The Crime Report (TCR) is independent and non-partisan, and it advances no single view or approach – except to promote informed discussion and debate. It is a collaborative effort by two national organizations that focus on encouraging quality criminal justice reporting: The Center on Media, Crime and Justice, the nation’s leading practice-oriented think tank on crime and justice reporting and Criminal Justice Journalists, the nation’s only membership organization of crime-beat journalists.
OUR MISSION
The TCR is designed to serve as a resource and a marketplace of ideas for journalists, practitioners, researchers, and the general public. We’ve collected in one site the best reporting, commentary and analysis, the latest cutting-edge research, and a wide-ranging resource database that provides an up to date picture of the workings of the U.S. criminal justice system, current crime trends, statistics and issues, and its impact on communities across the nation. The site also serves as a source of career and new research information for the criminal justice community. In the process, we aim to create a new “community” of informed observers and participants engaged in dialogue on the complex challenges of crime and justice in the 21st Century.
Link: http://thecrimereport.org/
Favorite Quotes
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Crime labs across the U. S. in need of reform?
In yesterday's high court ruling that opens the door to direct examination of crime lab personnel, Justice Antonin Scalia quipped that, "the sky will not fall after today's decision."
“The confrontation clause may make the prosecution of criminals more burdensome, but that is equally true of the right to trial by jury and the privilege against self-incrimination,” Justice Scalia wrote for a 5-4 majority in Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts. The decision means that crime lab evidence can't be used against a defendant at trial unless the analysts who evaluate the evidence are subject to cross examination. Four dissenting justices said that scientific evidence should be treated differently than, say, statements from witnesses to a crime. They warned that the decision would subject the nation’s criminal justice system to “a crushing burden” and that it means “guilty defendants will go free, on the most technical grounds.”
Jeffrey L. Fisher, a law professor at Stanford who represented Mr. Melendez-Diaz, said perhaps a third of all states follow procedures that comply with Thursday’s decision. What that will mean as a practical matter remains to be seen. Criminal defense lawyers may still stipulate that crime lab reports are accurate, fearing that live testimony will only underscore their clients’ guilt. Others may insist on testimony in the hope that the analyst will be unavailable. Still others will now be able to prove that an analyst’s conclusion was mistaken or inconclusive. In February, the National Academy of Sciences issued a sweeping critique of the nation’s crime labs. It concluded, for instance, that forensic scientists for law enforcement agencies “sometimes face pressure to sacrifice appropriate methodology for the sake of expediency.”
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/us/26lab.html?_r=2&hp
“The confrontation clause may make the prosecution of criminals more burdensome, but that is equally true of the right to trial by jury and the privilege against self-incrimination,” Justice Scalia wrote for a 5-4 majority in Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts. The decision means that crime lab evidence can't be used against a defendant at trial unless the analysts who evaluate the evidence are subject to cross examination. Four dissenting justices said that scientific evidence should be treated differently than, say, statements from witnesses to a crime. They warned that the decision would subject the nation’s criminal justice system to “a crushing burden” and that it means “guilty defendants will go free, on the most technical grounds.”
Jeffrey L. Fisher, a law professor at Stanford who represented Mr. Melendez-Diaz, said perhaps a third of all states follow procedures that comply with Thursday’s decision. What that will mean as a practical matter remains to be seen. Criminal defense lawyers may still stipulate that crime lab reports are accurate, fearing that live testimony will only underscore their clients’ guilt. Others may insist on testimony in the hope that the analyst will be unavailable. Still others will now be able to prove that an analyst’s conclusion was mistaken or inconclusive. In February, the National Academy of Sciences issued a sweeping critique of the nation’s crime labs. It concluded, for instance, that forensic scientists for law enforcement agencies “sometimes face pressure to sacrifice appropriate methodology for the sake of expediency.”
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/us/26lab.html?_r=2&hp
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Houston crime lab in the news for possible misconduct.
The former Houston crime lab analyst has taken a beating in the Michael Bromwich reports, which determined that, among other things, the lab had manipulated results to help with convictions. And it seems that in the case of Raby, who was convicted in 1994 of brutally murdering a grandmother, Chu did exactly that.
