2013-01-30 20:13:02

Death penalty opponents have, one must grant, a variety of distinguished spokesmen. Sister Perjean, Desmond Tutu and the enitre editorial board of the New York Times come to mind. Today, one of their most important spokesmen was in the news, a man of public stature and uncompromising moral conviction. As it happens, however, moral conviction was not the only kind.

Separation Between Church and State, Except...

Updated: 2013-01-30 19:32:31

, . HOME Main A Symbol for the Abolition Movement Reappears Separation Between Church and State , Except . January 30, 2013 11:32 AM Posted by Bill Otis 0 Comments when you're an Islamic terrorist doing time for your role in helping to kill . Americans Our friends in the ACLU get all huffy about anything remotely Christian or Judaic hanging out at a school or other public place that even vaguely suggests religion . nbsp This is because they want , or say they want , a wall of separation between church and state . nbsp To be fair , they have won their share of Supreme Court cases on the . subject But , my , how the courts' attitude changes when we're talking about accommodating Jihadists . nbsp Thus I bring you this Wall Street Journal piece today , aptly titled , A Courtroom Victory for

News Scan

Updated: 2013-01-29 22:59:09

HOME Main News Scan January 29, 2013 2:59 PM Posted by CJLF Staff 0 Comments California Crime Spikes After Realignment : Dan Weintraub of the Orange County Register reports crime in California increased in the first six months of 2012 following a 20-year decline . The overall crime rate dropped 56 percent from 1991 to 2011. Since 1992, violent crime decreased 63 percent . Property crime had been on the decline since 1980. In 2011, the state's crime rate was below the national average . In the first six months of 2012, violent crime in California's major cities climbed 4 percent while property crime increased by 9 percent . However , the number of people going to prison has significantly decreased since the passing of Governor Jerry Brown's Realignment . In 2010, 58,700 people were

Massachusetts Man Faces Animal Cruelty, Gun Charges After Shooting Own Dog

Updated: 2013-01-29 19:29:42

, Massachusetts Criminal Defense Attorney Blog Published by Boston , Massachusetts Criminal Defense , Attorney Stephen Neyman , . P.C Home Firm Website Practice Areas Contact Us Previous Home Massachusetts Man Faces Animal Cruelty , Gun Charges After Shooting Own Dog January 29, 2013 Posted In : Violent Crimes By Stephen Neyman , . P.C on January 29, 2013 2:29 PM Permalink Gordon Lagstrom of Middleboro , Massachusetts was arraigned at the Wareham District Court yesterday on charges of Animal Cruelty Possession of a Firearm While Intoxicated and Discharging a Firearm Within Five Hundred Feet of a Building . According to a report in the Brockton Enterprise Lagstrom brought his dog to a veterinarian for emergency help after the dog had sustained a gunshot wound . Lagstrom asked for help for

News Scan

Updated: 2013-01-28 23:00:00

HOME Main News Scan January 28, 2013 3:00 PM Posted by CJLF Staff 0 Comments CA Killer , Arsonist Sentenced to Death : Phil Willon of the Los Angeles Times reports Rickie Lee Fowler was sentenced to death Monday by California Superior Court Judge Michael A . Smith . Fowler was convicted in August of setting a fire on October 25, 2003 in San Bernardino that killed five and destroyed about 1,000 homes . More than 80,000 had to be evacuated . The devastation triggered fatal heart attacks in all five victims . Fowler is a meth addict with a violent history of raping two of his ex-girlfriends . One was pregnant with his child at the time . He also repeatedly sodomized a cellmate in jail . Fowler's suspected accomplice in setting the fire was fatally shot in 2006. IA Senator to Introduce Death

American Horror Story – Feminist Show

Updated: 2013-01-26 18:41:31

Seriously. Think about it. I was half-convinced of it at the end of the first season (“Murder House”). I’m even more convinced now. I hope they keep it that way into the next seasons. I may have more later on this.

Dude, Where's My Car?

