Category: News

The stabbing on Friday of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd in 2020, at a special unit inside a Tucson, Ariz., prison is the latest in a series of attacks against high-profile inmates in the troubled, short-staffed federal Bureau of Prisons.

The assault comes less than five months after Larry Nassar, the doctor convicted of sexually abusing young female gymnasts, was stabbed multiple times at the federal prison in Florida. It also follows the release of Justice Department reports detailing incompetence and mismanagement at federal detention centers that led to the deaths in recent years of James Bulger, the Boston gangster known as Whitey, and Jeffrey Epstein, who had been charged with sex trafficking.

Full story: Stabbing of Derek Chauvin Raises Questions About Inmate Safety

A 58% majority of Americans think the U.S. criminal justice system is not tough enough in its handling of crime, marking a sharp reversal from the prior reading in 2020 when a record-low 41% said the same. Another 26% of U.S. adults currently say the system is about right, while 14% think it is too tough.

The latest readings on this measure, from Gallup’s Oct. 2-23 annual Crime survey, mark the sixth time the question has been asked since 1992. The three readings between 1992 and 2003 found solid majorities of Americans, ranging from 65% to 83%, saying the criminal justice system was not tough enough on crime. Yet, the next time the question was asked, in 2016, less than half of U.S. adults thought the system needed to be tougher and nearly as many said it was about right. These views were generally steady in 2020.

Full story: Americans More Critical of U.S. Criminal Justice System

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation barring individuals convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence from possessing firearms for at least an eight-year-period…

Full story: Michigan continues overhaul of gun laws with extended firearm ban for misdemeanor domestic violence

Jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict on federal civil rights charges against a former Kentucky police officer charged in the police raid that killed Breonna Taylor, prompting the judge to declare a mistrial…

Full story: Judge declares mistrial in Breonna Taylor civil rights case | AP News

The local branch of the NAACP and city officials, including members of the Duluth Police Department, have collaborated on a new vehicle and pedestrian stop policy — one that could make it less likely for a driver to get pulled over for a burned-out headlight or other minor infractions.

Under the new policy, which is still in draft form, officers could make stops for equipment violations only if there was a risk to public safety. It also says that short of “articulable suspicion or probable cause,” officers must stick to addressing the original basis for the stop and they need to identify themselves by name as soon as it is practical in the interaction.

Full story: Duluth police, NAACP together write new policy on traffic stops

Portland City Council unanimously approved a proposal Wednesday establishing guidelines for the city’s voter-approved police oversight system…

Full story: Portland City Council approves new police oversight system, despite public concerns – OPB

The NYPD will freeze hiring of new police officers for the foreseeable future as part of “extremely painful” city budget cuts set to be unveiled by Mayor Adams on Thursday, the Daily Ne…..

Full story: NYPD to freeze hiring of new cops as part of Adams’ ‘extremely painful’ budget cuts: sources

In a 5-2 decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court declared drug recognition expert testimony reliable, despite admitting concerns about it…

Full story: New Jersey’s top court deems drug recognition experts ‘reliable enough’ – New Jersey Monitor

For two years, Texas has pushed boundaries on the U.S.-Mexico border: Busing migrants across America, jailing thousands for trespass and stringing razor wire along the Rio Grande.

In a new challenge to the federal government’s authority over immigration, Texas lawmakers on Tuesday night gave final approval to a bill that would allow police to arrest migrants who enter the country illegally and let local judges order them to leave the country.

The bill, which Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to sign, would become one of the nation’s strictest immigration laws if allowed to take effect.

Full story: Texas wants the power to arrest and order migrants to leave the US. Can it do that?

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared public emergencies in response to the rise in youth violence and opioid overdoses. The number of people dying from opioid overdoses is skyrocketing in the District while the number of young people arrested for serious and violent crimes like carjacking and homicide also is on the rise. To help address the problems, Bowser declared public…..

Full story: DC mayor issues public emergencies on opioid overdoses, juvenile crimes – NBC4 Washington