Back in April, Raby's DNA challenge, which has been going on more than six years, was postponed yet again pending an outside expert's look into Chu's blood-typing work in the original trial.
Chu had found two separate blood types under the victim's fingernails, and they belonged to neither Raby nor the victim. Yet Chu simply listed the results as inconclusive.
The report came in last week. In her conclusion, Patricia P. Hamby, the outside expert, states that Chu's "inconclusive" reporting "is contrary to and not supported by the recorded laboratory test results for the left and right fingernail samples."
According to Raby's lawyer, Sarah Frazier, "She essentially said that he lied about it on the stand."
Link:http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/06/post_32.php
Back in April, Raby's DNA challenge, which has been going on more than six years, was postponed yet again pending an outside expert's look into Chu's blood-typing work in the original trial.
Chu had found two separate blood types under the victim's fingernails, and they belonged to neither Raby nor the victim. Yet Chu simply listed the results as inconclusive.
The report came in last week. In her conclusion, Patricia P. Hamby, the outside expert, states that Chu's "inconclusive" reporting "is contrary to and not supported by the recorded laboratory test results for the left and right fingernail samples."
According to Raby's lawyer, Sarah Frazier, "She essentially said that he lied about it on the stand."
Link:http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/06/post_32.php
Twitter leads police in NH to a person illegally dumping trash.
EPPING – When police received a report of someone tossing two bags of trash from a vehicle on Prescott Road Tuesday, they immediately turned to Twitter to try to catch the culprit.
A witness had provided a partial license plate number, so police decided that the fastest way to get the word out was by posting a message on Twitter seeking the public's help.
Within two hours, police were able to track down the alleged litter bug, a 17-year-old, thanks to a woman who happened to read the Twitter message and noticed a vehicle with a similar license plate number.
The littering incident is the first case that Epping police were able to solve with the help of Twitter, a free social networking Web site that allows users to post brief messages that can then be viewed by anyone.
"It's certainly encouraging to know that folks are following us and are willing to help us out," Sgt. Jason Newman said.
Link: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Twitter+leads+police+to+litterbug&articleId=a8671cd5-3bca-45af-9479-e67755b8d2fe
A witness had provided a partial license plate number, so police decided that the fastest way to get the word out was by posting a message on Twitter seeking the public's help.
Within two hours, police were able to track down the alleged litter bug, a 17-year-old, thanks to a woman who happened to read the Twitter message and noticed a vehicle with a similar license plate number.
The littering incident is the first case that Epping police were able to solve with the help of Twitter, a free social networking Web site that allows users to post brief messages that can then be viewed by anyone.
"It's certainly encouraging to know that folks are following us and are willing to help us out," Sgt. Jason Newman said.
Link: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Twitter+leads+police+to+litterbug&articleId=a8671cd5-3bca-45af-9479-e67755b8d2fe
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
"Spoke.com" may provide useful information for the private investigator.
What is Spoke?
Spoke allows you to find and connect with 55 million businesspeople at 2.3 million companies. Spoke reaches beyond traditional professional networks by allowing you to connect with anyone in the Network, regardless of whether they are a member. Members use Spoke to discover and grow their professional networks and connect with the right people to accelerate their businesses and careers.
What can I find in Spoke?top
Spoke gives you access to over 55 million businesspeople at over 2.3 million companies. You can find individual contributors, managers, directors, and executives at target companies along with the information you need to access them - name, title, phone, address, job history, profiles, community comments and potential business connections. Search Spoke now to start discovering businesspeople.
Where does Spoke get data?Spoke collects and aggregates information about businesses and business contacts from various sources, including:
Publicly available information: Information that is available to the general public, including the Internet.
Published information: Information that is privately owned and is not available to the general public but is available for redistribution.
Contributed information: Information contributed by members, including names, titles, and company affiliations of people. Personal contact information, including direct e-mail addresses, is not made visible through the Spoke service or via the Spoke website unless a member posts it in the directory themselves
Link: http://www.spoke.com/
Spoke allows you to find and connect with 55 million businesspeople at 2.3 million companies. Spoke reaches beyond traditional professional networks by allowing you to connect with anyone in the Network, regardless of whether they are a member. Members use Spoke to discover and grow their professional networks and connect with the right people to accelerate their businesses and careers.
