Washington
Post. Sally Yates operates the DOJ and
oversees the FBI; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; and the Bureau of
Prisons. She has voiced her commitment
to follow through on the Criminal Justice Reforms started by Eric Holder. In the article, Sally Yates is quoted stating
““Certainly, I don’t think I can ever be accused of being soft on crime,” Yates
said. “But we need to be using the limited resources we have to ensure that we
are truly doing justice and that the sentences we’re meting out are just and
proportional to the crimes that we’re charging…We’re not the Department of
Prosecutions or even the Department of Public Safety,” Yates said. “We are the
Department of Justice.” To read the article, click here: New
deputy attorney general: ‘We’re not the Department of Prosecutions
Renovate Justice -- An Examination Of Our Justice System, And What Needs To Change
Monday, May 18, 2015
President Obama To Limit Police Force’s Access To Military-Style Equipment
The
President has announced that – as part of his push to ease tensions between
communities and law enforcement – he will ban police departments from using
federal funding to acquire items that include tracked armored vehicles, the
highest-caliber firearms and ammunition, and camouflage uniforms. This follows the release of a 116 page DOJ
report arising out of the incident in Ferguson, calling for law enforcement agencies
to “embrace a guardian — rather than a warrior — mind-set to build trust and
legitimacy both within agencies and with the public.” The NY Times Article is here: Obama
to Limit Military-Style Equipment for Police Forces
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Boston Citizens Troubled By Death Penalty Finding In Boston Bomber Case
In the
NY Times article “Death Sentence for Boston Bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev,
Unsettles City He Tore Apart”, people share confused sentiments in response to
the death penalty finding. “But since a
federal jury on Friday sentenced the convicted bomber to death, the finish line
suddenly seems to be a place of ambivalence. Fresh flowers are accumulating. A
sense of sorrow lingers in the air. Sightseers who come to snap a photo feel a
little self-conscious. Residents train their gaze on the line, and the
conversations turn to death — and disappointment. ‘I was shocked,’ said Scott Larson, 47, a
records manager who works near the finish line. ‘The death penalty — for
Boston.’” To read the full article,
click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/17/us/death-sentence-for-boston-bomber-dzhokhar-tsarnaev-unsettles-city-he-tore-apart.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Article in NY Times Discusses Very Progressive Method For Inmate Reform
Today,
the NY Times published an article captioned “In Brazil, Some Inmates Get
Therapy With Hallucinogenic Tea.”
The
article is here: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/29/world/americas/a-hallucinogenic-tea-time-for-some-brazilian-prisoners.html
The
article discusses use of a ritual hallucinogenic tea and meditation as a
treatment for inmates. It’s
fascinating. There is no chance at all
that anything this progressive would happen here (very few programs that are
empathetic to the plights of inmates proceed in the US). But it is hopeful that other countries – more
evolved in the care of treatment and inmates – are pursuing genuine means for
rehabilitation.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Police Officer Who Killed Dontre Hamilton “Permanently Discharged” For Violating Protocol During Pat-Down That Lead To The Killing
Following
a city hearing on the propriety of the decision of Police Chief Ed Flynn to
terminate Officer Manning (who killed Dontre Hamilton in Milwaukee), the panel
concluded that “violated
department protocol and will not get his job back”
This is
the second step on the long road to justice for this family. Following the killing of Dontre Hamilton,
Officer Manning was not criminally charged, even though he shot Mr. Hamilton 14
times (including once in the back).
Chief Flynn did terminate Officer Manning for engaging in the
warrantless and groundless pat-down that led to the incident. Manning appealed, while simultaneously
claiming disability, stating that the incident resulted in the mental illness
of “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” (Manning is still able to collect
disability). On Monday, the Fire and
Police Commission upheld Chief Flynn’s decision. Christopher Manning has been permanently
stripped of his duties as a police officer.
As he should be.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
New York Times Highlights Dontre Hamilton Case And Police Shootings In Milwaukee
The
Video, prepared by the New York Times, is both powerful and informative. The Hamilton family deserves our praise for
their relentless and nonviolent pursuit of justice in response to this
senseless killing.
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