Archive for the "Criminal Law" Category

31.Jan.2012 Guns Beget More Guns

Even in a town as jaded by murder as New Orleans, there are acts of violence that still shock and enrage the public. The murder of the Good Samaritan Harry “Mike” Ainsworth who was gunned down in front of his children while trying to stop an early morning carjacking is one such case. The neighborhood [...]

24.Jan.2012 Investing in Convicted Felons

Tulane criminologist Peter Scharf is collecting data that suggests that increased services to convicted felons is good for society at large. Specifically, he is talking about increased mental health services, to accommodate the needs of the nearly 40% of the prison population that suffers from mental health issues. “Typically, guys are medicated while they’re in [...]

02.Dec.2011 A Better Understanding of Murder?

In 2004, Milwaukee had 87 murders. This was unacceptable to the city so in 2005 they began a program that partnered law enforcement with community leaders to not only investigate these crimes, but try to understand the root causes for each individual murder. They had plenty of work to do as they looked into and [...]

25.Aug.2011 Innocence Is Not Quite What It Used To Be

Have you ever admitted guilt when you were innocent? Then I’m assuming you’re married — but don’t feel bad, it seems we’re hard-wired for this type of confession. But seriously folks…. Researchers are finding out just how easy it is to get innocent people to confess to crimes they did not commit – even if [...]

08.Aug.2011 Let Them Eat Drugs

I’ve written several times about the advances our judicial system has made in its attitudes and approach. However a recent article has left me scrambling to put a positive spin on the prevailing method for dealing with juvenile offenders, but here goes: fifty years ago we’d have them in leather restraints, whereas today we simply [...]

02.Aug.2011 From Bike Theft to Murder?

Recently I read an article in the Times Picayune which got me thinking about cycles of crimes: “NOPD approach to lesser crimes questioned by those focusing on murder rate.” At heart of the article is the NOPD’s focus on setting up stings for crimes such as bike theft and prostitution. As we all know, New [...]

30.Jul.2011 Can a Cop Search My Cell Phone?

Now that texting and driving is illegal in Louisiana and in 33 other states (as of the writing of this article), how far can a police officer go if he suspects you of doing it? This particular law is difficult for the police to enforce, as this article points out. For one thing — and [...]

02.Jul.2011 Justice is Slow in Coming

One of the guiding principles of every just and compassionate society is the strong protect the weak. This ideal is the bedrock of our criminal justice system when it comes to violent crimes. This is especially true when it comes to predatory sex crimes like rape and child molestation. As a society we show little [...]

27.Jun.2011 This is Your Brain on Crime

What is the role of our modern legal system? Is it to isolate those we deem to be dangerous? Or is it to rehabilitate those who have erred and help them make a return to being a positive social contributor? Over the years the debate has been fairly simple; do we seek what is best [...]

20.Jun.2011 Opera and Football

It’s a familiar scene to us all…. time is running out, the players are in motion, the band is blaring, the cheerleaders are working the crowd. The excited fans lean forward in unison, the air is filled with electricity and spilled beer. Primal emotions turn into a full-throated roar as Violetta suddenly, tragically dies in [...]