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Showing posts with label Crime. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Crime. Show all posts

Rape Victims' Protection: Sen. Allen Applauds Christie

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has signed legislation ensuring that sexual assault victims are not responsible for costs of forensic examinations. Currently, each county provides forensic examinations by a physician or certified forensic sexual assault nurse examiners.

“Sexual assault is a violent crime and its victims must be treated with respect and compassion,” said Governor Christie. “This legislation ensures the needs of assault victims are met appropriately and without cost and that forensic evidence is collected and handled correctly.”

New Jersey State Senator Diane Allen commended the Governor for signing the legislation. "In no other crime are victims charged with the collection of evidence. We finally are going to protect rape victims in New Jersey from being forced to relive one of the most horrific moments of their lives. I applaud the Governor for signing this legislation," Allen said.

S-972 requires Victims of Crime Compensation Agency (VCCA) to revise their crime victim booklets to state that victims of sexual assaults will not be charged any fees for services associated with a forensic sexual assault examination. Services associated with these exams include routine medical screenings, medications for sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy tests. In addition, the nurse examiner coordinator must now develop procedures to ensure victims do not incur costs associated with their exams.

The legislation takes effect immediately.

Sponsors of S-972 are Senators Diane B. Allen (R-Burlington, Camden) and James Beach (D-Camden) as well as Assemblymembers Annette Quijano (D-Union), Pamela R. Lampitt (D-Camden) Linda Stender (Middlesex, Somerset, Union), Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) and Linda R. Greenstein (Mercer, Midddlesex).

More From Cameron: Let's Mend 'Broken Society'

And In London, Cameron Cracks Down

I like the strong, unequivocal approach that British Prime Minister David Cameron is taking as he goes after the gangs of hooligans who are trying to take over the streets of London. Thousands have been arrested so far and Cameron promises that more will be rounded up.
Cameron is zeroing in on what he calls a "moral crisis" in Britain.
The Prime Minister has declared: “Some of the worst aspects of human nature have been tolerated, indulged — sometimes even incentivized — by a state and its agencies that in parts have become literally demoralized." He blames “children without fathers; schools without discipline; reward without effort; crime without punishment; rights without responsibilities; communities without control."
Sound familiar?

Bravo To Mayor Nutter For His Words, Actions

As many of you know, I was out of town for quite some time and did not have a chance to be here for much of what led up to the Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter's stirring speech to the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church on August 7. In fact, I was still out of town when this speech was delivered.
But I've since had a chance to watch and listen to the full half-hour-plus of the Mayor's remarks and I have to say that I strongly support everything he said. I like the way that he spoke directly, forcefully, and from the heart. So, I've included a major video segment of his remarks here so that you might savor it.
In my mind (and I hope the Mayor takes no offense when I say this) Nutter came across almost as Christieesque. At first blush it seemed as if he took a page from the Big Guy across the river.
But, in truth I feel the Mayor was totally himself. Uniquely Nutter. These were his words spoken with true grit. And that made me feel good.
I'm glad the Mayor got this off his chest. I'm pleased that he spoke up. He ought to continue to speak bluntly and act firmly.
I myself made it a special point to go into Center City this past weekend -- On Friday (for lunch) and again on Saturday and Sunday (for dinner). On two of the three days I was joined by my wife, my children and others.
We all wanted to send a good, clear, strong message: We support the new city curfew and the vigilant enforcement of the law and we're not going to let anyone take the city away from us; we're not going to let anyone push us off the streets of a great, vibrant city; we're not going to be intimidated by a bunch of young punks. And we're not going to settle for lame excuses for lawlessness.
We also wanted to patronize Center City merchants during this critical time and make sure that the commerce and well-being of the city went on without interruption.
We found the streets of Center City Philadelphia to be bright, well-protected and alive with shoppers, diners and responsible residents and citizens.
We invite you to join them -- and us -- in Center City!