What can I find in Spoke?top
Spoke gives you access to over 55 million businesspeople at over 2.3 million companies. You can find individual contributors, managers, directors, and executives at target companies along with the information you need to access them - name, title, phone, address, job history, profiles, community comments and potential business connections. Search Spoke now to start discovering businesspeople.
Where does Spoke get data?Spoke collects and aggregates information about businesses and business contacts from various sources, including:
Publicly available information: Information that is available to the general public, including the Internet.
Published information: Information that is privately owned and is not available to the general public but is available for redistribution.
Contributed information: Information contributed by members, including names, titles, and company affiliations of people. Personal contact information, including direct e-mail addresses, is not made visible through the Spoke service or via the Spoke website unless a member posts it in the directory themselves
Link: http://www.spoke.com/
Can the TSA arrest the public without probable cause?
On a recording a TSA agent can be heard berating Bierfeldt. One sample: "You want to play smartass, and I'm not going to play your f**king game."
Bierfeldt is director of development for the Campaign for Liberty, an outgrowth of the Ron Paul presidential campaign. He was returning from a regional conference March 29 when TSA screeners at Lambert-St. Louis (Missouri) International Airport saw a metal cash box in his carry-on bag. Inside was more than $4,700 dollars in cash -- proceeds from the sale of political merchandise like T-shirts and books.
There are no restrictions on carrying large sums of cash on flights within the United States, but the TSA allegedly took Bierfeldt to a windowless room and, along with other law enforcement agencies, questioned him for almost half an hour about the money.
The American Civil Liberties Union has taken up Bierfeldt's cause and is suing Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, whose department includes the TSA. Their complaint alleges that Bierfeldt was "subjected to harassing interrogation, and unlawfully detained."
Link: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/06/20/tsa.lawsuit/index.html#cnnSTCText
Bierfeldt is director of development for the Campaign for Liberty, an outgrowth of the Ron Paul presidential campaign. He was returning from a regional conference March 29 when TSA screeners at Lambert-St. Louis (Missouri) International Airport saw a metal cash box in his carry-on bag. Inside was more than $4,700 dollars in cash -- proceeds from the sale of political merchandise like T-shirts and books.
There are no restrictions on carrying large sums of cash on flights within the United States, but the TSA allegedly took Bierfeldt to a windowless room and, along with other law enforcement agencies, questioned him for almost half an hour about the money.
The American Civil Liberties Union has taken up Bierfeldt's cause and is suing Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, whose department includes the TSA. Their complaint alleges that Bierfeldt was "subjected to harassing interrogation, and unlawfully detained."
Link: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/06/20/tsa.lawsuit/index.html#cnnSTCText
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Video surveillance watchdog website for the U.S.
Video surveillance systems are more diffuse and less centralized in the United States, and fewer independent studies of their efficacy exist. However, preliminary studies of cameras in California show similar results to studies conducted in the UK: little to no effect in reducing crime.
Studies have shown that cameras are less useful than adding more police officers to neighborhoods, improving lighting conditions in parking lots, or holding meetings among officers and citizens to increase public education about how individuals can protect themselves. It is true that footage from video surveillance cameras has been useful for post-crime investigation in some cases. But note that the cameras' usefulness comes after the crime has already been committed -- and that the funds used for that relatively rare benefit could do more to reduce crime if used more efficiently.
Camera surveillance systems also inevitably raise issues of racial profiling and voyeurism. Everyone has heard of the camera operators who zoom in upon women's breasts or police officers who used infrared video surveillance equipment to watch a couple engaged in romantic activity.
The bottom line is: Are cameras worth the cost in terms of money and civil liberties? Cities and states are still wasting limited security budget dollars on camera surveillance systems. In the last five years, the US Department of Homeland Security had handed out about $300 million in grants for camera surveillance systems. These funds could have gone toward hiring more experienced police officers, improving equipment for first-responders so that they can be ready to help in cases of emergency or other such security needs.
