Author: Mark Draughn
Forensic Testing and the Single Experimenter
In a post a few weeks ago, I pointed out that Mississippi dentist Dr. Michael West, a bite mark analyst who often gives expert testimony in criminal trials, isn’t much of a scientist. I based my conclusion on Radley Balko’s Reason article, which included this description of West’s methodology: But even in an already imprecise… Read more
Rudy Giuliani Explains Freedom
I think Rudy Giuliani may well be the most authoritarian of the mainstream presidential candidates. The man loves power too much. Here he is in a speech from 1994, before 9/11 made people forget what an ass he is: We look upon authority too often and focus over and over again, for 30 or 40… Read more
Congratulations Mirriam and Drue!
Mirriam at Not Guilty finally gave birth to her twins—two baby boys! I don’t know the details, but I know she had a hard time getting pregnant and went through IVF hell to do it. Then, when it was time to get the babies out, she had to have a Caesarean section. It all sounds… Read more
Traffic Enforcement Profiteering in Chicago
Yesterday I wrote about the moral perils of punishing people in a way that is profitable for the government. Today, the Gary Washburn of the Chicago Tribune gives me another example: Driving-related fines and fees provided the city treasury with more than $210 million last year. That represented about 4 percent of the 2006 budget,… Read more
Evil Lawmaking: Profitable Punishment
Yesterday I wrote about the evils of free punishment, which tempts lawmakers into punishing people just because they can. But free punishment is just the low endpoint of a much bigger problem: Profitable punishment, also known as fines. There’s nothing inherently evil about fining wrongdoers, but it carries the risk of turning law enforcement into… Read more