Immigration Dilemma: The Los Angeles Police Department is being sued over their policy that bars officers from investigating the legal status of suspects. This AP story by Peter Prengaman explains that officers who wished to remain anonymous, say the ban causes the same suspects to repeatedly come through the system who should have already been deported. The only time immigrations officials are notified of suspects is "if a suspect is a gang member who has been previously deported or if a suspect is arrested for a felony or multiple misdemeanors."

Self-Defense: A Sacramento man, Sou Saechin (42) will not be charged for shooting at three car thieves. Saechin was acting in self-defense when he shot one of the three car thieves he thought was going to attack him as reported in this Associated Press story. The thieves, 21 year old Larry Tran, 20 year old Marco Virelas, and the 17 year old thief shot by Saechin, were trying to break into his car around 2 a.m. at his home. Tran and Virelas "face charges of second-degree burglary and attempted grand theft."

New Bans On Sex Offenders: Elizabethtown, NC now has an ordinance that bans sex offenders from its parks and recreational areas. This article by Venita Jenkins of the Fayetteville Observer, explained that "sex offenders who violate the ordinance could face a $500 fine and 30 days in jail." The state law already prohibits offenders from residing within 1,000 feet of schools and day care centers; parks and community swimming pools are hoping to be added. Collier County in Florida will ban sex offenders from "shelters with the general populace" during hurricane season. The offenders instead will be housed in a separate shelter. The new ban will require offenders to inform police of their whereabouts before a storm and if they are leaving the County. The full article by Larry Hannan of Naples Daily News can be found here.

Fraud : Former NYU student Hakan Yalincak (22), who posed as a wealthy Turkish heir to solicit millions of dollars from investors for a "nonexsistent hedge fund" recieved a 3 1/2 year sentence according to this AP story by John Christofferson. Ayferafet Yalincak, Hankan's mother (52) was also sentenced to two years in prison for "conspiracy to commit wire fraud." The article also notes that U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton has ordered Yalincak to pay $4.18 million dollars in restitution.