BLM Blamed for Chicago Murder Rate: The former Chicago Police Superintendent told radio listeners Monday that the Black Lives Matter movement shares responsibility for that city's 762 murders of mostly black males in 2016. Fox news reports that Garry McCarthy, who was fired in 2015 over the Laquan McDonald shooting, said that anti-police protesters have legitimized non-compliance. "Chicago is probably the worst example of something that has happened across the country," he said. A Black Lives Matter leader responded saying that McCarthy bore more responsibility for the increased murders than the protesters.
Maine's Drug Crisis Worsens: In addition to an epidemic of heroin and fentanyl deaths last year, drug enforcement officers are also dealing with a sharp increase in methamphetamine labs.. David Sharp of the Associated Press reports that in 2016, twice as many meth labs were discovered than during the previous year. This as fatal heroin and fentanyl overdoses for the past year set a record, averaging one death per day. The state's incoming legislature will consider a mountain of bills to address the illegal drug problem.
Parolee Arrested in Cop Shooting: A suspect was arrested Monday for the New Years day shooting of a police officer in Valley Brook, Oklahoma. NBC News4 reports that Cory Lee Hartsell was taken into custody for shooting officer Brian Southerland in the leg during a traffic stop on Sunday. Southerland was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but is now listed as in serious condition after surgery. At the time of his arrest, Hartsell was on parole for the non-violent offenses of grand larceny and possession of meth.
Eighth Circuit Upholds Minn. Sex Offender Law: A panel of judges on the federal Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld Minnesota's controversial sex offender program today, overturning a district court ruling finding it unconstitutional. The program allows the state to hold sex offenders beyond their sentences in treatment facilities until they are determined to no longer be a threat to public safety. After 20 years, only one offender has been released unconditionally. Steve Karnowski of the Associated Press reports that in a lawsuit brought by seven sex offenders, a District Court Judge ruled that the program "shocked the conscience" and unconstitutionally violated the defendant's rights. The Appeals Court decision held that the lower court judge had held the state to an overly high standard and that none of the sex offenders claims rose to the level needed to reach the Supreme Court's "conscience shocking" standard.
Maine's Drug Crisis Worsens: In addition to an epidemic of heroin and fentanyl deaths last year, drug enforcement officers are also dealing with a sharp increase in methamphetamine labs.. David Sharp of the Associated Press reports that in 2016, twice as many meth labs were discovered than during the previous year. This as fatal heroin and fentanyl overdoses for the past year set a record, averaging one death per day. The state's incoming legislature will consider a mountain of bills to address the illegal drug problem.
Parolee Arrested in Cop Shooting: A suspect was arrested Monday for the New Years day shooting of a police officer in Valley Brook, Oklahoma. NBC News4 reports that Cory Lee Hartsell was taken into custody for shooting officer Brian Southerland in the leg during a traffic stop on Sunday. Southerland was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but is now listed as in serious condition after surgery. At the time of his arrest, Hartsell was on parole for the non-violent offenses of grand larceny and possession of meth.
Eighth Circuit Upholds Minn. Sex Offender Law: A panel of judges on the federal Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld Minnesota's controversial sex offender program today, overturning a district court ruling finding it unconstitutional. The program allows the state to hold sex offenders beyond their sentences in treatment facilities until they are determined to no longer be a threat to public safety. After 20 years, only one offender has been released unconditionally. Steve Karnowski of the Associated Press reports that in a lawsuit brought by seven sex offenders, a District Court Judge ruled that the program "shocked the conscience" and unconstitutionally violated the defendant's rights. The Appeals Court decision held that the lower court judge had held the state to an overly high standard and that none of the sex offenders claims rose to the level needed to reach the Supreme Court's "conscience shocking" standard.
Thank you very much for posting the blurb about the Eighth Circuit decision regarding the Minnesota sexually dangerous persons law. This decision is relevant to my practice and I was not aware of it until I saw it here.