Link: http://youarebeingwatched.us/
Studies have shown that cameras are less useful than adding more police officers to neighborhoods, improving lighting conditions in parking lots, or holding meetings among officers and citizens to increase public education about how individuals can protect themselves. It is true that footage from video surveillance cameras has been useful for post-crime investigation in some cases. But note that the cameras' usefulness comes after the crime has already been committed -- and that the funds used for that relatively rare benefit could do more to reduce crime if used more efficiently.
Camera surveillance systems also inevitably raise issues of racial profiling and voyeurism. Everyone has heard of the camera operators who zoom in upon women's breasts or police officers who used infrared video surveillance equipment to watch a couple engaged in romantic activity.
The bottom line is: Are cameras worth the cost in terms of money and civil liberties? Cities and states are still wasting limited security budget dollars on camera surveillance systems. In the last five years, the US Department of Homeland Security had handed out about $300 million in grants for camera surveillance systems. These funds could have gone toward hiring more experienced police officers, improving equipment for first-responders so that they can be ready to help in cases of emergency or other such security needs.
Link: http://youarebeingwatched.us/
Private investigators can use this website to search numerous social networking websites with just one click.
Yoname's description:
"yoName turns your computer into a private detective. Look for anyone you want. You can even look them up by a username or an email address! If they're on any of the big-time networks like MySpace or Facebook, yoName will find them. Look up friends, family, ex-es. Look up yourself and see if someone's impersonating you. Or just have fun and look up celebrities, even if the first five entries for Paris Hilton are all "male, 39, single, in Madison, Wisconsin".
OK. Let's say you're at the club and you're flirting with this total stud (and he is way out of your league, by the way), and, boom, you score digits. The problem is, genius, that the next day they're still in the pocket when you toss your jeans in the wash. You remember his name, but he's not in the book.
Or let's say you and all your friends were gonna totally hang out after graduation and here it is, two years later, and everyone's either away at college or too busy and you have to pull out the yearbook to even remember your best friend's nickname."
Here is a list of the social websites they search:
Bebo
BlackPlanet
Blogger
Buzznet
DailyMotion
Deviantart
Digg
FaceBook
Flickr
Fotolog
Friendster
grono
Hi5
ICQ
imeem
IRC-Galleria
Last.fm
LinkedIn
Live Spaces
LiveJournal
Match
MySpace
Rediff
skyrock
Tagged
Twitter
Vox
Web Search
Webshots
Xanga
Yahoo
Yahoo 360
YoName
YouTube
Zorpia
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Two free classified postings in Massachusetts, the private investigator may find helpful.
When searching for stolen merchandise etc. these two links may aid the private investigator.
They do post in other states so a quick search for merchandise in nearby states may be useful.
Links:
http://boston.kijiji.com/
http://boston.locanto.com/
They do post in other states so a quick search for merchandise in nearby states may be useful.
Links:
http://boston.kijiji.com/
http://boston.locanto.com/
Digital civil liberties watchdog website
"From the Internet to the iPod, technologies are transforming our society and empowering us as speakers, citizens, creators, and consumers. When our freedoms in the networked world come under attack, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is the first line of defense. EFF broke new ground when it was founded in 1990 — well before the Internet was on most people's radar — and continues to confront cutting-edge issues defending free speech, privacy, innovation, and consumer rights today. From the beginning, EFF has championed the public interest in every critical battle affecting digital rights. Blending the expertise of lawyers, policy analysts, activists, and technologists, EFF achieves significant victories on behalf of consumers and the general public. EFF fights for freedom primarily in the courts, bringing and defending lawsuits even when that means taking on the US government or large corporations. By mobilizing more than 50,000 concerned citizens through our Action Center, EFF beats back bad legislation. In addition to advising policymakers, EFF educates the press and public.
EFF is a donor-funded nonprofit and depends on your support to continue successfully defending your digital rights. Litigation is particularly expensive; because two-thirds of our budget comes from individual donors, every contribution is critical to helping EFF fight —and win—more cases."
Link: http://www.eff.org/
EFF is a donor-funded nonprofit and depends on your support to continue successfully defending your digital rights. Litigation is particularly expensive; because two-thirds of our budget comes from individual donors, every contribution is critical to helping EFF fight —and win—more cases."