Updated: 2013-01-26 04:00:20

, HOME Main Dude , Where's My Car January 25, 2013 8:00 PM Posted by Kent Scheidegger 0 Comments California's realignment program assures felons and potential felons that they will not go to state prison if they do not commit felonies classified as sex offenses , violent felonies , or felonies on a specific list unfortunately labeled serious felonies . The latter label is unfortunate because every crime properly designated a felony is . serious One of the nonserious felonies is auto theft . nbsp It's pretty serious to the victims , especially those of limited means who can't afford comprehensive insurance and need their cars to get to work . nbsp Auto theft is a regressive crime . nbsp It falls harder on people on the lower rungs of the economic ladder . nbsp But it is not on the serious

News Scan

Updated: 2013-01-25 23:00:00

HOME Main Dude , Where's My Car News Scan January 25, 2013 3:00 PM Posted by CJLF Staff 0 Comments As CA Crime Rises , Realignment Debate : Continues Paige St . John of the Los Angeles Times reports California's significant crime increases may be linked to Governor Jerry Brown's AB 109, Public Safety Realignment . CJLF's analysis of FBI data for January to June 2012 shows crime spiked in the state after Realignment's implementation homicides alone increased 7.6 percent statewide . Grand theft auto and burglary increased in the double digits . Despite the undoubted increase in both violent and property crimes across the state , the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice continues to deny any connection . The CJCJ does agree that 40 of the 69 cities in the state saw spikes in both violent

Brockton Man Arrested, Charged With Home Invasion In Plymouth District Court

Updated: 2013-01-25 18:40:44

, Massachusetts Criminal Defense Attorney Blog Published by Boston , Massachusetts Criminal Defense , Attorney Stephen Neyman , . P.C Home Firm Website Practice Areas Contact Us Previous Home Brockton Man Arrested , Charged With Home Invasion In Plymouth District Court January 25, 2013 Posted In : Drug Crimes Violent Crimes By Stephen Neyman , . P.C on January 25, 2013 1:40 PM Permalink According to a report in the Brockton Enterprise Paul Perelli met up with defendant Eddy Monteiro , a Brockton , Massachusetts resident at Perelli's home in Marshfield . It is alleged that Monteiro owed Perelli one hundred fifty dollars and wanted to settle the debt . Monteiro and Perelli , along with Michael Capps and Stephen Burton smoked some marijuana together . Shortly thereafter , two unknown men

A New Reason to Avoid the Death Penalty

Updated: 2013-01-25 05:23:16

HOME Main A New Reason to Avoid the Death Penalty January 24, 2013 9:23 PM Posted by Bill Otis 0 Comments About three and a half years ago , an Islamic terrorist , Maj . Nadal Hasan , shot and killed 13 people at Ft . Hood , Texas . nbsp He has been charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and faces the death . penalty His defense attorneys are seeking to take capital punishment off the table . nbsp The reason du jour is not innocence , insanity , cost , racism , capitalism , militarism I guess they couldn't really go for that one or any of the usual shake-and-jive . nbsp No , this is the : reason Defense attorneys argue that Hasan should be spared a possible death sentence because his rights have been violated including by the former judge who ordered that Hasan s beard be forcibly

Picking Judges

Updated: 2013-01-25 01:03:20

HOME Main A New Reason to Avoid the Death Penalty Picking Judges January 24, 2013 5:03 PM Posted by Kent Scheidegger 0 Comments Collin Levy has this column in the WSJ emphasis added Problems with the so-called Missouri Plan for judicial selection have become increasingly evident in the states that use it , prompting several to consider revising or abandoning it altogether . The next wave of changes may be coming in Kansas , where lawmakers are considering reforms to the way the state picks its . judges Under Kansas's current version of the plan , to fill any vacancies on the Kansas Court of Appeals and the Kansas Supreme Court , the Governor must choose among a slate of candidates selected by a judicial nominating commission . The nine-member commission is made up of five members of the

Stop-and-Frisk in NY

Updated: 2013-01-25 00:36:01

HOME Main Picking Judges Stop-and-Frisk in NY January 24, 2013 4:36 PM Posted by Kent Scheidegger 0 Comments Meanwhile , back in New York , Heather MacDonald has this article in the City Journal on the ACLU's court campaign against effective . policing Ligon v . New York challenged a decades-long program that authorizes New York police officers to patrol private buildings for trespassers and other lawbreakers . The Trespass Affidavit Program TAP tries to give low-income tenants in high-crime areas the same protection against intruders that wealthy residents of doorman-guarded buildings enjoy . According to the New York Civil Liberties Union NYCLU however , police officers routinely abuse their power under TAP by stopping and arresting minority residents and their guests on suspicion of

