For week ending November 6, 2009
Top Ten Stories:
Criminal Court Facilities Management in 1909
David Badertscher
One hundred years ago last Tuesday (November 3, 1909) the criminal court building in Manhattan (bounded by Centre, Lafayette, Franklin, and White Streets) was declared unsafe for human occupancy and everyone in the building at the time was ordered to leave immediately.
According to a New York Times article Written the following day, “when the last man was out a squad of thirty policemen under Inspector Daley and Captain Galvin took charge of the building, roping it off on all sides and remaining on guard outside the building to forbid anyone to enter or even pass through any of the flanking streets”.
Victim of Child Porn Seeks Damages from Viewers
The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 includes a section requiring restitution for victims of sex crimes. Although “Amy” was videotaped being sexually abused as a child, she has been given awards ranging from the millions to nothing. One judge in Arkansas claimed there was no way to assess and restitution amount, that the victims was not identifiable and that there was no proof of a “causal link” between viewing the images and specific injury to Amy. The government has appealed the case, which could set up a showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court over the conflicting rulings.
Amy’s attorney, James R. Marsh of New York, has been fighting the restitution battle for Amy. “She basically doesn’t have any joy in her life. This is just an awful situation.” “What happened to me hasn’t gone away,” said Amy. “It will never go away.”
Gang Problem Growing Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Official Says
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has about 50 officers working on a small but growing gang problem within the city. Deputy Chief William Benjamin told an audience at Arlington High School that, “We have a small problem compared to other cities, but we have a problem.”
The main speaker at the seminar was Dr. O’dell M. Owens, an in-vitro specialist turned county coroner and gang expert. He said a good education is the best defense against gangs and other crime.
In the city, the rise of Hispanic gangs is a troubling trend. Stephen Parnell, Marion County’s chief gang prosecutor, said, “We’re seeing some of those gangs, in response (to Hispanic gangs), increase their numbers.”
Push to Legalize Marijuana Gains Ground in California
A hearing will be held Wednesday on the effects of a bill that would legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana. Tax officials estimate the legislation could bring about $1.4 billion a years. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has indicated he would be open to a “robust debate” on the issue.
The separate initiatives are being circulated for signatures to appear on the ballot next year, all of which would permit adults to possess marijuana for personal use and allow local government to tax it. Proponents of the leading ballot initiates have collected nearly 300,000 signatures since late September, and supporters says that they are easily on pace to qualify for the November 2010 general election.
California was the first state to legalize marijuana for medical purposes in 1996, but court rulings, including the Supreme Court’s, has ruled that the federal government can continue to enforce its ban.
Obama Set to Sign Bill Widening Hate Crime Law
An update to the federal hate crime statutes originally passed by Congress in 1968 will be signed by President Obama. This update will include protections to gay, lesbian, transgender, and disabled people.
Despite this, many of the people who worked on this bill do not expect more people to be charged with hate crimes. “Are there going to be a huge number of prosecutions by the federal government, by the Justice Department, under this statue? No,” says David Stacy, a lobbyist on gay issues for the Human Right Campaign.
The majority of hate crime prosecutions have always been handled by state and local officials. People who oppose hate crime laws say the federal government should have left it that way.
Taking Action To Help Free Online Access to CRS Reports
This posting is prompted out of concern for the need to provide open, online access to public documents including CRS reports, two e-mails received during the past two weeks, and two recent requests for recent CRS report referenced in a previous post to this blog.
First the e-mails. About a week ago I received a widely distributed e-mail from Emily Feldman, Advocacy Communications Assistant for the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) framing the issues related free online access to CRS Reports and emphasizing the urgency of taking action now to help get this accomplished. Emily can be contacted at either 202-942-4233 or efeldman@aall.org This was followed up today by an e-mail from a law librarian Susan Nevelow Mart responding to Emily’s e-mail and reinforcing Emily’s call for action. Here are the two e-mails
From Emily Feldman:
ABA Journal Newsletter for Week Ending October 23, 2009
Ten Top Stories of the Week
Law Practice Management
Check E-Mail Hourly, Quinn Partner Says, Unless in Court, in Tunnel or Asleep
ABA Criminal Justice Newsletter – Fall 2009
The American Bar Association (ABA), Criminal Justice Section has just published its Fall 2009 Newsletter, Volume 18 Issue 1 Fall 2009. This issue covers a variety of topics including: Practice Tips – Sexting: Balancing the Law and Bad Choices, Three Questions with Charles Hynes, Section Member News, New Books, News from the Field, and Ethics. Also included is a reminder that the ABA Criminal Justice Section Fall Meeting will be held in Washington DC November 5-8, 2009.
Windows 7: Tips and Best Practices for Simplified Migration
White Paper by Nelson Reust and Danielle Reust
The authors write: ” Migration to Windows 7 is a future reality for most. With XP approaching its end of life, and many organizations choosing to skip Vista as an interim step, the new Windows 7 release holds the promise of new features and benefits that include added security, improved manageability and enhanced ease of use. Regardless of the starting point, a migration to Windows 7 is a path that holds as many questions and challenges as it does potential rewards. Planning now can ensure a smooth transition in 2010.”
Click here to see the complete paper.