Comments on: The runaway governor: truly scary justice “reforms” http://apublicdefender.com/2008/02/07/the-runaway-governor-truly-scary-justice-reforms/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:50:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Ilah http://apublicdefender.com/2008/02/07/the-runaway-governor-truly-scary-justice-reforms/#comment-15570 Ilah Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:27:25 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/2008/02/07/the-runaway-governor-truly-scary-justice-reforms/#comment-15570 There are other states working the appeal of DNA databases as well. It's one of the hottest "prevention" schemes going. Never mind that access to DNA samples and testing have thus far done squat to increase clearance rates. As for the sex offender legislation, she may want to take a peek at the ruling from Maine's Supreme Court--the one where the court pointed out, among other things, that requiring someone to appear in person before law enforcement four times a year was different from mailing in a form once a year. And if the gov isn't interested in those finer points--ones that forced the state lege to scramble to rewrite the laws or risk losing the registry altogether--perhaps there's someone who would be. There are other states working the appeal of DNA databases as well. It’s one of the hottest “prevention” schemes going. Never mind that access to DNA samples and testing have thus far done squat to increase clearance rates.

As for the sex offender legislation, she may want to take a peek at the ruling from Maine’s Supreme Court–the one where the court pointed out, among other things, that requiring someone to appear in person before law enforcement four times a year was different from mailing in a form once a year.

And if the gov isn’t interested in those finer points–ones that forced the state lege to scramble to rewrite the laws or risk losing the registry altogether–perhaps there’s someone who would be.

]]> By: Urban Compass | Blog Archive | Governor Rell Delivers Annual State Address, Spending Plan http://apublicdefender.com/2008/02/07/the-runaway-governor-truly-scary-justice-reforms/#comment-15568 Urban Compass | Blog Archive | Governor Rell Delivers Annual State Address, Spending Plan Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:54:09 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/2008/02/07/the-runaway-governor-truly-scary-justice-reforms/#comment-15568 [...] and discussion of the governor’s proposals can also be found at A Public Defender, where Rell’s criminal justice reforms are critiqued; CT Local Politics, with brief comments [...] [...] and discussion of the governor’s proposals can also be found at A Public Defender, where Rell’s criminal justice reforms are critiqued; CT Local Politics, with brief comments [...]

]]> By: SaucyVixen http://apublicdefender.com/2008/02/07/the-runaway-governor-truly-scary-justice-reforms/#comment-15562 SaucyVixen Thu, 07 Feb 2008 14:59:33 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/2008/02/07/the-runaway-governor-truly-scary-justice-reforms/#comment-15562 As you likely already know, the DNA at arraignment bit really got me going. Since I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, I chose to laugh. I always maintained that "presumption of innocence" was just fancy legalese -- if it weren't VOP hearings and forfeiture by misconduct hearing would be WAY different. But now we're going into creepy Orwellian territory. I'm a'scared. As you likely already know, the DNA at arraignment bit really got me going. Since I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, I chose to laugh.

I always maintained that “presumption of innocence” was just fancy legalese — if it weren’t VOP hearings and forfeiture by misconduct hearing would be WAY different. But now we’re going into creepy Orwellian territory. I’m a’scared.

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