Link: http://www.eff.org/
Monday, June 15, 2009
Man robs the Black Diamond Equipment company(mountaineering, ski shop ), demands precious stones!
SALT LAKE COUNTY -- Deputies are looking for a man who robbed what he may have thought was a diamond company. Black Diamond Equipment actually manufactures climbing and skiing equipment. Salt Lake County sheriff's deputies say the robber entered the company on 3900 South near 2000 East early Saturday morning. The robber brandished an ice pick, threatened the shift manager and demanded precious metals and money. The Salt Lake Tribune reports the manager told the robber that the company does not deal in diamonds or precious metals.
Lt. Don Hutson said, "Not sure if he was unfamiliar with what this business was, that it's mountaineering gear and that type of thing."
Link: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6822693
Lt. Don Hutson said, "Not sure if he was unfamiliar with what this business was, that it's mountaineering gear and that type of thing."
Link: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6822693
Friday, June 12, 2009
Big brother is now using blimps to spy on the American public!
At first glance, there was nothing special about the blimp floating high above the cars and crowd at this year's Indy 500 on Memorial Day weekend. Like most airships, it acted as an advertising vehicle; this time for the Fisher House, a charity focused on helping injured veterans and their families. But the real promo should have been for the blimp's creator, Raytheon, the security company best known for its weapons systems. Hidden inside the 55-foot-long white balloon was a powerful surveillance camera adapted from the technology Raytheon provides the U.S. military. Essentially an unmanned drone, the blimp transmitted detailed images to the race's security officers and to Indiana police. "The airship is great because it doesn't have that Big Brother feel, or create feelings of invasiveness," says Lee Silvestre, vice president of mission innovation in Raytheon's Integrated Defense division. "But it's still a really powerful security tool."
Link: http://www.newsweek.com/id/201697
Link: http://www.newsweek.com/id/201697
On the lighter side, this is one crappy restraining order (pun intended).
Beth Mackey, 25, of 88 Hancock Street, Braintree, was arraigned by video from the Rockingham County House of Corrections Thursday on a class A misdemeanor count of violating a protective order. According to an affidavit by Officer Timothy McCain, Mackey came to police attention on June 10 at 8:49 p.m. when a caller reported seeing a man and a woman enter a portable bathroom on a construction site at the old Lafayette School on Monroe Street.
The couple was found in a car matching the witness description near the construction site and identified as Mackey and a man from whom the district court prohibited her from contacting. Prosecutor Karl Durand said the no-contact order was issued May 29 after Mackey assaulted and bloodied the man with a telephone in a city hotel room.
McCain asked Mackey if she knew she was not supposed to be in contact with the man and she replied, “Yes but they had worked it out,” according to the officer’s report. Because police were unable to get a print copy of the restraining order, Mackey was not arrested at the scene, said Durand. “When we were in the port-o-potty, we weren’t doing anything nasty,” Mackey told Judge Sawako Gardner. “I just had surgery and I was holding onto him. No one wants to fall into a port-o-potty.”
Link: http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090611-NEWS-90611027?af=1
The couple was found in a car matching the witness description near the construction site and identified as Mackey and a man from whom the district court prohibited her from contacting. Prosecutor Karl Durand said the no-contact order was issued May 29 after Mackey assaulted and bloodied the man with a telephone in a city hotel room.
McCain asked Mackey if she knew she was not supposed to be in contact with the man and she replied, “Yes but they had worked it out,” according to the officer’s report. Because police were unable to get a print copy of the restraining order, Mackey was not arrested at the scene, said Durand. “When we were in the port-o-potty, we weren’t doing anything nasty,” Mackey told Judge Sawako Gardner. “I just had surgery and I was holding onto him. No one wants to fall into a port-o-potty.”
Link: http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090611-NEWS-90611027?af=1
Monday, June 8, 2009
Federal accident records reveal the flying public maybe at risk!
In nearly every serious regional airline accident during the past 10 years, at least one of the pilots had failed tests of his or her skills multiple times, according to an analysis of federal accident records.
