Jail for impersonating a lawyer: The Associated Press writes that "a prominent Texas Democratic Party donor and fundraiser was sentenced to a year in jail for falsely presenting himself as a lawyer to collect millions of dollars in attorneys fees." Mauricio Celis "transformed himself from an investigator for a local law enforcement firm to having a framed document on the wall of his office that he told visitors was his Mexican law license." Celis has been ordered to pay restitution around $1.35 million and '"stay out of the legal business 100 percent and absolutely.'"
Sex offenders live under bridge in Miami: Matt Sedensky, of the Associated Press, covers this story about numerous sex offenders living under a busy bridge over Biscayne Bay. "It has become a makeshift town of parolees and others who struggle to find affordable housing that doesn't violate strict local ordinances against sex offenders living too close to schools, parks and other places children congregate." Jo Ellyn Rackleff, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Corrections has acknowledged the problems, but says '"It's just a situation that's unsolvable at this point.'" There are 1,030 registered sex offenders in the county "considered among the state's most restrictive."
Terror suspect faking mental illness?: The Associated Press writes that "federal prosecutors say a U.S.-trained scientist suspected of being an Al Qaida operative is faking mental illness to avoid a trial." Aafia Siddiqui had studied at MIT and Brandeis University before she fled to her native Pakistan in 2003. It was by coincidence that "she turned up at a police station in Afghanistan over the summer and was wounded in a struggle with U.S. soldiers."
New York is making changes, easing tough drug laws: Michael Virtanen, of the Associated Press, writes that "New York Gov. David Paterson and legislative leaders have agreed to ease drug laws that were once among the harshest in the nation and led a movement more than 30 years ago toward mandatory prison terms." Easing the laws is an attempt to cut costs said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, "more effective residential drug treatment costs one-third of the cost of prison." In opposition, "Republicans warned that watering down the laws will protect drug dealers and release criminals into the community."
"Missouri model" for juvenile offenders: Solomon Moore, of the New York Times covers this story about Missouri's alternative ways to deal with their juvenile offenders. "The Missouri juvenile system emphasizes rehabilitation in small groups, constant therapeutic interventions and minimal force." Unlike the solitude offenders experience in an institution, Missouri juveniles have the opportunity to learn how to talk and work out their problems. "Perhaps most impressive, Missouri has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the country." What do other states think? "Other states, including Florida, Illinois and Louisiana, have moved in a similar direction, focusing on improving conditions at state facilities to keep young offenders from returning." Texas and California have reduced the length of juvenile sentences served in the institution but is no where near the level of reforms made by Missouri.
Sex offenders live under bridge in Miami: Matt Sedensky, of the Associated Press, covers this story about numerous sex offenders living under a busy bridge over Biscayne Bay. "It has become a makeshift town of parolees and others who struggle to find affordable housing that doesn't violate strict local ordinances against sex offenders living too close to schools, parks and other places children congregate." Jo Ellyn Rackleff, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Corrections has acknowledged the problems, but says '"It's just a situation that's unsolvable at this point.'" There are 1,030 registered sex offenders in the county "considered among the state's most restrictive."
Terror suspect faking mental illness?: The Associated Press writes that "federal prosecutors say a U.S.-trained scientist suspected of being an Al Qaida operative is faking mental illness to avoid a trial." Aafia Siddiqui had studied at MIT and Brandeis University before she fled to her native Pakistan in 2003. It was by coincidence that "she turned up at a police station in Afghanistan over the summer and was wounded in a struggle with U.S. soldiers."
New York is making changes, easing tough drug laws: Michael Virtanen, of the Associated Press, writes that "New York Gov. David Paterson and legislative leaders have agreed to ease drug laws that were once among the harshest in the nation and led a movement more than 30 years ago toward mandatory prison terms." Easing the laws is an attempt to cut costs said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, "more effective residential drug treatment costs one-third of the cost of prison." In opposition, "Republicans warned that watering down the laws will protect drug dealers and release criminals into the community."
"Missouri model" for juvenile offenders: Solomon Moore, of the New York Times covers this story about Missouri's alternative ways to deal with their juvenile offenders. "The Missouri juvenile system emphasizes rehabilitation in small groups, constant therapeutic interventions and minimal force." Unlike the solitude offenders experience in an institution, Missouri juveniles have the opportunity to learn how to talk and work out their problems. "Perhaps most impressive, Missouri has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the country." What do other states think? "Other states, including Florida, Illinois and Louisiana, have moved in a similar direction, focusing on improving conditions at state facilities to keep young offenders from returning." Texas and California have reduced the length of juvenile sentences served in the institution but is no where near the level of reforms made by Missouri.
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