Warped Thinking Behind Blame Game

I Usually don't choke on my breakfast. But one morning this week, enjoying a creme donut and a full-fat latte, I came close to needing the Heimlich maneuver. It happened when one of those overly perky TV ladies opined that the city's flash-mob problem was directly connected to cuts in social services for at-risk teens.
I've actually been very good during the debt-ceiling debates. Despite a slight but ever-increasing rise in my blood pressure over the last few weeks, I've been able to tune out most of the "tea partiers are terrorists" rhetoric and keep my eye on the fiscal prize: no default, no new taxes, limited but crucial cuts in spending.

Click here to read the rest of Christine Flowers, wonderful column from the Philadelphia Daily News.

Philly's Mann Music Center Robbed

Fox 29 in Philly is reporting that armed robbers have hit the Mann Music Center in Fairmount Park. The Mann is the city's premier summer music venue and plays host to the world's finest classical musicians as well as the Philadelphia Orchestra and more mainstream music attractions.
Fox repoorts that two suspects held up the Mann Center today, and may have made off with a large amount of cash -- as much as $100,000.
Philadelphia police have confirmed the incident to Fox 29 at 51st & Parkside Aves.
In recent years there have been complaints about insufficient police protection at the Mann and some patrons have complained about a lack of well-lit parking and assistance in exiting the the Mann grounds via automobile after dark.
This summer, center-city Philadelphia has also been plagued by flash mob attacks.

More Philly Flash Mob Attacks: This MUST Stop

Last night there were two more Philly flash mob attacks in center city.
One occurred near 15th & Chestnut and the other was near Walnut and Juniper. In both cases innocent people were attacked. In one case a man was severely injured. One of the incidents involved an 11-year-old perpetrator. At least one young person was part of both attacks.
Once again pedestrians in center city were victimized and the evening was disrupted by these dangerous and unconscionable attacks. One attack is one too many but these attacks have occurred far too often.
The city must crack down on this brazen lawlessness.
EVERY responsible organization in the city must speak up and demand action. Groups such at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Philadelphia Bar Association, the Center City Proprietors Association, the Center City District, the Tourist and Convention Bureau, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, condo owners associations, neighborhood groups and similar organizations should band together and speak with one voice. And they should demand action now. They should also insist that these young hooligans be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
This situation simply CANNOT be tolerated any longer.

Casey Anthony: The 'Tattooed Medea Of Orlando'

Casey Anthony is a monster.
And everyone knows it except 12 confused citizens of Florida and a few criminal-defense attorneys looking to get on CNN - even if the justice system has denied her the official title of child killer.
As surely as O.J. Simpson plunged a knife into his ex-wife, Caylee Marie's mother guaranteed she wasn't going to see her 3rd birthday. The evidence, though circumstantial, was powerful. The fact that the jury failed to connect the logical dots is an indictment of our system.
But before Casey Anthony became the tattooed Medea of Orlando
Click here to read the rest of Christine Flowers' column from the Philadelphia Daily News.

NJ: Addiego Acts To Protect Volunteers, Public Safety

New Jersey Senate bill 2749, sponsored by Senator Dawn Marie Addiego after a female teenage driver reported being stopped on a Medford road by a man flashing an emergency blue light and impersonating a policeman, overwhelmingly passed the Senate June 27, by a vote of 39-0.

"It is frightening to think about what could happen during a fraudulent car stop on the local roadways," said Addiego. "We are increasing the penalties for anyone who violates the public's trust by presenting themselves as a member of law enforcement."

Blue lights can be used legally by volunteer firefighters and rescue squad members, when responding to an emergency. Office of Emergency Management volunteers can also use blue lights during an emergency response.

The bill enhances the penalties for certain offenses connected with the impersonation of a law enforcement officer. The bill clarifies that it would be a crime of the fourth degree when a person impersonates an officer by use of a vehicle modified with emergency lights or other insignia to resemble a police vehicle. The offense is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and 18 months in prison.

