July 27, 2013
MacLean’s – Ken MacQueen
A closer look at falling crime statistics
MacQueen writes that the costs of policing are skyrocketing while the crime levels fall but that in spite of the contradiction and in spite of the desperate budget cuts everywhere else, no politician would ever dare suggest reducing the money spent on ‘tough-on-crime.’ Time for courage to re-assess? http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/07/25/a-closer-look-at-falling-crime-statistics
Toronto Star: Editorial
Canada’s falling crime rate flies in face of Harper policies
Steven Blaney thinks that ‘tough-on-crime’ is dropping the crime rates. The Star says “Absurd!” The rates have been falling since 1972 and the biggest single cause, among others, seems to be the aging population with fewer young males committing crimes. The feds’ claim also ignores that three quarters of the costs of their ‘tough-on-crime’ is borne by the provinces – a tidy $5.3 billion from cash strapped provinces in spending badly needed elsewhere. http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2013/07/26/canadas_falling_crime_rate_flies_in_face_of_harper_policies_editorial.html
CBC News
What’s behind Canada’s improving crime stats? Latest drop likely not linked to government’s ‘tough-on-crime’ policies, experts say
Between 2002 and 2012 the crime rate has fallen 26%. There’s a line-up to take credit for the results but the experts aren’t buying. Anthony Doob, a professor of criminology at the University of Toronto, says: “Most of the more notable things that the government has done are kind of broad and across-the-board things like the [restricting of] credit for pre-sentence custody, and those things, you wouldn’t expect to have any effect [on the crime rate].” Better policing, aging population, improving technology, even the practices around reporting crime may play a role. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/07/25/crime-stats-follow.html
N. Y. Times – Erica Goode
U.S. Prison Populations Decline, Reflecting New Approach to Crime
The drop in prison population is 1.7%. But the numbers still represent almost 1.6 million behind bars. The optimistic think this change is signalling the end of the practice of mass incarceration. Adam Gelb, director of the Pew Charitable Trusts, says that the cause is the application of research based policy making, not tighter budget decisions. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/us/us-prison-populations-decline-reflecting-new-approach-to-crime.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Related article: Pew Charitable Trusts Public Safety Performance Project – Adam Gleb More Than Half of States Cut Imprisonment Rates from 2006 to 2011 http://www.pewstates.org/news-room/press-releases/us-prison-count-continues-to-drop-85899457496 Related Article: Oneida Daily Dispatch (NY) – Kyle Hughes New York to close 4 more prisons; costs still increasing despite downsized facilities http://oneidadispatch.com/articles/2013/07/26/news/doc51f2d94ed2eb0081863697.txt
San Francisco Chronicle – John Hanna, AP
Kan. AG acknowledges ‘Hard 50’ may not fully work
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt wants a special session of the state legislature to impose immediately a 50 year sentence for first degree murder. The US Supreme Court ruled last month that juries, not judges (as in Kansas), should determine the application of the mandatory minimum. The alternate to the ‘hard 50’ is life without parole for 25 years, judged by some as too lenient. http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Kan-AG-acknowledges-Hard-50-may-not-fully-work-4685870.php
Advocate (New Orleans) – Tom Gogola
Restorative-justice message unites students
The Rethinkers of New Orleans, a group of students who want change in New Orleans, especially around suspensions and expulsions, have called both school and city authorities to accountability by hosting Rethinking Violence, a reflection / study day for RJ as well as a tribute day for Trayvon Martin, the Florida teen killed in the Zimmerman shooting. http://theadvocate.com/news/6617941-123/restorative-justice-message-unites-students Related article: Times-Picayune (New Orleans) – Danielle Dreilinger ‘Rethinkers’ call for conversations, not suspensions, in New Orleans schools http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2013/07/rethinkers_call_for_conversati.html
NPR News (US) – Martin Kaste
Can Software That Predicts Crime Pass Constitutional Muster?
The L.A. police have been using software called Predpol to predict where property crimes are likely to occur. Based on the record o previous events, the software is now under consideration by Seattle police for its potential to predict gun violence and bordering on constitutional issues as well. Is a red box outlining the likely spot where a gun crime will happen probable cause to intervene? http://www.npr.org/2013/07/26/205835674/can-software-that-predicts-crime-pass-constitutional-muster