In eight of the nine accidents during that time, which killed 137 people, pilots had a history of failing two or more "check rides," tests by federal or airline inspectors of pilots' ability to fly and respond to emergencies. In the lone case in which pilots didn't have multiple failures since becoming licensed, the co-pilot was fired after the non-fatal crash for falsifying his job application. Failing a single check during a career means little, but failing multiple times "really sends up the red flags," said Patrick Veillette, a corporate jet pilot who has written extensively on safety issues.
The NTSB has voiced concern about a loophole in a law requiring airlines to check pilots' records when hiring. The 1996 Pilot Records Improvement Act orders airlines to check pilot records from previous employers, but that does not cover failures that occurred while a pilot was in flight school.
Link: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-06-07-regional-pilots_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip
In eight of the nine accidents during that time, which killed 137 people, pilots had a history of failing two or more "check rides," tests by federal or airline inspectors of pilots' ability to fly and respond to emergencies. In the lone case in which pilots didn't have multiple failures since becoming licensed, the co-pilot was fired after the non-fatal crash for falsifying his job application. Failing a single check during a career means little, but failing multiple times "really sends up the red flags," said Patrick Veillette, a corporate jet pilot who has written extensively on safety issues.
The NTSB has voiced concern about a loophole in a law requiring airlines to check pilots' records when hiring. The 1996 Pilot Records Improvement Act orders airlines to check pilot records from previous employers, but that does not cover failures that occurred while a pilot was in flight school.
Link: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-06-07-regional-pilots_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip
The EPA is being sued over pollution claims.
ALBUQUERQUE — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is being sued by an environmental group that claims the agency has failed to safeguard public health in the West by not limiting the transmission of air pollution across state lines.
The EPA requires states to have plans aimed at addressing the interstate transport of ozone pollution, the primary component of smog, and fine particles or soot, but WildEarth Guardians claims New Mexico, California and a handful of other Western states do not have such plans.
"EPA is two years late in fulfilling its mandatory duty to prepare federal good neighbor plans protecting the public from interstate soot and smog," according to the lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in San Francisco.
Link: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2009-06-08-epa-lawsuit_N.htm
The EPA requires states to have plans aimed at addressing the interstate transport of ozone pollution, the primary component of smog, and fine particles or soot, but WildEarth Guardians claims New Mexico, California and a handful of other Western states do not have such plans.
"EPA is two years late in fulfilling its mandatory duty to prepare federal good neighbor plans protecting the public from interstate soot and smog," according to the lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in San Francisco.
Link: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2009-06-08-epa-lawsuit_N.htm
A watchdog website for our judges & the judicial system
Justice at Stake is a nonpartisan campaign working to keep our courts fair and impartial. Justice at Stake Campaign partners educate the public and work for reforms to keep politics and special interests out of the courtroom—so judges can do their job protecting our Constitution, our rights and the rule of law. JAS is currently funded by grants from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Joyce Foundation, the Moriah Fund and the Open Society Institute. Special interests are spending millions to influence decisions and elect judges to serve their narrow interest, not the public interest. Lawmakers and interest groups are trying to intimidate judges in retaliation for rulings they don’t like, often with threats of impeachment. And courts are being stripped of their powers to protect our rights and interpret our laws.
Link: http://www.justiceatstake.org/
Link: http://www.justiceatstake.org/
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Privatizing jails in Florida were there secret deals made?
TALLAHASSEE --
Florida's prison system is embroiled in a lawsuit filed by an ousted vendor on a major contract that accuses the state of illegally favoring a competitor.
MHM says the prison system began ''secret'' and ''closed-door'' talks with CMS more than two weeks before MHM and another vendor learned that their proposals were rejected. The department said the state has agreed to pay CMS $70 per inmate per month, in the first year of the contract, but with a $2.50 increase in each of four successive years. CMS would have a 30-day grace period to fix contract violations before the state could impose fines, which MHM called highly irregular. MHM is represented by Christopher Kise, who served as a legal advisor to Gov. Charlie Crist and was solicitor general when Crist was attorney general. The firm also has enlisted Brian Ballard, a prominent lobbyist with close ties to Crist
"The department's secret negotiations, violation of its own internal procedures, flaunting of the state's procurement process and inexplicable insistence on wasting $5-million in public funds does nothing but diminish public confidence in the department's expenditure of state funds,'' Kise argues in court papers.