"We are protecting the emergency volunteers who use these lights properly in service to the community, and cracking down on those who intentionally violate the equipment for personal motive," said Assemblyman Rudder. "Public safety demands the highest level of confidence."

The bill also doubles the current penalties for the unauthorized use of emergency warning lights, increasing the fine from $100 and $200 plus revocation of the privilege to operate emergency lights, and from $200 to $400 for individuals who are not authorized to use the lights.

In addition, the bill makes it a disorderly persons offense to sell or offer to sell a blue emergency warning light, unless the purchaser presents a valid identification card.

The bill represents a composite of three pieces of legislation introduced by Senator Addiego, and by Assemblyman Scott Rudder and Assemblyman Pat Delany in the lower house.

The REAL Story Behind The Casey Anthony Verdict

What the hell happened?
That's what everybody seems to be asking on the heels of the Casey Anthony verdict.
Did it startle you? Were you surprised?
I wasn't. I really wasn't stunned in the least. Though I was disappointed.
In case you've been living in a cave, you now know that Casey Anthony was found not guilty of murder and nearly all other counts. The only thing she was found guilty of was giving false information to law enforcement authorities.Considering the time she's already spent in jail, she's liable to spend little or no additional time behind bars. She's sprung.
How could this be.
Well, we all now about reasonable doubt. The jury must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt. The burden of proof lies with the prosecution. Simply put, at least one member of the jury had serious doubts about Anthony's guilt.
But there's more. It's what I call the "show trial sell-out."
To begin with, juries these days are incredibly wimpy. We now live in a gray world where there are no moral absolutes -- no rights and wrongs -- and we're constantly preached to (primarily by liberals and other bed-wetters) about how we should not stand in judgment of others. And there's a reluctance by almost everybody to take responsibility for anything. So, no one wants to be the person who finally stands up and says: "Yes, this person is guilty and should be punished."
Then too, the jury selection process has become so mired in regulation and courtroom rules that it's become an elaborate game -- a game called "How Can We Stack The Jury?"
All of these things are magnified during a Big Time Show Trial. And all of these "wimp factors" achieve greater significance and greater intensity.
In this "scared-of-my-shadow" atmosphere the slightest doubt springs the defendant. With the hot glare of Big Media -- with the whole world watching -- jurors collapse. They can't take the heat.
Witness the O. J. Simspon and Robert Blake verdicts, to name a couple.
Oh sure, we'll throw the book at Leona Helmsley or Martha Stewart -- that's pure resentment, envy and class warfare (another leftist gift to the world).
But it seems we're all too happy to let some low down good-for-nothing get away with murder.
That's [almost] the whole picture. And it's not pretty. And we'd damned well better do something about it.
I'm afraid that's the real story behind the Casey Anthony verdict and I fear we're all complicit in it.
Oh, this too: A real honest-to-goodness murder trial ain't no soap opera. It ain't no show, folks. It's not there for your entertainment. Get a life, OK?

People Are Fearful; The Flash Mobs Must End!

Here are the results thus far of an informal Philadelphia Inquirer poll on the flash mob attacks in the city. It's clear that people are worried and concerned. They want action. Click here to vote in the poll. Mob attacks: How concerned are you?
1: No concern at all
	642 (4.1%)
2. Somewhat concerned
	1715 (11.0%)
3. Very concerned
	13277 (84.9%)
Total votes = 15634

Former Illinos Governor Guilty On 17 Counts

Ousted Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich was found guilty Monday on 17 counts. Paired with a conviction on lying to the FBI from his first trial, he faces up to 305 years in prison, though his sentence will likely be much shorter. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five to 20 years.
Click here for more.

