Violent Inmates Released: California has released almost 5,000 prison inmates without the required screening for violent criminals who should have been held, according to this AP story by Don Thompson. A state audit of inmate releases between January 2007 and March 2008 found that among the thousands automatically released without a discharge report to assess their threat to the public were 775 felons who had committed violent crimes or sex offenses. A state corrections spokesman said that changes had been made to correct the problem.

Federal Death Sentence: A unanimous jury in Idaho deliberated three hours before sentencing Joseph Edward Duncan to death for the 2005 torture and murder of nine-year-old Dylan Groene. Facts surrounding the case and Duncan's criminal history were posted on August 20. An AP story by Rebecca Boone reports on the jury's decision.