October Marks Crime Prevention Month, Identity Theft is #1 Crime: According to an article from the MarketWatch News, the U.S. Department of Justice has reported identity theft is the number one crime in the nation. This fast-growing crime is costing an estimated nine million Americans more than $1.2 billion annually. Most identity theft victims then spend countless hours trying to clean up the mess. October is designated as National Crime Prevention Month to allow consumers to educate themselves on the crime and how to effectively steer clear of it.

Gov. Perry Wants $24 Million To Fight Border Crime: AP writer, Jay Root, reports that Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he would ask the state Legislature, which in 2007 approved $110 million to fight border crime, to provide another $24 million to hire more police, upgrade law enforcement technology and enhance multi-agency intelligence sharing. "The most important threat to our state's security is the rise of these ruthless and powerful transnational gangs," Perry said. In addition to the $24 million, the governor said he'll ask the Legislature to give law enforcement better gang fighting tools and expand gang prevention efforts.

High Court Will Not Reconsider Decision on Child Rape: Robert Barnes, Washington Post staff writer, reports that the Supreme Court today declined to revisit its June decision that it is unconstitutional to impose the death penalty on child rapists, although two justices said they would have reopened the case and two others sharply criticized the majority. The state of Louisiana and the Justice Department had asked the Court to reconsider the 5 to 4 decision because the Court was not informed that Congress in 2006 made child rape a capital offense under military law. Today, the same five justice majority said the opinion would be amended to reflect the existence of the military law, but that it did not bear upon their reasoning. The decision overturned the death penalty for Patrick Kennedy who was convicted of raping his 8-year-old stepdaughter in Louisiana in 1998.

Indiana Father Kills Sex Offender Who Broke Into Home: A story from the AP reports that a convicted sex offender died Sunday during a struggle with a father who found the naked man in or near his 17-year-old daughter's bedroom, police said. Police did not anticipate any charges against Robert McNally. Police spokesman Sgt. Matthew Mount said: "If a person breaks into your home, you are justified in using deadly force in defending your family." The death is under investigation and will be reviewed by a Marion County prosecutor.

Police Say Sex Offender At WAMMFest Didn't Commit A Crime: According to a story from the AP, registered sex offender Patricia Babiana Mince, who was put in charge of the children's play area at the weekend Santa Cruz medical marijuana festival, didn't commit a crime and there were no reports of inappropriate behavior. Mince was convicted in 2000 of molesting a 15-year-old girl and giving her methamphetamines.