Mentally Ill and Law Enforcement

Due to cuts in the public health system, especially mental health services, law enforcement is increasingly becoming the front line in dealing with the mentally ill in communities

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/as-mental-health-resources-shrink-police-become-front-line-with-lives-at-stake/2011/04/11/AFPjB15D_story.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/us/05mental.html?_r=1&ref=us

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention

http://www.findyouthinfo.gov/topic_preventingViolence.shtml

Poke around this site and see what you find.  There is a lot on juvenile programs including if they are working or not.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

Arson Probe

What is the intersection between criminal justice and fire science here?
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/04/15/3004754/texas-forensic-science-commission.html

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

Misha Glenny investigates global crime networks | Video on TED.com

Misha Glenny investigates global crime networks | Video on TED.com

DNA

Hey everyone!  Here is an interesting article on DNA:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42755013/ns/technology_and_science-science/


What do you think?  Did you notice how many WRONG answers DNA initially gave scientists?  What are the implications for criminal justice?

Economics and Policing

What happens when budget crises reduce police forces?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17YouRhere-t.html?_r=1

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/texas-legislature/headlines/20110418-texas-prison-system-budget-cuts-stir-up-concerns.ece

http://www.northjersey.com/news/041811_Paterson_layoff_of_125_police_officers_draws_protests.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/15/us/politics/15safety.html?ref=politics

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704530204576232812464584064.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1

http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/sweeping-new-prison-plan-would-save-state-millions-1394632.html

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

Adam Walsh Law

Adam Walsh Law

Is the law still relevant?  More importantly, is the law relevant in all states?

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_17850614

http://www.fd.org/odstb_adamwalsh.htm

http://www.johntfloyd.com/blog/2010/06/19/adam-walsh-act-under-constitutional-scrutiny/

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

Pulitzer Prize

Local Reporting Winner:
http://www.suntimes.com/4900802-417/sun-times-reporters-photographer-win-pulitzer-for-local-reporting.html

The reporting was on crime in Chicago.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

How Do Other Countries Handle Offenders?

Check out what the Justice Policy Institute has to say about comparing US criminal justice policies with other developed countries:
http://www.justicepolicy.org/research/2322

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

NarcoTerrorism

Mexican Cartels and Meth

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/23/AR2010112303703.html

Mexican Drug Cartels

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126890893

DEA and NarcoTerrorism

http://www.justice.gov/dea/ongoing/narco-terrorism.html

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

The Cost of Crime

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

How Much Does Crime Cost?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101006141604.htm?sms_ss=twitter&at_xt=4cdb3386293b4ae9,0

Murderabilia

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40073425/ns/today-today_people/

Law Updates

Miranda
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2194/is_5_79/ai_n53733417/


Roper v Simmons (Juveniles and the Death Penalty)
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/03-633.ZS.html


Justice Stevens and the Death Penalty
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/28/us/28memo.html?_r=3&hp


TSA Pat Downs
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/24/AR2010112404510.html

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

Working Dogs

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS??


Dogs and PTSD
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/08/03/national/main6739176.shtml


http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/12/airforce-PTSD-dogs-123010w/




Working Dogs
http://www.tsa.gov/lawenforcement/programs/editorial_1886.shtm


http://www.atf.gov/explosives/programs/explosives-detection-canines/

Technology and Law Enforcement

33 Cops Were Fatally Shot Last Year Despite Body Armor

A surprising number of police officers killed and injured each year were wearing "bulletproof" vests that gave them comfort and mobility but left key body parts uncovered and vulnerable, says the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The bullet that tore through Clairton, Pa., police officer James Kuzak's body Monday struck him in the left shoulder, just beyond the coverage of his protective vest, a virtually unavoidable danger officers face as they try to strike a balance between maneuverability and safety.

Kuzak, 39, was in critical condition yesterday. Others shot in the line of duty have not been so lucky. Thirty-three officers who were fatally shot in 2009 were wearing body armor, say FBI data. Most were shot in the head, but others were hit in the neck, throat and upper torso. "There's just those areas of the body that can't be protected without hindering mobility," said Ed Hinchey, a former Forest Hills police sergeant who in 2004 was shot in the groin just under his bulletproof vest. Hinchey is an armor technical specialist for Safariland, a major manufacturer of body armor worldwide. From 2000 to 2009, 36 of the 97 slain officers who suffered torso wounds despite wearing vests took a bullet through an armhole or shoulder area of the vest.


http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11097/1137641-53.stm




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Dogs and Bullet Proof Vests (Video)

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

Social Networks and Law Enforcement

Here are two articles on social networks (Facebook, Twitter, etc) and law enforcement:


How Police Departments are Making Policies on Social Media Use
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Police departments are scrambling to develop rules on what officers can and cannot do online, says the New York Times "This is something that all the police chiefs around the country, if you're not dealing with it, you better deal with it," said Chief Mark Marshall of Smithfield, Va., president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which has its own model policy.


Police departments are scrambling to develop rules on what officers can and cannot do online, says the New York Times "This is something that all the police chiefs around the country, if you're not dealing with it, you better deal with it," said Chief Mark Marshall of Smithfield, Va., president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which has its own model policy. Most policies try to balance a police department's interests against First Amendment protections for officers. Many include prohibitions against posting statements that could discredit or reflect badly on a department, that illustrate reckless behavior or that disparage people based on race, religion, or sexual orientation. Posting crime scene photos or other evidence from criminal cases online is generally prohibited. Albuquerque's policy prohibits officers from identifying themselves as police employees or posting photos of departmental insignia - badges, uniforms, cruisers - without permission. Pueblo, Co., bans officers from gossiping online with outsiders about department affairs.


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/07/us/07police.html?_r=2&hpw




More Police In Trouble Over Social Media Policy Violations
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Police officers are being disciplined or finding themselves at the wrong end of a department policy based on their use (or misuse) of electronic media, Terrence Dwyer writes on Policeone.com. Sites including Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter have caused unexpected problems for officers. This trend follows Internet-related disciplinary run-ins resulting from officer blogs, viewing of Internet pornography sites on department computers, and officer websites displaying questionable material in terms of taste and propriety. Most recently, a Columbia, Mo, officer was disciplined for comments he made on the website for a local newspaper.


As a generation of new officers who have grown up with access to social networking sites enter the ranks, Dwyer says, they are less inclined to see the problem with the sites and employer limits on their off-duty use. Just as a prior generation of officers were forbidden to frequent certain establishments when off-duty, a new generation of officers may be precluded from their activity on the Internet. Utica, N.Y., has sought to define these limits by enacting a policy for an officer's use and postings on social networking sites. Police Chief Mark Williams has crafted a use policy that focuses on protecting the reputation of the department and the individual officer.


PoliceOne



WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS??

Interesting Resource

On my daily read of Ted Gest's recap, I came across an article on juvenile justice and jumped to the linked site.


This is the site:
http://www.thecrimereport.org/


There is a TON of information on this site. It would be a good start for researching CJ specific topics.


Enjoy!
Erica

Welcome!

Welcome to the CJC Topic Chat.  Let's talk about current events in criminal justice, fire science, and emergency management.

Who knows, you may find great resources for your course project!

Enjoy,
Erica