Link: http://www.miamiherald.com/569/story/1084159.html
Florida's prison system is embroiled in a lawsuit filed by an ousted vendor on a major contract that accuses the state of illegally favoring a competitor.
MHM says the prison system began ''secret'' and ''closed-door'' talks with CMS more than two weeks before MHM and another vendor learned that their proposals were rejected. The department said the state has agreed to pay CMS $70 per inmate per month, in the first year of the contract, but with a $2.50 increase in each of four successive years. CMS would have a 30-day grace period to fix contract violations before the state could impose fines, which MHM called highly irregular. MHM is represented by Christopher Kise, who served as a legal advisor to Gov. Charlie Crist and was solicitor general when Crist was attorney general. The firm also has enlisted Brian Ballard, a prominent lobbyist with close ties to Crist
"The department's secret negotiations, violation of its own internal procedures, flaunting of the state's procurement process and inexplicable insistence on wasting $5-million in public funds does nothing but diminish public confidence in the department's expenditure of state funds,'' Kise argues in court papers.
Link: http://www.miamiherald.com/569/story/1084159.html
Trial Granted for Jailed Journalist Sam Dodson in New Hampshire
On April 13th, videographer Sam Dodson and several other Free State Project activists were attending the arraignment of fellow videographer Dave Ridley at the Keene District Courthouse in New Hampshire. Later, in the public lobby, the court security officer demanded Dodson shut off his camera, citing an unsigned notice on the wall banning recording devices.
In jail, Dodson went on a hunger strike and chose to exercise his right to remain silent. When finally asked to provide fingerprints and a mugshot, Sam complied but refused to give his legal name which is not required by state law. Despite having confirmed Sam's legal name through other sources, Judge Burke demanded that Sam personally submit his legal name or be held without trial indefinitely, a clear violation of federal and state law.
Burke's demands as of April 30th were as follows:
"Should the defendant decide he is willing to provide true and accurate identifying information about himself — the kind of information any other defendant is expected to provide — and is willing to accept the conditions of bail, the court will schedule a video arraignment as soon as possible thereafter. Until then the court is unwilling to schedule a trial date. While the prospect of the defendant’s indefinite confinement is distasteful, the court reiterates, however, that the defendant holds the key to his release."
Dodson's legal defense, Ivy Walker, had been working on different strategies to persuade the state to back down on its promise of indefinite incarceration without trial. After 53 days of incarceration and having dozens of filings of writs of habeas corpus denied, Walker notified the Keene City Council as well as other key bureaucrats that they would be personally held liable for the deprivation of Dodson's legal rights under federal law (42 USC 1983). Two days later, a trial date was finally set.
Link: http://www.freemindsmedia.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=143:state-grants-trial-for-jailed-journalist-sam-dodson&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=122
In jail, Dodson went on a hunger strike and chose to exercise his right to remain silent. When finally asked to provide fingerprints and a mugshot, Sam complied but refused to give his legal name which is not required by state law. Despite having confirmed Sam's legal name through other sources, Judge Burke demanded that Sam personally submit his legal name or be held without trial indefinitely, a clear violation of federal and state law.
Burke's demands as of April 30th were as follows:
"Should the defendant decide he is willing to provide true and accurate identifying information about himself — the kind of information any other defendant is expected to provide — and is willing to accept the conditions of bail, the court will schedule a video arraignment as soon as possible thereafter. Until then the court is unwilling to schedule a trial date. While the prospect of the defendant’s indefinite confinement is distasteful, the court reiterates, however, that the defendant holds the key to his release."
Dodson's legal defense, Ivy Walker, had been working on different strategies to persuade the state to back down on its promise of indefinite incarceration without trial. After 53 days of incarceration and having dozens of filings of writs of habeas corpus denied, Walker notified the Keene City Council as well as other key bureaucrats that they would be personally held liable for the deprivation of Dodson's legal rights under federal law (42 USC 1983). Two days later, a trial date was finally set.
Link: http://www.freemindsmedia.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=143:state-grants-trial-for-jailed-journalist-sam-dodson&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=122
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