Bratton in Oakland

Updated: 2013-01-25 00:28:52

HOME Main Stop-and-Frisk in NY Bratton in Oakland January 24, 2013 4:28 PM Posted by Kent Scheidegger 0 Comments The city of Oakland , California has hired Bill Bratton , former police chief in LA and NY , as a consultant . nbsp Naturally , the usual activists are up in arms . nbsp Matthai Kuruvila and Justin Berton report for the SF : Chron Famed lawman William Bratton was pilloried by hundreds of Oakland activists who fear he will bring stop-and-frisk tactics to the . city But they're already . here In fact , the practice is widely used by police across the country and hardly new : The U.S . Supreme Court affirmed its legality nearly a half century . ago That case , BTW is Terry v . Ohio an opinion by CJ Earl . Warren Categories Policing Search and Seizure Leave a comment Name Email

News Scan

Updated: 2013-01-24 23:00:00

HOME Main Bratton in Oakland News Scan January 24, 2013 3:00 PM Posted by CJLF Staff 0 Comments California Crime Spiked According to FBI Data : Tom DuHain of KCRA News reports total crime in California increased in the first six months of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. In Sacramento , violent crime increased 7 percent . Car thefts in the city also jumped a significant 21 percent . A study from the Council of State Governments Justice Center released Tuesday found that 30 percent of the new crimes in Sacramento were committed by parolees and probationers . In other Central Valley cities , violent crime also increased . In Stockton , violent crime rose 25 percent , it jumped by 22 percent in Modesto , and it went up by 8 percent in Fairfield . CJLF's Press Release on the rise in

Visualizing The Transnational Capitalist Class

Updated: 2013-01-24 05:12:49

Via Nathan Yau (who did write the book on visualization and has a great website to go along with it), this very interesting and interactive visualization of the world’s billionaires: Billionaires 2013 from SocProf on Vimeo. Here are a few static images. The rankings: The bar charts: The ranking shifts over one year: The plots: [...]

Visualizing The World Risk Society

Updated: 2013-01-23 00:24:58

That is the worthy goal of the report – World Risk 2013 – published by the World Economic Forum, (yes, the Davos guys). It is a pretty dense report, so, before I go into the visualization aspect, check out this handy video (there is a whole videos page) explaining how the report works: Here is [...]

Weymouth Massachusetts Man Charged With Drug Crimes After Search Reveals Oxycodone, Percocet

Updated: 2013-01-22 20:21:42

, Massachusetts Criminal Defense Attorney Blog Published by Boston , Massachusetts Criminal Defense , Attorney Stephen Neyman , . P.C Home Firm Website Practice Areas Contact Us Previous Home Weymouth Massachusetts Man Charged With Drug Crimes After Search Reveals Oxycodone , Percocet January 22, 2013 Posted In : Drug Crimes By Stephen Neyman , . P.C on January 22, 2013 3:21 PM Permalink Patrick O'Neill of Weymouth , Massachusetts was arrested last week and charged with Possession With Intent to Distribute Oxycodone Distribution of Oxycodone a School Zone Violation and Drug Conspiracy An investigation into O'Neill's activities started several weeks . Neighbors complained to the police that they believed O'Neill was dealing drugs . Following up on their leads the police watched O'Neill and

40 Years

Updated: 2013-01-22 19:46:22

Via The Economist, this is why the only “pro-life” position is to be pro-choice, that blue line below: Also note that the abortion trend was upward before Roe (I wonder if the graph includes back-alley abortions, if not, then the pre-Roe level of abortion would be higher, invalidating somewhat the claim that Roe increased abortion [...]

Death Penalty and California

Updated: 2013-01-22 08:00:00

A new infographic by the California Innocence Project shows the state of California's death penalty

Law blog roundup

Updated: 2013-01-21 15:14:59

Welcome to this Monday of remembrance, prose and pageantry.

Do We Need Sociology Binders Full of Women?

Updated: 2013-01-18 02:29:28

Based on Urban Demographics’s post, it would appear so: The diversity, it is grossly lacking. Also, how many of them are still alive? It may be related to this (also from Urban Demographics): At the same time, it is expected that peer-reviewed publications to refer to the existing body of knowledge in each sub-field of [...]

