Scott Greenfield and Gideon have been kicking Glenn Reynolds around the schoolyard because of his ideas for combating overcharging by prosecutors who pile on charges they know they can't prove. Broadly speaking, Scott and Gid think most of Reynolds's ideas are silly or dangerous, and they are annoyed that his ideas get so much attention just because he's a well-known blogger … [Read more...] about A Modest Proposal for Preventing Prosecutors From Overcharging
Suspicions About the SORNA Challenge
Apparently something called the National Institute of Justice is offering prizes for whoever comes up with exciting and innovative ways to study cost and effectiveness of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). The appellatesquawk quotes from the breathless email announcement: NIJ CHALLENGE: COST-BENEFIT OF SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION LAWAre you up for … [Read more...] about Suspicions About the SORNA Challenge
Nothing to Say About the Zimmerman Trial
I've written very little about George Zimmerman's killing of Trayvon Martin, and I have nothing to say about the trial. It's a lethal-force incident, with a claim of self-defense, and in years of reading about such incidents, I've learned a few important lessons:(1) These cases are very fact-specific: Guilt or innocence can turn on just a few details, and it will be hard to … [Read more...] about Nothing to Say About the Zimmerman Trial
On Criticizing Cops Over Questionable Behavior (update)
I recently read a story about two cops who arrested a 74-year-old woman they claimed had attacked them -- although video of the incident doesn't match with their account. If I were writing about this incident, about all I could say is that it looks like the cops overreacted and then exaggerated to cover the asses. To some extent, that's just common sense, but it's a fair … [Read more...] about On Criticizing Cops Over Questionable Behavior (update)
Another Sign That the Anti-Bullying Police Force Might Not Work Out
A few days ago I pointed out that there is a certain irony in the fact that criminal anti-bullying laws would mean that the police are in charge of stopping bullying. Here's another example of how well that might work: Nineteen-year-old Pullman, Washington, resident Andrew Cain took his own life on Saturday. Now his sister, Alise Smith, is asking for an apology from the local … [Read more...] about Another Sign That the Anti-Bullying Police Force Might Not Work Out