AltWeeklies Wire
The Orlando Police Beatnew
May 13, 1:08 a.m.: Swear to God, I once saw a porno that started exactly like this: "On the above date and time, two male suspects entered the residence and duct-taped the victim." No porny goodness here, though. The two guys -- described as "possibly Jamaican," for what it's worth -- just stole "various items" and left. Booooooring.
Orlando Weekly |
Jeffrey C. Billman |
05-22-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
One Man's Painful Journey Through South Texas' Addiction to Asset Forfeiturenew
In October 2005, Javier Gonzalez struck out from Austin toward Brownsville, carrying $10,000 in cash to pay for his dying aunt's funeral. He never made it. Gonzalez was stopped in Jim Wells County for a minor traffic violation, and the county anti-drug task force confiscated his cash.
The Texas Observer |
Jan Reid |
05-21-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Did Alleged Attack on Self-Described Snitch Happen the Way He Says?new
Evidence seems to support Kamran Mashayekhi's story of being attacked in a Buena Park garage, but did it happen for the reasons he says?
OC Weekly |
Derek Olson |
05-21-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Class-Action Suit by State Employees Could Cost Louisiana Millionsnew
After seven years of class-action litigation, attorneys for 700 state health and social workers convinced a New Orleans judge to hold the state liable for exposing the employees to the moldy, leaky Plaza Tower office building for six years -- despite hundreds of worker complaints.
Gambit |
Greg Thomas |
05-20-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Pasadena Schools Face Alarming Growth in Violent Racial and Girl-on-Girl Incidentsnew

The expulsion of four elementary school students for bringing knives onto campus and a rise in violence involving female African-American students have left city and school officials scrambling for solutions.
Pasadena Weekly |
Andre Coleman |
05-20-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Racial Disparities Prevail in Wisconsin's Justice Systemnew
New studies from The Sentencing Project, Human Rights Watch, and a governor's commission show the state's justice system treats black and white drug offenders differently.
Shepherd Express |
Lisa Kaiser |
05-16-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Police Beatnew
Recent happenings of local criminals and police.
Orlando Weekly |
Jeffrey C. Billman |
05-15-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
What's Mass. Doing to Keep Former Prisoners from Returning to Jail?new

A 2002 study by the Massachusetts Sentencing Committee found recidivism rates had reached 49.1 percent. The Commission to End Homelessness estimated 16 percent of the 25,500 people released each year become homeless. Former prisoners must also navigate Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI), the state's rap sheet on anyone ensnared in the criminal justice system.
Dig Boston |
Cara Bayles |
05-15-2008 |
Crime & Justice
A Teenage Prostitute, An Inept Pimp, and Two Versions of What Happenednew
The internet limits the risk of marketing sex with underage girls, whose youth can be more easily disguised on a website than on the street. But ignorance of a girl's age doesn't equal innocence. In Levar Simms' case, the charge of transporting a minor for the purposes of prostitution hinged on strict liability. He could be found guilty regardless of whether he knew Lynette was 16.
Washington City Paper |
Angela Valdez |
05-15-2008 |
Crime & Justice
The How and Why of Prison Overcrowdingnew
The US prison population grew eight-fold since 1970; more than 2.3 million people are incarcerated nationally, and overcrowding is pandemic in Massachusetts prisons. Two years ago, Massachusetts Department of Corrections facilities were at 134 percent capacity. Now they've reached 143 percent.
Dig Boston |
Cara Bayles |
05-15-2008 |
Crime & Justice
The Shooting of Estefanonew
One of Miami's best-known songwriters was nearly killed in a possible contract hit.
Miami New Times |
Tamara Lush |
05-12-2008 |
Crime & Justice
No One Could Bait the Well-Behaved LAPD This May Daynew
In Los Angeles, May Day laurels go to the LAPD for the heroic continence of not going batshit crazy and attacking random citizens at this year's march.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Ron Garmon |
05-12-2008 |
Crime & Justice
A Career Con Man Brings His Talents to Cleveland's Art Worldnew
Isaac Coleman Jr. had been committing fraud for two decades before he moved to Bratenahl and reinvented himself.
Cleveland Scene |
Lisa Rab |
05-09-2008 |
Crime & Justice
D.C.'s Repealed Firearms Ban Presents a Chance for Some to Cash Innew

Firearms dealers, instructors set their sights on D.C.
Washington City Paper |
Ruth Samuelson |
05-09-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Police Beatnew
Recent happenings of local criminals and police.
Orlando Weekly |
Jeffrey C. Billman |
05-08-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice