DHS Releases 30,000 Criminal Aliens: 30,000 illegal immigrants with criminal records have been released from custody by federal immigration officers, with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement having very little discretion in the decision.  Stephen Dinan of the Washington Times reports that a proposal to rewrite the law to allow for longer detention of serious and violent offenders has been presented to Congress.  Under current law, released criminals are to be monitored, but a more cost-effective measure would involve expedited removal of criminal immigrants from the US.

Bill Requires Sex Offenders to Register Where They Work: SB 31, a bill requiring sex offenders to register in the community where they work if it is a different city from where they live, was approved on Wednesday by an Illinois Senate Committee.  Tom Kacich of the News-Gazette reports that it is not uncommon for sex offenders to rent an apartment near their place of employment and spend more time there than they do their own home, leaving their location and activities unaccounted for.  Convicted sex offender Tammy Bond argues that the bill is designed to set registered sex offenders up for failure and also jeopardizes the businesses that employ them.  Senator Julie Morrison, sponsor of the bill, expressed that she is willing to make changes and adjustments to the bill.

Prop 47 Creates a Revolving Door for Crime:  Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig has spoken openly about the challenges his office is facing as property and violent crime continue to increase in the county, due to AB 109 (Realignment) and Proposition 47.  Sarah Dowling of the Woodland Daily Democrat reports that of the 387 total inmates in the county jail that fall under Realignment, 95 of them "should be in state prison" according to Sheriff's Capt. Larry Cecchettini.  In terms of problems associated with Prop. 47, Reisig has already seen a huge spike in property crime during the short time since its passage.  That law decriminalized crimes that once resulted in state prison sentences.  He believes that offenders are committing more crimes and repeating these crimes because there is no risk of punishment.  No arrest, no court, no conviction, and no time served, allowing the cycle to continue.

PA Mayor Calls for Banning the "Criminal Box": Allentown, PA mayor Ed Pawlowski is planning to introduce legislation to City Council to remove a question from the city's job application form which asks applicants to disclose whether or not they have ever been convicted of a crime.  Emily Opilo of The Morning Call reports that one in four adults in the US have an arrest or conviction for a crime on their record, and "banning the box" on the application would allow these individuals to truly compete for jobs.  Background checks would still be conducted and civil service applicants would still be required to disclose their criminal histories.

Repeat Drunk Drivers Keep Driving  Colorado resident Ellie Phipps was driving one early morning when her car was smashed from behind at 45 MPH by another vehicle.  Her spine was shattered and she died three times on the operating table but survived.  When she regained consciousness, she learned that the drunk driver that struck her had been convicted of a DUI seven times.  Jeff Rossen and Charlie McLravy of Today report that the two-year sentence that is typically handed down to a drunk driver has little deterrent effect on the offender, and they continue to drive once released.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's most recent data states that in 2013, someone was killed by a drunk driver every 52 minutes, and the FBI states that only 4,000 of the 300,000 people that drive drunk every day are caught.  Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper says that a tougher law is in progress which make multiple DUI convictions a felony.