Longer Sentences Deter in Italy: Early this morning Doug Berman posted excerpts from a press release describing the results of a new published study on deterrence coming from Italy. The study, "The Deterrent Effects of Prison: Evidence from a Natural Experiment" suggests that potential criminals are deterred by longer sentences. The study, published in Science Daily, found "that former prisoners are less likely to return to jail if they expect longer sentences for future crimes..." Berman believes the results "suggests governments might be able to save money AND reduce the
probability of recidivism by granting conditional clemencies to
non-violent offenders." In the alternative, the study could suggest that potential criminals will weigh the cost of a longer sentence against the immediate benefit of any crime, and choose not to commit the crime.
New Interrogation Rules Worry CIA: Washington Post writer Walter Pincus writes that the CIA is concerned that agents will not be able to conduct effective interrogations under rules set out for the U.S. military. In January 2009, an executive order declared that the CIA would conduct interrogations under rules described in 2006 version of the Army Field Manual. But several past agency and military officials worry that the rules are so broad they are unclear. For example, one section bans "violence, threats, or impermissible or unlawful physical contact," without specifying what is sanctioned. This would ban tactics like the "attention grasp," described as "grasping the individual with both hands, one hand on either side of the collar." It has been employed in the past by the CIA and is listed in the Justice Department's May 10, 2005, memo, but is barred under the Field Manual. CIA officials must ask Washington for permission to use this tactic during interrogation.
Critical Comments on a Conservative Chief: Above the Law has a post by Kashmir Hill summarizing Jeffery Toobin's profile of Chief Justice John Roberts in this week's New Yorker. Readers familiar with Toobin probably aren't surprised by the critical tone that Toobin takes when profiling the Chief Justice. Kashmir describes Toobin's piece as giving the Chief Justice "a fairly harsh appraisal in the profile, coming across as a political stooge..." Toobin's problem with Chief Justice Roberts appears to be that Roberts is not "a humble moderate" but, "a doctrinaire conservative." Not such a bad thing considering some of the Chief Justice's recent opinions. Kashmir thinks Toobin's "fierce" comments might be because the Chief Justice refused to give Toobin an interview.
New Interrogation Rules Worry CIA: Washington Post writer Walter Pincus writes that the CIA is concerned that agents will not be able to conduct effective interrogations under rules set out for the U.S. military. In January 2009, an executive order declared that the CIA would conduct interrogations under rules described in 2006 version of the Army Field Manual. But several past agency and military officials worry that the rules are so broad they are unclear. For example, one section bans "violence, threats, or impermissible or unlawful physical contact," without specifying what is sanctioned. This would ban tactics like the "attention grasp," described as "grasping the individual with both hands, one hand on either side of the collar." It has been employed in the past by the CIA and is listed in the Justice Department's May 10, 2005, memo, but is barred under the Field Manual. CIA officials must ask Washington for permission to use this tactic during interrogation.
Critical Comments on a Conservative Chief: Above the Law has a post by Kashmir Hill summarizing Jeffery Toobin's profile of Chief Justice John Roberts in this week's New Yorker. Readers familiar with Toobin probably aren't surprised by the critical tone that Toobin takes when profiling the Chief Justice. Kashmir describes Toobin's piece as giving the Chief Justice "a fairly harsh appraisal in the profile, coming across as a political stooge..." Toobin's problem with Chief Justice Roberts appears to be that Roberts is not "a humble moderate" but, "a doctrinaire conservative." Not such a bad thing considering some of the Chief Justice's recent opinions. Kashmir thinks Toobin's "fierce" comments might be because the Chief Justice refused to give Toobin an interview.
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