Better Supervision of Sex Offenders Needed: California has taken strides in catching and prosecuting sex offenders, but their ability to keep track of those offenders' activities after being released, needs vast improvement. Michael Rushford, president of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, has this op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle about the lack of supervision of habitual sex offenders. The recent case of Jaycee Dugard's 18 year captivity by repeat sex offender Phillip Garrido, who was on supervised parole, has brought to light problems with parole systems. Rushford gives two reasons for California's inadequate parole system. The first is the state's budget problems. The second is California does not have the resources to supervise all the sex offenders among us. California's inadequate parole system can be fixed if the legislature makes it a priority. Increased funding and reorganization is the key to fixing California's broken parole system.
Death Sentence Upheld for Murder and Repeat Sex Offender: The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the death sentence of Alfonso Rodriguez for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Dru Sjodin, opinion found here. Associated Press writer Steve Karnowski reports that the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected the defense arguments on all points. A couple of points raised on appeal include, the court abused its discretion by denying the defense motion to move the trial from North Dakota to Minnesota, the victim's father's act of shaking hands with the prosecutor after the completion of his testimony improperly bolster the father's testimony and it suggest that the family desired a death sentence, and evidence about semen in Sjodin's body was improperly admitted. Sjodin's mother, Linda Walker, said the family was pleased with Tuesday's ruling, but she's sure that the process is not over yet. A few months before the kidnapping of Sjodin, Minnesota had let Rodriguez, classified level 3 sex offender, the kind most likely to re-offend, free after serving a 23 year prison sentence. Walker said, "This is another reason why we should not let these predators out to re-offend time and time again." Sjodin's case has lead to Minnesota and North Dakota enacting tougher laws for sexual predators.
Investigation Launched into ACORN's Internal Activities: The Justice Department and Maryland Attorney General's office have decided to investigate the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now's (ACORN) activities. Washington Post writers Garance Franke-Ruta and Aaron Davis report on the investigations that have been planned by both the Justice Department and the Maryland Attorney General's office. The investigations are being launched because of videos circulating that appear to have ACORN employees offering tax help to a couple posing as a pimp and prostitute. Attorney General Douglas asked and received permission from Governor Martin O'Malley to investigate and possibly prosecute ACORN. The Justice Department wants to determine if ACORN as ever applied for or received grant funds from them, and how those funds were used. Representative Lamar Smith (Tex) says, "[a]s the primary federal law enforcement agency, the Justice Department has a responsibility to ensure that no organization receiving federal funds ignores our nation's laws." ACORN, says that it welcomes the internal probe in order to set the record straight.
Death Sentence Upheld for Murder and Repeat Sex Offender: The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the death sentence of Alfonso Rodriguez for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Dru Sjodin, opinion found here. Associated Press writer Steve Karnowski reports that the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected the defense arguments on all points. A couple of points raised on appeal include, the court abused its discretion by denying the defense motion to move the trial from North Dakota to Minnesota, the victim's father's act of shaking hands with the prosecutor after the completion of his testimony improperly bolster the father's testimony and it suggest that the family desired a death sentence, and evidence about semen in Sjodin's body was improperly admitted. Sjodin's mother, Linda Walker, said the family was pleased with Tuesday's ruling, but she's sure that the process is not over yet. A few months before the kidnapping of Sjodin, Minnesota had let Rodriguez, classified level 3 sex offender, the kind most likely to re-offend, free after serving a 23 year prison sentence. Walker said, "This is another reason why we should not let these predators out to re-offend time and time again." Sjodin's case has lead to Minnesota and North Dakota enacting tougher laws for sexual predators.
Investigation Launched into ACORN's Internal Activities: The Justice Department and Maryland Attorney General's office have decided to investigate the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now's (ACORN) activities. Washington Post writers Garance Franke-Ruta and Aaron Davis report on the investigations that have been planned by both the Justice Department and the Maryland Attorney General's office. The investigations are being launched because of videos circulating that appear to have ACORN employees offering tax help to a couple posing as a pimp and prostitute. Attorney General Douglas asked and received permission from Governor Martin O'Malley to investigate and possibly prosecute ACORN. The Justice Department wants to determine if ACORN as ever applied for or received grant funds from them, and how those funds were used. Representative Lamar Smith (Tex) says, "[a]s the primary federal law enforcement agency, the Justice Department has a responsibility to ensure that no organization receiving federal funds ignores our nation's laws." ACORN, says that it welcomes the internal probe in order to set the record straight.
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