NYC To Decriminalize Low Level Crimes:  New York City's City Council has proposed two bills that would decriminalize several offenses such as public intoxication, littering, and public urination.  My Fox NY reports that supporters of the bill, like Reverend Al Sharpton, cite that over-policing these crimes creates tension between police officers and the community.  However, both the city's police commissioner and mayor are against the legislation because they believe that it prevents law enforcement officers from performing their duties.

Bill Makes Police Chokeholds A Crime:  In response to the death of Eric Garner last year, New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries is sponsoring a bill that would make police chokeholds a crime.  The AP reports that chokeholds have been discouraged or completely banned by some police departments.   Many individuals feel that more safeguards are needed.  The officer involved in Garner's arrest and subsequent death was found to have used a takedown maneuver taught in police training - not a chokehold.

Murders Increase, Overall Crime Down In TN:  The 2014 Crime in Tennessee report released by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation shows an overall decrease in crime statewide, with the exception of homicide, which increased by 9.9 percent.  Jordan Buie of the Tennessean reports that most of the homicide victims were killed in their homes, but many were also slain on highways, and in alleyways and parking garages.  

Immigrant Inmates Riot in Texas Prison:  A federal report reveals that a West Texas prison has been dealing with multiple uprisings among its majority immigrant inmate population.  The AP reports that the facility primarily houses immigrants with low-level offenses, such as repeatedly entering the US illegally.  The prison is in need of more medical and correctional staff to counteract the chaos.

Police Departments On Alert For Gang Pact:  Amidst the rioting in Baltimore over the death of Freddie Gray, police departments around the country are heeding the warnings from that city's police department that street gangs are making pacts to take out officers.   Andrew Blankstein and Tracy Connor of NBC News report that Baltimore police received a credible threat that numerous gangs were planning on targeting the police.  Seven Baltimore officers were injured yesterday during the violent protests.