Gloucester Man, 21 Charged With Rape of a Child (Statutory Rape) For Having Sex With a Fourteen Year Old on New Year's Eve

Updated: 2013-01-17 23:05:16

, Massachusetts Criminal Defense Attorney Blog Published by Boston , Massachusetts Criminal Defense , Attorney Stephen Neyman , . P.C Home Firm Website Practice Areas Contact Us Previous Home Gloucester Man , 21 Charged With Rape of a Child Statutory Rape For Having Sex With a Fourteen Year Old on New Year's Eve January 17, 2013 Posted In : Sex Crimes By Stephen Neyman , . P.C on January 17, 2013 6:05 PM Permalink The principal of the Rockport , Massachusetts middle school last week reported that a student had come forward with information regarding a New Year's Eve incident at the Cape Ann Marina . Gloucester , Massachusetts police investigated and ultimately charged Justin Todd of Pleasant Street in Gloucester with Rape of a Child It is alleged that Todd bought alcohol for some teenagers

Weymouth Massachusetts Man Arrested, Charged With Trafficking in Cocaine, Trafficking in Oxycodone, After Search Warrant Executed at His Home

Updated: 2013-01-16 22:53:15

, , , Massachusetts Criminal Defense Attorney Blog Published by Boston , Massachusetts Criminal Defense , Attorney Stephen Neyman , . P.C Home Firm Website Practice Areas Contact Us Previous Home Weymouth Massachusetts Man Arrested , Charged With Trafficking in Cocaine , Trafficking in Oxycodone , After Search Warrant Executed at His Home January 16, 2013 Posted In : Drug Crimes By Stephen Neyman , . P.C on January 16, 2013 5:53 PM Permalink Police in Weymouth , Massachusetts had been investigating Brandon Runge for several months . Complaints from neighbors led them to believe that the twenty year-old Runge had been involved in criminal activities . Late last week , armed with a Search Warrant police went to Runge's home on Oakdale Street . At the time of the entry of the police officers

U.S. Supreme Court to Decide Rare Family Law Case

Updated: 2013-01-15 19:51:28

. Skip to content Law Blog Subscribe Find a Lawyer Home Find a Lawyer About U.S . Supreme Court to Decide Rare Family Law Case Published by Jason Cheung on January 15, 2013 in Family Law 0 Comments Tags : best interest child custody dusten brown icwa indian law supreme court veronica Tweet The United States Supreme Court rarely hears family law cases , so the few family law cases the nine justices do take are worth examining . One of the first cases on the Supreme Court’s docket in 2013 involves an unusual twist for family law . Most child custody cases are decided by the best interests of the child standard the party which obtains custody is the party most likely to provide a healthy and happy home for the child . Unlike the rest of the law , there are very few exceptions to the child’s

Lawrence, Massachusetts Police Make Arrest For Intimidation of a Witness at a Murder Trial

Updated: 2013-01-15 19:48:33

, Massachusetts Criminal Defense Attorney Blog Published by Boston , Massachusetts Criminal Defense , Attorney Stephen Neyman , . P.C Home Firm Website Practice Areas Contact Us Previous Home Lawrence , Massachusetts Police Make Arrest For Intimidation of a Witness at a Murder Trial January 15, 2013 Posted In : Violent Crimes By Stephen Neyman , . P.C on January 15, 2013 2:48 PM Permalink Jose Davilla of Lawrence , Massachusetts was arrested yesterday at his home . He has been charged with Intimidation of a Witness They are still looking for Rafael Rodriguez , also being charged with the same felony offense . It is alleged that the accused posted the photos of two witnesses to a murder case through the social media Instagram and attaching to their pictures the word snitch The pictures were

Drug Arrest in Boston, Massachusetts Results in Charges For Men From Lynn, Salem, Somerville, Bridgewater and Boston