Philly Flash Mob Breaks Woman's Leg

Another day, another flash mob.
The memories of a flash mob looting of a nearby department store were still fresh when a mob of young people attacked again near the center of Philadelphia's downtown area Saturday.
This time the young thugs were after pedestrians.
They shouted "run, run" and then they swarmed, breaking someone's leg and injuring others.
Yes, these mobs have hit other cities as well: Chicago and Washington to name a couple.
But I'm talking about Philly now because this is what I'm most familiar with and most concerned about.
Let's be clear on this: The flash mob attacks must end if the city is to have any future whatsoever. Forget "Philly Rising." Philly ain't goin nowhere but down if these hooligans are allowed to continue rampaging through city streets.
And as Mayor Michael Nutter seeks re-election, he'd better get on the case, pronto lest he find an newly-emerged independent candidate snapping at his heels.
Mature, law-abiding, taxpaying citizens are not amused -- not one bit.
Here's an excerpt from this morning's Philadelphia Daily News:

A woman's leg was broken and several other people were injured Saturday night when a large group of teens accosted pedestrians in Spring Garden, police and witnesses said.
Philadelphia police responded to two reports of pedestrians being assaulted by a large group of young people along Broad Street about 9:30 p.m.
One of those reports came from Emily Guendelsberger, 27, city editor for local arts and entertainment content for the Onion, the satirical newspaper and website. She was walking with seven friends on Green Street near Broad when they were accosted, she said. Guendelsberger, who remained hospitalized with a broken leg yesterday, declined to comment further.
A friend who was with her at the time, Daily News staff writer Molly Eichel, said that they were walking down Green Street when a group of teens was walking down Broad. "We heard kids yell, 'Run, run,' " Eichel said. "Some kid just came out of nowhere and punched my friend Charlie in the face."
Eichel said that when her group tried to run, about 20 teens chased them down the street. "They were kicking kids down and punching them when they were down," she said.

Click here for more on this story.

Dykstra Faces Drug, Theft Charges

Lenny Dykstra who was part of the World Championship Phillies team now faces drug and theft charges. It's a sad story, now breaking. Here's an excerpt from Action News, 6ABC:

Former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Lenny Dykstra has been charged with car theft and drug possession.
The Los Angeles County district attorney's office says Dykstra and two other men were charged Monday with grand theft auto, identity theft and other crimes. He faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted.

Click here to read the full story.

Church Sex Abuse Scandal: Vatican Fails Again

Here is an excerpt from a New York Times editorial on the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal and the failure of the Vatican to adequately address the problem:

The Vatican’s long overdue guidelines for fighting sexual abuse of children are, unfortunately, just that — flimsy guidelines for a global problem that requires an unequivocal mandate for church officials to work with secular authorities in prosecuting rogue priests.
Instead, the Vatican has issued nonbinding guidance that punts the scandal back to the authority of local bishops, who still will not face firm oversight or punishment for cover-ups that recycled hundreds of abusive priests.
The directive came two days before a new study of the abuse problem that cites the sexual and social turmoil of the 1960s as a possible factor in priests’ crimes. This is a rather bizarre stab at sociological rationalization and, in any case, beside the point that church officials went into denial and protected abusers.

