about 2 years ago - No comments
Would you believe it? Two reversals in two weeks! Two! The Appellate Court yesterday reversed a conviction on the grounds that a Motion to Suppress should have been granted on an issue, apparently, of first impression in Connecticut. We conclude that the defendant was unlawfully detained, that his consent to search the vehicle was tainted
about 2 years ago - 7 comments
The big news of the weekend thus far, for me at least, has been the announcement by the NYCLU that it is filing suit in New York, alleging Constitutional violations by the State for its failure to provide adequate resources to public defenders. From the press release: “Every day, in courtrooms throughout the state, New
about 2 years ago - No comments
Veteran’s Day edition! Governor Rell is opposed to the $260million proposal to build new prisons, which was covered here. This NYT piece considers whether suspension of parole is an Ex-Post Facto violation. Norm covers the CT angle, while Scott has the New York perspective. Indignant Indigent has a great post on why it is ineffective
about 2 years ago - 1 comment
Say two thirds of those polled in this latest Quinnipiac University poll. There you go legislators. Only 35 percent of voters support a so-called “third strike” law where a person convicted of three violent felonies automatically is sentenced to life in prison, while 63 percent say sentences should be decided on a case-by-case basis. Oh
about 2 years ago - 2 comments
After being denied a new trial in State court, Michael Skakel is now going straight to federal court. His attorneys filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus (not petition for new trial as the Courant first reported), raising essentially the same failed claims from his direct appeal to the Connecticut Supreme Court. I’m not
about 2 years ago - No comments
Yesterday, the CT Supreme Court issued State v. Randolph [pdf], reversing a murder conviction. The Court agreed with the defendant that he should not have been tried together for two separate offenses. Here is the standard for severance in Connecticut: The defendant bears a heavy burden of showing that the denial of severance resulted in
about 2 years ago - 5 comments
It’s Monday. Have you set your clocks back one hour? The topic du jour is snitching, so let’s start off with the Windypundit’s exploration of the snitching debate from an economics perspective. Speaking of economics, Grits has this absolutely terrific post on why economic theory doesn’t apply to plea bargaining. Corrections Sentencing follows up on
about 2 years ago - 14 comments
Finally some good news on the criminal justice reform front. Mike Lawlor, co-chair of the Judiciary Committee, is also on the State Risk Assessment Board, which is charged with – you guessed it – assessing the risk of the state’s registered sex offenders. Lawlor wants to streamline the registry so as to provide more relevant
about 2 years ago - 1 comment
The Courant has this article today, seeking to make much of the under-utilized persistent felony statutes in Connecticut. All it does, instead, is underline the need for more rehabilitation programs. Meet Richard D. Halapin Jr., a small-time career burglar and thief who earlier this year broke into his sister’s home and stole the family’s jewelry
about 2 years ago - No comments
Stan Simpson has this fine piece in the Courant today, urging legislators to learn from the State’s past and resist the urge to simply expand prisons as a solution to reforming the criminal justice system. The last time the state went on a massive prison expansion escapade, it spent $1 billion to build 12 new
about 3 years ago
As a current CO at the Prison MCTC (Maryland Correctional Tranning Center) in MD I would say that this has been a terrible decision, Yes it may cut down the inmate to inmate assults but if they are not fighting themselves and they are housed with there own gang, guess who they direct their violence to….STAFF. Assults on staff have tripled, we have basically lost control of the institution. There are those who might argue that this is an acceptable risk but obviously they do not work the tiers. When the gangs were housed together or just randomly as it has allways been they kept themselves in check. No one had time to organize against us because they were too worried about the rival gangs. And I do believe that with 2 officers killed in the line of duty this year alone that outnumbers all of the gang related deaths in the maryland doc this year…..so Hell no it’s not working
about 3 years ago
your comment “And I do believe that with 2 officers killed in the line of duty this year alone that outnumbers all of the gang related deaths in the maryland doc this year…..so Hell no it’s not working” that’s cute and so typical of “law enforcement” to think their lives are more valuable than the inmates. Many INNOCENT inmates get drug in the middle of gang bullcrap; my husband being one of them. Thank god he didn’t die, but according to you, even if he did, well it still wouldn’t matter, as long as it wasnt “STAFF”! So sick…typical hillbilly ass CO mentality.
about 3 years ago
Lady , your husband is in there probably for his gang activities. So for him to suffer for his actions is not surprising.As a long time CO , i can tell every one that it is a very hard job.I empathize with the other CO. I also work in the Hagerstown region.I do not wish death or harm to anyone.But if there actions invite harm then there is not much that anyone can do to stop it.I don’t think that there are very many staff ( with a few possible exceptions) that invite this harm.That is what is meant by staff not being invovled.The best thing that your husband can do is to get out of that gang.Take my advise from CO with a decade of experience.