Sen. Gillibrand Promotes Sex Assault Legislation:  In the wake of the findings that the UVa gang rape story published in the Rolling Stone in November was false, New York Senator Kristen Gillibrand still wants sexual assault on college campuses to be addressed more seriously.  Jessica Bakeman of Capital New York reports that Gillibrand's bill, the Campus Accountability and Safety Act, "would require colleges to sign memorandums of understanding with local law enforcement" in order to promote collaboration.  She hopes that victims will feel more comfortable reporting legitimate on-campus sexual assaults if they understand that law enforcement officials will be involved.

Big Data Assesses Risk and Recidivism:  The criminal justice system is leaning toward big data analytics to make predictions about future criminality, which would influence sentencing.  Dawinder Sidhu of the Baltimore Sun reports that 20 states have already adopted this approach, which purports to more accurately differentiate between high- and low-risk offenders. US Attorney General Eric Holder supports the use of risk-assessment tools, but is concerned that factors such as race and sex will inaccurately skew an individual's results.

Rape Victim Fights to Extend Florida's Rape Law:  Orlando resident Danielle Sullivan stands behind new legislation called the 43 Days Initiative Act, which would extend Florida's statute of limitations to ten years for reporting adult rape.  Ann Keil of My Fox Orlando reports that Sullivan was raped five years ago, but when she went to report it after four years, she was 43 days too late to seek prosecution.  Thirty-two states have a statute of limitations of ten years or more, while 18 states have no statute of limitation at all for reporting adult rape.  The passage of this bill would bring the state of Florida "in line with the rest of the nation."

Calaveras County Probation to Arm Officers:  The Calaveras County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the purchase of guns for its probation officers due to the increased threat posed by high-risk offenders out on AB 109 (Realignment).  The Union Democrat reports that because so many higher risk offenders are out on Realignment, probation officers must conduct home visits accompanied by an armed Sheriff's deputy.  

Senate Committee Kills Bill That Would Shield Drug Companies:  A South Carolina Senate committee killed the bill with a 7-7 vote that would hide the names of companies that sell execution drugs, although it is still alive in the Legislature.  Jeffrey Collins of the AP reports that Democrats primarily voted against it on the grounds that condemned inmates have the right to know the identities of the companies making the drugs that will kill them.  Senator Mike Fair, in favor of the bill, has suggested that the identities of these companies can be kept secret from the public but confidentially disclosed to the person being executed and their defense team, just as with the identities of the doctors and nurses involved with executions.