Click here to read the full editorial

Sean Patrick Griffin: Successful Author And Rising Star

My friend and colleague Sean Patrick Griffin, Ph.D., has been Associate Professor in Criminal Justice at Penn State Abington since 2003 and he's just published a new book, Gaming The Game: The Story Behind The NBA Betting Scandal And The Man Who Made It Happen.
Dr. Griffin was Assistant Professor of Sociology at Clemson University (South Carolina) from 2000-03. His research areas are organized crime, white-collar crime, labor racketeering, corruption, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, and various aspects of policing.
Dr. Griffin is also the author of two books on African-American organized crime, including Black Brothers Inc., The Violent Rise and Fall of Philadelphia's Black Mafia (Milo, 2005/07). Black Entertainment Television (BET) based an episode of its popular "American Gangster" series on Black Brothers, Inc., and the book has been optioned to be made into at least one motion picture by Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way Productions for Warner Brothers Studios. Professor Griffin is a consultant on the film(s).
A strong and outspoken advocate of public scholarship, he has developed and carried out coursework regarding securities fraud and enforcement for audiences of professionals (i.e., attorneys and accountants), and is well into the research and writing of a book on stock fraud, expected to be completed in 2012.
Dr. Griffin commonly lends his expertise to an assortment of entities and individuals, including but not limited to: local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies (especially in re: organized crime, extortion, narcotics trafficking, tax evasion, and money laundering,); regulatory agencies (especially in re: gaming and stock fraud); social service agencies (especially in re: policing and violence against women); and print, radio, and television outlets throughout the U.S. (primarily in re: organized crime, white-collar crime, and related topics).
This amiable, dedicated and accomplished Professor has conducted research in the Netherlands on numerous occasions, focusing on such issues as the international trade in women, transnational organized crime, vice laws and enforcement, and the impact of immigration on the Dutch criminal justice system. He has appeared as an invited panelist for several forums on public policy, is a frequent guest on various local and national radio and television programs, and has been interviewed/featured extensively in print media.
A former Philadelphia Police Officer, Dr. Griffin resides in the city's suburbs with his wife and two children.
I congratulate him on his insight, his writings, his numerous successes and his many accomplishments.
I'm proud to know Sean Griffin and to call him a friend and colleague.

Christie Repeals Statutory Early Release Parole

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie wasted no time yesterday in signing the bill repealing the statutory early release parole program, a law that the Administration had sought to have rolled back 10 months ago on the prediction that it would put public safety at risk. With the Governor’s signature, release of another four prisoners scheduled for today was stopped; fourteen were scheduled for release tomorrow.

“From a public policy and public safety point of view, the statutory early release law was a disaster,” Governor Christie said. “Repeal should have happened 10 months ago, when we predicted and warned of the tragic circumstances that would follow if this law remained in effect. Nonetheless, I’m relieved and grateful that the legislature finally acted to repeal this failed law. Our communities and the safety of our citizens must get first consideration, and repeal of this law accomplishes that.”

In recent months, two inmates – both of whom had previously been denied parole while serving their prison terms – were charged with murder after being released under the mandatory early release law. Other inmates gaining early release have been involved in violent crimes, including one individual who robbed and beat a woman so badly police had difficulty identifying the victim. That prisoner had twice been denied parole while serving his sentence.

The bill passed by the Assembly yesterday and previously by the Senate includes another provision added by Governor Christie in a conditional veto issued on March 30. The conditional veto returns discretion to the parole board, where it belongs, for determining parole eligibility. Prior to the Governor’s action, a mandatory 3-year parole review for all inmates was imposed on the Parole Board – even for those inmates who made no efforts toward rehabilitation.

“These are decisions that belong not with lawmakers but with professionals who have taken on this responsibility successfully for decades,” Governor Christie said.

Christie Signs 'Sara's Law' To Protect Kids

On Wednesday, April 6, 2011, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed Sara’s Law, establishing a next-of-kin registry that provides law enforcement officials with immediate access to contact information in the event a family member is involved or injured in a motor vehicle accident. The bill is named for Sara Dubinin of Sayreville who fell into a coma and died as a result of a 2007 car accident. It took nearly two hours for her parents to be notified of the incident.

“As the father of four children, I know first-hand that it is a parent’s natural instinct to protect their child from harm and to be with that child in their time of need,” said Governor Christie. ”My heart goes out to the Dubinins for their terrible loss. By signing Sara’s Law, we are putting a commonsense process in place to ensure a family facing the terrible difficultly of a child in harm or danger is not further strained through notification that is delayed or too late.”

New Jersey joins a growing trend of states implementing similar notification measures. Six other states use next-of-kin registries. They are Florida, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Colorado and Delaware.

Under the new program, the holder of any New Jersey driver’s license or non-driver identification card has the opportunity to voluntarily submit the name and telephone number of two emergency contact persons to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC).

