Duke & Scottsboro: John Steele Gordon has this op-ed in the WSJ comparing the Duke lacrosse case with the notorious "Scottsboro boys" case of 1931.

The Victim’s Side of the story: Victims of crime and their families have the right to participate and to be heard in the criminal justice system through the use of Victim Impact Statements. Abby Simons of the Des Moines Register reports in this article how important it can be to a family who has lost loved ones in a cruel and heinous manner. Shawn Bentler, the 22-year-old father of two who gunned down his parents and three sisters in a massacre, was given a life sentence on Tuesday. If only the general public could see more of this side of the story.

Cal. Parole: The California Rehabilitation Oversight Board held its first meeting yesterday. Chairwoman Joan Petersilia indicated that intermediate sanctions for parolees who violate their terms but do not commit new crimes will be an important part of the group's recommendations. Andy Furillo reports for the Sacramento Bee.