LA Crime Rates are Down, Even After a Recent Increase of Violence: Joel Rubin, a blogger on the L.A. Times blog LAnow, recently commented on the increased killings in the city of Los Angeles. There have been 19 people killed in the last 11 days. According to LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, recent killings in Los Angeles have erased impressive gains that the city had been making this year on its homicide rate. Most of the homicides can be attributed to gang violence. Beck has ordered the temporary redeployment of officers from quieter parts of the city to those experiencing the killings. With the fiscal crisis, policing has proven to be rather difficult. Instead of increasing manpower, Chief Beck is requiring officers to take days off. This has made it difficult to deploy officers to violent areas.
Death Sentence Increase in California: San Francisco Chronicle writer Bob Egelko reports that in 2009 the number of death sentences declined across the nation, except in California. In 2009, California sentenced more people to death than it has in a decade. At least according to the ACLU. Yesterday, the ACLU released a report stating that California sent more people to death row last year than in the seven preceding years. Scott Thorpe, executive director of California District Attorney Association, disputes the ACLU's findings. He says, "you have to look at a number of years to determine what is a trend or an aberration." He observed that last year's total was well below the 41 death sentences issued in 1999.
Texas Murderer Executed: Associated Press writer Michael Graczyk reports on the execution of Franklin Dewayne Alix in Texas. Alix was executed for the murder of 23-year-old Eric Bridgeford. According to trial testimony, after Alix abducted and raped Bridgeford's sister, he took her back to her apartment. While Alix was ransacking the apartment, Bridgeford walked in. Once he saw Alix and the gun, Bridgeford tried to run away, but was shot and killed. Harris County prosecutors say that Alix is responsible for multiple rapes and robberies from August 1997 through January 1998. Alix's execution was the fifth this year in Texas.
Death Sentence Increase in California: San Francisco Chronicle writer Bob Egelko reports that in 2009 the number of death sentences declined across the nation, except in California. In 2009, California sentenced more people to death than it has in a decade. At least according to the ACLU. Yesterday, the ACLU released a report stating that California sent more people to death row last year than in the seven preceding years. Scott Thorpe, executive director of California District Attorney Association, disputes the ACLU's findings. He says, "you have to look at a number of years to determine what is a trend or an aberration." He observed that last year's total was well below the 41 death sentences issued in 1999.
Texas Murderer Executed: Associated Press writer Michael Graczyk reports on the execution of Franklin Dewayne Alix in Texas. Alix was executed for the murder of 23-year-old Eric Bridgeford. According to trial testimony, after Alix abducted and raped Bridgeford's sister, he took her back to her apartment. While Alix was ransacking the apartment, Bridgeford walked in. Once he saw Alix and the gun, Bridgeford tried to run away, but was shot and killed. Harris County prosecutors say that Alix is responsible for multiple rapes and robberies from August 1997 through January 1998. Alix's execution was the fifth this year in Texas.
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