Crime

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Read latest on fight against fentanyl

A Deal with China on Fentanyl?

According to a story in Reuters: . . . The administration is set to remove restrictions on China’s Institute of Forensic Science in a bid to convince Beijing to step up cooperation to halt the flow of the synthetic opioid fentanyl in the United States. Blocking fentanyl “precursor” chemicals has ...
Blog

Learn about California's rising crime problem

California’s Victim Compensation Board – Helping Victims, or Themselves?

The California crime victimization numbers are staggering.  In 2022, the last full year of statistics, violent crime rose 6.1 percent and property crimes rose 6.2 percent.  In all – 193,019 people were reported victims of violent crime and there were 902,977 reported property crimes for a total of 1,095,496 crimes.  ...
Blog

Read part 3 of 3 part series on Norway's prison system

What Can California Learn from Norway’s Prison System? (Part Three)

Critics of the California (and presumably the entire US) correctional system) often point out that Norwegian correctional staff are not armed, and mix freely with inmates. Inmates attend religious services, practice yoga, sports, vocational skills, attend classes, and officers do not use martial terms or ranks. California’s facilities offer many ...
Blog

Read part 2 of 3 part series on Norway's prison system

Should California Really Be Following Norway’s Lead on Criminal Justice Reform? (Part Two)

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) measures post incarceration conduct three ways: rearrests, reconvictions, and returns to prison.  The most recent study, published in April 2023, studies a cohort of inmates released in 2017/18 for a period of three years. A three-year period is generally accepted as adequate ...
Blog

Read part 1 of 3 part series on Norway's prison system

Prisons – California Dreamin’, or a Norwegian Nightmare? (Part One)

Armed with reports of low recidivism rates – and apparently ignorant of California’s own recidivism statistics (except to say they are too high) – Gov. Newsom made reducing recidivism a focal point of his 2023 State of the State tour where one of his first stops was San Quentin Prison.  ...
Blog

Crime is out of control in Oakland

And Now, On The Other Side Of The Bay …

San Francisco has become almost as famous for its serial store closings as its cable cars. Popular retailers, including Nordstrom, Whole Foods, Saks Off 5th, Anthropologie and Office Depot are shutting their doors because, well, they just can’t take it anymore. The thieves won. Across the water, on the east ...
Blog

Read about latest soft on crime legislation

SB 2 – A Law in Search of a Crime

The 2022 Crime in California report from the state Attorney General’s office tell us, as the reports have shown for the past three years, that crime continues to rise.  Violent crimes are up 6.1 percent and property crimes are up 6.2 percent over the 2021 figures. Yet, progressive lawmakers have continued to ...
Blog

Read about latest bill to undermine public safety

SB 94 – Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics – Murderers do not “Age Out”

They received those sentences because their crimes are uniquely heinous and include one or more factors known as “special circumstances” that can include, the murder of public safety officers or officials, murders for financial gain, the use of torture, murders of multiple victims, prior convictions for murder, the use of ...
Blog

Read latest on California's growing crime problem

Murders are up – We’re just dying less.

Writing for The Atlantic recently, Jeff Asher predicted that, “The United States may be experiencing one of the largest annual percent changes in murder ever recorded, according to my preliminary data.” That’s a bold statement and will undoubtedly be used to evaluate the effectiveness of criminal justice policies around the ...
Blog

To protect and reform: How to fix urban police departments

After the death of George Floyd during a police encounter in Minneapolis three years ago on Memorial Day weekend, it sparked protests both salutary and sanguinary. Peaceful protests sometimes turned violent. And a national soul-searching began, including investigations into police procedures – such as the choke hold that killed Floyd ...
Blog

Read latest on fight against fentanyl

A Deal with China on Fentanyl?

According to a story in Reuters: . . . The administration is set to remove restrictions on China’s Institute of Forensic Science in a bid to convince Beijing to step up cooperation to halt the flow of the synthetic opioid fentanyl in the United States. Blocking fentanyl “precursor” chemicals has ...
Blog

Learn about California's rising crime problem

California’s Victim Compensation Board – Helping Victims, or Themselves?

The California crime victimization numbers are staggering.  In 2022, the last full year of statistics, violent crime rose 6.1 percent and property crimes rose 6.2 percent.  In all – 193,019 people were reported victims of violent crime and there were 902,977 reported property crimes for a total of 1,095,496 crimes.  ...
Blog

Read part 3 of 3 part series on Norway's prison system

What Can California Learn from Norway’s Prison System? (Part Three)

Critics of the California (and presumably the entire US) correctional system) often point out that Norwegian correctional staff are not armed, and mix freely with inmates. Inmates attend religious services, practice yoga, sports, vocational skills, attend classes, and officers do not use martial terms or ranks. California’s facilities offer many ...
Blog

Read part 2 of 3 part series on Norway's prison system

Should California Really Be Following Norway’s Lead on Criminal Justice Reform? (Part Two)

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) measures post incarceration conduct three ways: rearrests, reconvictions, and returns to prison.  The most recent study, published in April 2023, studies a cohort of inmates released in 2017/18 for a period of three years. A three-year period is generally accepted as adequate ...
Blog

Read part 1 of 3 part series on Norway's prison system

Prisons – California Dreamin’, or a Norwegian Nightmare? (Part One)

Armed with reports of low recidivism rates – and apparently ignorant of California’s own recidivism statistics (except to say they are too high) – Gov. Newsom made reducing recidivism a focal point of his 2023 State of the State tour where one of his first stops was San Quentin Prison.  ...
Blog

Crime is out of control in Oakland

And Now, On The Other Side Of The Bay …

San Francisco has become almost as famous for its serial store closings as its cable cars. Popular retailers, including Nordstrom, Whole Foods, Saks Off 5th, Anthropologie and Office Depot are shutting their doors because, well, they just can’t take it anymore. The thieves won. Across the water, on the east ...
Blog

Read about latest soft on crime legislation

SB 2 – A Law in Search of a Crime

The 2022 Crime in California report from the state Attorney General’s office tell us, as the reports have shown for the past three years, that crime continues to rise.  Violent crimes are up 6.1 percent and property crimes are up 6.2 percent over the 2021 figures. Yet, progressive lawmakers have continued to ...
Blog

Read about latest bill to undermine public safety

SB 94 – Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics – Murderers do not “Age Out”

They received those sentences because their crimes are uniquely heinous and include one or more factors known as “special circumstances” that can include, the murder of public safety officers or officials, murders for financial gain, the use of torture, murders of multiple victims, prior convictions for murder, the use of ...
Blog

Read latest on California's growing crime problem

Murders are up – We’re just dying less.

Writing for The Atlantic recently, Jeff Asher predicted that, “The United States may be experiencing one of the largest annual percent changes in murder ever recorded, according to my preliminary data.” That’s a bold statement and will undoubtedly be used to evaluate the effectiveness of criminal justice policies around the ...
Blog

To protect and reform: How to fix urban police departments

After the death of George Floyd during a police encounter in Minneapolis three years ago on Memorial Day weekend, it sparked protests both salutary and sanguinary. Peaceful protests sometimes turned violent. And a national soul-searching began, including investigations into police procedures – such as the choke hold that killed Floyd ...
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