Police

Less inhumane prisons

The massive overcrowding in California prisons has eased up a bit (thanks to court order). Of course much of the problem has just been kicked down to the county level, but the symbolic double- and triple-stacked bunks in gyms-turned-massive-dorm are empty, says the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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The Ivy League Hustle

I rarely talk about college, except negatively. But this is the funniest thing to come out of Princeton since… I don’t know, what ever funny comes out of Princeton? I went to Princeton, Bitch! (And yes, all the cool kids were in Terrace. Food does indeed equal love.)

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Good Policing in Chicago

Well done. I wasn’t expecting things to go so well with the NATO summit. But they did. Kudos to Police Superintendent McCarthyand all the men and women of the Chicago Police Department. Lesson can be learned (particularly by West Coast police departments that don’t seem to be so good at this) and proper preparation is key. 1) Don’t tolerate minor…

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“There’s a stigma with these situations”

Sad and yet strangely touching story about dementia and sociologist Irwin (not Erving) Goffman in the New York Times. Once as a cop I remember spending hours with a very nice and well dressed elderly man. He knew all his info except where he lived. I drove him around the neighborhood. I walked with him around the Monument Street Market…

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Help Wanted

My department at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (Law, Police Science, and Criminal Justice Administration) has three full-time assistant-professor tenure-track lines we’ll be hiring for in the fall. Two are for general criminal justice and one is for police. If you know of anybody — a promising PhD candidate or a professor who wants to move to what just…

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Guardian Angels Stabbed In Chicago

I’ve always admired the Guardian Angels. They made me feel safe when in high school and riding the L alone, late at night. A man was being robbed, and they — unarmed — intervened. They got stabbed. From the Sun Times. Meanwhile in Chicago, a group of 100 white out-of-towners take a stroll through the Southside.

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The right to trial by jury

The Sixth Amendment states, in rather uncompromising terms: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury.” But the system can’t handle those rights. That’s why but a very small fraction of cases is decided by a trial, much less a jury trial (the other option is a “bench…

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Off to Charm City

I heading down to Baltimore for the weekend. It’s been awhile. Watch out, because there’s going to be a run on crab cakes and Natty Bo.

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A Day at the Races

We in American don’t know about “traveler” culture in Ireland and England. Now I know it’s wrong, but I can’t help but have some respect for people who race horses, harness racing style, down major highways. The full youtube clip has been deleted (it was a long race). But here’s the shortened BBC version.

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When Cultures Clash

Thug challenges Mayor Bloomberg to a fight, mano-a-mano. Nice to know the judge released him on his own recognizance since he seems like such a nice chap who will stay out of trouble.