States Pull Back after Decades of Get-tough Laws
from The Associated Press
Nearly half the country and the federal government have adopted some kind of hardcore laws, while "get tough on crime" became the mantra of politicians running for everything from the local city council to the president of the United States. But after cracking down and incarcerating hundreds of thousands, cash-strapped states including New York, Kentucky and Kansas are pulling back. They face an uncommon confluence of dire economics and prisons bursting at the seams and several have changed, in whole or in part, their stances on hard punishment. More

U.S. Traffic Deaths Drop to 47-year Low
from the Baltimore Sun
The number of traffic deaths in the United States dropped to the lowest level since 1961 last year as skyrocketing gas prices and economic recession cut into the number of miles Americans drove. The estimated 37,313 deaths reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration represent a 9.1 percent decline from the 41,059 fatalities recorded in 2007. More

Survey: Fewer than Half of Hispanics Believe They will be Treated Fairly by Police
from The Associated Press via the Los Angeles Times
Fewer than half of Hispanics in the U.S. believe they will be treated fairly by police or the courts, showing a level of distrust greater than that of whites but less than blacks, according to surveys. The report released Tuesday by the Pew Hispanic Center highlights a widening disconnect in racial justice: At a time when Hispanics are interacting more with law enforcement due in part to their growing population as well as stepped up immigration enforcement, they are showing skepticism. More

Recession Creating a 'Perfect Storm' for Crime a Flawed Forecast
from the New York Daily News
New York Police brass are shooting down fears the city may be headed for a "perfect storm" of crime with a cannonade of good-news statistics. They testified at a City Council hearing Monday on whether the NYPD's crime statistics are being affected by the recession, the city's budget woes and shrinking police manpower. More

A Shift to Make the Border Safe, From the Inside Out
from The New York Times
Changing border policies under the Obama administration include Ms. Napolitano’s initiative to send an additional 360 agents to the 2,000-mile border with Mexico, announced two weeks ago, is intended not only to respond to growing concerns about national security, she said, but also to change the way Americans view the threat. Agents are still assigned to stop drugs and illegal immigrants from entering the United States. But hundreds of additional agents are being redeployed to stop the weapons and cash that flow into Mexico. More

Behind the Badge
from Capital News 9
It used to be pretty easy for police to track down the bad guys because they were usually hiding out relatively close to the crime scene. But the expansion of the Internet is making it easier for criminals to strike from thousands of miles away with just a few simple key strokes. More

DHS, Drug Interdiction and Common Sense
from CSO
Fighting drug cartels requires that all agencies get on the same page. Jim Giermanski says Memorada of Understanding are producing the opposite effect. When one looks at the issue of drugs, border crossings, and law enforcement authority, we find that the agency responsible for interdicting and investigating drug traffic doesn't have directly all the legal means or authority to do so. More

Florida City Considers Jail Transport Pact with Other Cities
from the St. Petersburg Times
A countywide prisoner transport system, reminiscent of the "paddy wagons" of the early 1900s, may soon be taking people arrested by the Gulfport, Fla., Police Department to jail. Interim City Manager Jim O'Reilly is recommending that the City Council agree Tuesday to join the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and other cities in a consolidated program funded by an expanded U.S. Department of Justice Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. More

The Growth of Specialty Courts: It's a Good Solution for Alabama
from the Anniston Star
The most promising national policy trend in alternative corrections has been the emergence of specialty courts. These alternative courts — such as mental health or drug courts — route eligible offenders into the appropriate social-service delivery system while maintaining accountability and protecting public safety. More

Virginia Jail Program a Model for Corrections
from VaNcNews.com
The Southside Regional Jail’s "Community Model In Corrections" program in Greensville County, Va., has been a big hit. The program allows inmates to solve their own problems by discussing life issues with each other. Officers stay out of the way as much as possible, and the statistics of inmates going through the program have shown a remarkable difference, when they are released, from the typical inmate after they are set free. More