On February 1st, 2009, New Jersey Senator Raymond Lesniak gave a speech concerning New Jersey’s choice to eliminate capital punishment. In this speech Senator Lesniak questions the effectiveness of capital punishment in deterring violent crime. Senator Lesniak’s stance that capital punishment doesn’t deter crime demonstrates a problem with capital punishment. To read the entire speech, […]
New Survey of Doctors Reveals Possible Excessive Force
A new study reveals that 98% of doctors who treat recently arrested suspects for injuries believe excessive force was the cause of the injuries, and 65% of the doctors surveyed say they suspected two or more cases of excessive force per year. Those who are critical of the survey point out that the doctors surveyed […]
Governor Rendell Attempts a Parole Overhaul
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is attempting to put a plan into motion that would take away violent offenders’ ability to be paroled. Rather than sentencing pursuant to Pennsylvania’s indeterminate sentencing scheme in criminal court (that is, a maximum and minimum sentence, with the maximum at least double the minimum), Governor Rendell wants judges to sentence […]
Pragmatism in State Prison Systems
With money-starved states striving to become more efficient, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine plans to take some of the weight off of the state’s prison system. With Virginia having the sixth greatest growth in state imprisonment between 2000 and 2007, Kaine plans to release non-violent, model inmates up to three times earlier (90 days rather than […]
Surprising Criminal Trends Develop in 2008
With the year coming to a close, the crime statistics of Philadelphia are showing a change in criminal trends. While the homicide and violent crime rates are down 15% and 4%, respectively, statistics show that property crimes have risen by 2% (more specifically, residential burglaries have increased by 16%). The possible explanations for this drastic […]