Death Penalty opponents in Montana are counting on the reconsideration of execution protocol by several other states to fuel this year's legislation to abolish the death penalty. An Associated Press story from the Billings Gazette reports that Democrats, social activists and groups such as the ACLU are optimistic that although similar efforts have failed in every legislative session of the past decade they will be successful this year.

Did Jeffrey Dahmer Kill Adam Walsh? Authorities to examine possibility that Dahmer killed Adam Walsh as reported here by Tim Jones of the Chicago Tribune.

Louisiana Sheriff, Ronald "Gun" Ficklin pleaded guilty to having inmates of the St. Helena Parish Jail work at his "chop shop" for stolen cars and as the pit crew for his race car the Bounty Hunter in an AP story. Ficklin is the third Sheriff in the county convicted on federal charges. He could face up to 95 years in prison.

Los Angeles County prisoners (male), can now serve at least half of their sentences due to the departure of the county's early release policy says this AP story. Prisoners can be held longer because state prison inmates will no longer be housed in the county jails, making over 1,000 bed spaces available.

Governor Schwarzenegger, Attorney General Jerry Brown, and local prosecutors are in dispute over how residency restrictions on sex offenders should be enacted in a Sacramento AP story. Under Jessica's Law offenders are prohibited from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park. The AG believes the law should apply to those released before Jessica's Law (Proposition 83), while the Governor and prosecutors believe the law should apply to those released after the proposition was passed in November.