Updated: 2013-01-14 05:51:49

, , , , Massachusetts Criminal Defense Attorney Blog Published by Boston , Massachusetts Criminal Defense , Attorney Stephen Neyman , . P.C Home Firm Website Practice Areas Contact Us Previous Home Drug Arrest in Boston , Massachusetts Results in Charges For Men From Lynn , Salem , Somerville , Bridgewater and Boston January 14, 2013 Posted In : Drug Crimes By Stephen Neyman , . P.C on January 14, 2013 12:51 PM Permalink Just two days ago a Massachusetts State Trooper made a motor vehicle stop just before four in the morning . According to reports the car ran a stop sign and was speeding in Brighton Some of the passengers were ducking in the car at the time the trooper started to approach the car . Brian Poitras of Lynn , Massachusetts was supposedly driving the car with a suspended

Massachusetts Woman, 34, to be Charged With Motor Vehicle Homicide by way of Negligent Operation

Updated: 2013-01-11 14:27:33

, Massachusetts Criminal Defense Attorney Blog Published by Boston , Massachusetts Criminal Defense , Attorney Stephen Neyman , . P.C Home Firm Website Practice Areas Contact Us Previous Home Massachusetts Woman , 34, to be Charged With Motor Vehicle Homicide by way of Negligent Operation January 11, 2013 Posted In : Motor Vehicle Crimes By Stephen Neyman , . P.C on January 11, 2013 9:27 AM Permalink The Brockton Enterprise reports that Mary Lukasik , a Massachusetts woman will be charged following an accident that resulted in a death just two days ago . The thirty four year old Lukasik was driving a car that struck a fifty one year old woman . The accident occurred around 7:00 in the morning . Lukasik will be charged with Motor Vehicle Homicide by way of Negligent Operation The case will

Cambridge Man Charged With Distribution of Marijuana, Class D, in a School Zone

Updated: 2013-01-08 19:04:19

, , Massachusetts Criminal Defense Attorney Blog Published by Boston , Massachusetts Criminal Defense , Attorney Stephen Neyman , . P.C Home Firm Website Practice Areas Contact Us Previous Home Cambridge Man Charged With Distribution of Marijuana , Class D , in a School Zone January 8, 2013 Posted In : Drug Crimes By Stephen Neyman , . P.C on January 8, 2013 2:04 PM Permalink An article in Wicked Local , Cambridge reports today that Toure Penn Poster of Cambridge , Massachusetts was arrested after police officers supposedly saw him engaged in a drug deal just after 9:30 a couple of weeks ago . The officer reported that he saw Poster on his bicycle circling and constantly looking back towards the officer's cruiser . A car approached . Poster was witnessed leaving his bicycle , getting into

Taunton Massachusetts Woman Charged With Perjury, Intimidation of a Witness After Lying to Brockton Grand Jury

Updated: 2013-01-04 15:50:32

, Massachusetts Criminal Defense Attorney Blog Published by Boston , Massachusetts Criminal Defense , Attorney Stephen Neyman , . P.C Home Firm Website Practice Areas Contact Us Previous Home Taunton Massachusetts Woman Charged With Perjury , Intimidation of a Witness After Lying to Brockton Grand Jury January 4, 2013 Posted In : Violent Crimes By Stephen Neyman , . P.C on January 4, 2013 10:50 AM Permalink Today's Brockton Enterprise reports that Patrice Moorer , a Taunton , Massachusetts woman has been indicted on allegations that she lied to a Plymouth County Grand Jury in a Murder Case . The alleged misleading information provided by Moorer relates back to a November 2009 murder in Brockton . In the early morning hours four people were shot at a Hess Gas Station . One of the victims

Brockton Man Indicted for Home Invasion, Kidnapping Identified by 13 Year Old Victim

Updated: 2013-01-03 16:59:25

, Massachusetts Criminal Defense Attorney Blog Published by Boston , Massachusetts Criminal Defense , Attorney Stephen Neyman , . P.C Home Firm Website Practice Areas Contact Us Previous Home Brockton Man Indicted for Home Invasion , Kidnapping Identified by 13 Year Old Victim January 3, 2013 Posted In : Theft Crimes Violent Crimes By Stephen Neyman , . P.C on January 3, 2013 11:59 AM Permalink According to a report in the Brockton Enterprise Dery Moeda of Brockton , Massachusetts has been indicted by a Plymouth County grand jury for Home Invasion and related Massachusetts Violent Crimes . It is alleged that Moeda broke into a home on October 11, 2012 around 7:30 in the morning . While in the home he placed a gun against a thirteen year old girl's head , telling her to remain silent while