If the licensee is involved in an accident resulting in serious injury, death, or incapacitation, law enforcement personnel would be able to utilize the program to notify the licensee’s emergency contacts.

To expand the number of teenagers eligible to participate in the next-of-kin program, the measure lowers the age at which a non-driver identification card can be obtained from 17 to 14.

Certain safeguards have been put in place to protect against unauthorized or improper access. For instance, any information submitted to the MVC will only be accessible by certain MVC employees and law enforcement personnel. Additionally, emergency contact information will not be subject to public disclosure under the “Open Public Records Act” and information is not discoverable as a public record, except upon a subpoena issued by a grand jury or a court order in a criminal matter. There will also be a delayed effective date of 18 months in order for the MVC to program their computers to process the new information made available by the bill.

Sponsors of Sara’s Law include Senator Joseph F. Vitale (D-Middlesex), Assemblymen John S. Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), Craig J. Coughlin (D-Middlesex) and Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson).

On Friday, April 8, 2011, Governor Christie also signed the following:

S-831/A-2513 (Codey, Beck/McKeon) – Permits wagers to be placed at racetracks or casino simulcasting facilities in advance for races not simulcast at facility under certain circumstances if race is simulcast at other facilities in the State

S-2130/A-3058 (Sarlo, O’Toole/Greenwald, Chivukula) – Revises sales and use tax to maintain compliance with certain terms and conditions of Streamlined Sales and Use Tax

S-2390/A-3511 (Sarlo, Whelan/Burzichelli, Dance, Wagner, Casagrande, Vainieri Huttle) – Decreases annual standardbred race dates to 75 minimum upon consent from Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey; increases to 5% maximum amount of certain purse moneys that may be distributed to aid horsemen

Bateman: Let's Vote Down Early Release Program

New Jersey State Senator Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R-Somerset/Morris), a member of both the Senate's Judiciary and Law and Public Safety Committees, has endorsed legislation ending New Jersey's early release program which makes some prisoners who have passed their parole date and have less than six months on their sentences eligible to be released and called for a floor vote on legislation repealing the law at the next Senate Voting Session on April 28th.

Governor Corzine signed the law allowing early release in the final hours of his term as Governor.

"I voted against this law last year and I support its immediate repeal today. The program does crippling damage in the public's faith that government is doing all it can to protect them from violent offenders, " Bateman stated.

Bateman noted two news reports on recent homicides that have been linked to prisoners freed under the early release law as evidence that the program is dangerous and must be ended.

"There should be no headlong rush to release inmates before they have completed their sentences, " Bateman continued, "It makes a mockery of our judicial system by saying we are tough on crime and then letting prisoners out before they have served the time to which they have been lawfully sentenced. We need to end this egregious law, before any more citizens are put unnecessarily at risk."

The next voting session of the New Jersey Senate is scheduled for April 28th. "I have asked the Senate President to list for a vote on that date the Governor's conditional veto of S-2308, which includes a repeal of the early release law," Bateman said.

Sen. Allen Backs Christie On Early Release Program

New Jersey Senator Diane Allen (R- Burlington/Camden), prime sponsor of legislation to repeal New Jersey's mandatory early release statute, issued this statement following Governor Christie's announcement that he has inserted repeal language into his conditional veto of S-2308:

"The Governor's action provides an additional path to repeal New Jersey's early release law, and I am pleased that he has put his full support behind this effort. With two homicides already committed by inmates released under the program, repealing this misguided policy should be priority number one for the Legislature. A growing chorus of law enforcement professionals has joined my call for ending New Jersey's early release program because it is a threat to public safety, and I encourage Legislative leaders to join our cause by scheduling a vote on repeal at the earliest possible date."

Early release is publicly opposed by the Burlington County Sheriff, the Camden County Prosecutor, and three unions representing New Jersey Corrections Officers: the N.J. Law Enforcement Supervisors Association, the N.J. Superior Officers Association and the N.J. Law Enforcement Commanding Officers Association.