Terrorism and U.S Prisons Update

A tad old, but here's a good update on the overall picture of America's prison problem. And it isn't Guantanano or terrorists that are the problem. As somebody once said, "we have met the enemy, and it is us". I am a proud American, and I think we can do better. Senator Webb, good luck. I'm on your side. Can I have a job?

From Slate: Guantanamo is the Least of Our Problems by Dahlia Lithwick.

Also from Corey Yung, America's Emerging War on Sex Offenders is the latest by America's top sex offense criminal law analyst.

This is the abstract:

This article addresses four central questions. First, what is the difference between normal law enforcement policy and a “war” on crime? Second, assuming such a line can be discerned, has the enactment of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act (“AWA”) in combination with other sex offender laws triggered a transition to a criminal war on sex criminals? Third, if such a criminal war is emerging, what will be the likely effects of such a transition? Fourth, if such a criminal war is emerging with substantial negative consequences, how can it be stopped?
By reviewing America’s history of criminal wars, primarily the War on Drugs, the article identifies three essential characteristics of a criminal war: marshalling of resources, myth creation, and exception making. It concludes that the federalization of sex offender policy brought about by the AWA elevated law enforcement to a nascent criminal war on sex crimes. This change could have repercussions as substantial as the drug war has had on American criminal justice an society.

Yung has completed another article, about judicial activism.

Here, at the Economist, is a piece called America's Unjust Sex Offender Laws. Includes an audio interview podcast with Sarah Geraghty, a lawyer and activist for reform in Georgia.

More Common Sense

Link here for this study, thanks to Doc Berman. Laws based on actual fact as opposed to imagined fictions could make the world a better place.

Does Residential Proximity Matter? A Geographic Analysis of Sex Offense Recidivism

Grant Duwe

Minnesota Department of Corrections, GDuwe@co.doc.state.mn.us

William Donnay

Minnesota Department of Corrections

Richard Tewksbury

University of Louisville

In an effort to reduce sex offense recidivism, local and state governments have recently passed legislation prohibiting sex offenders from living within a certain distance (500 to 2,500 feet) of child congregation locations such as schools, parks, and daycare centers. Examining the potential deterrent effects of a residency restrictions law in Minnesota, this study analyzed the offense patterns of every sex offender released from Minnesota correctional facilities between 1990 and 2002 who was reincarcerated for a new sex offense prior to 2006. Given that not one of the 224 sex offenses would have likely been prevented by residency restrictions, the findings from this study provide little support for the notion that such restrictions would significantly reduce sexual recidivism.

Ready to Rumble?

Here, is the headline of the day (Discourse dot net on tip from Progressive Law Blog aka Prolawblogs). A Demonstration, Miami for Peace is sponsoring this action with Global Exchange, CODEPINK Women for Peace, United for Peace and Justice, the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, Veterans for Peace South Florida, Miami Chapter of Amnesty International and many others.

This is a close second, S. 223. A bill to require Senate candidates to file designations, statements, and reports in electronic form; to the Committee on Rules and Administration (from Votelaw, which I will be adding to the "roll" here or on the Poliblog).

Additional Curiosities Related to "Criminal Politics":

"Sexual politics" means a lot of things in Washington, even how men and women relate to each other, defining notions about femininity and masculinity. For better or for worse, as in the marriage vows. In Washington "sexual politics" is usually more about power than sex. The Republicans are the Daddy Party, the Democrats the Mommy Party. But the stereotypes are changing right before our eyes, and smart pols will take due notice now because public expectations and psychological perceptions will shape their future. Suzanne Fields/
WashingtonTimes

Not Ship-Shape at State, Sherlock (WPost)

Lefty v Righty Churches: Do Donors Affect or Reflect the Flock's Thinking? (WPost)

UPDATE: I have been struggling for a label for these trendy, newsy, dailies that I post, having previously tried "currents" "trends" and variations thereof. NOW I HAVE IT. Henceforth, these will be THE CROW'S NEST. Apologies but I could not resist a reference here to "running point" which is something I've been asked to do and Army (and football) guys should appreciate. Contrast this with "on point" which the big legal guns know all about.