by Diane on January 11, 2010
Ahh - Optimism!
Is that some light I see at the end of the crime and justice tunnel? Well, by golly, I think it is!
Let’s start out this New Year by reviewing some recent encouraging news from the crime and justice front.
First, the overall crime rate in America is down. It may not feel like it where you live, some states had better showings than others, but nationwide the statistics are startling, especially since many believe in times of economic stress crime rates usually go up. This proves that’s not necessarily so. [click to continue…]
by Diane on January 4, 2010
Umar Wanted To Kill Americans
There is a hue and cry across the land for tighter security at airports following the thwarted Christmas day terror attack by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab on board the Northwest Airline flight bound for Detroit. As if making us take off more clothes at check points, or demanding we sit in our seats for the last hour of a flight or removing blankets from our laps will insure safer flights.
I cannot jump on this bandwagon.
Concentrating on more ways to punish all the rest of us because of a delusional student terrorist from Nigeria makes about as much sense as what happened after … [click to continue…]
by Diane on December 7, 2009
Epitome of a Ticking Time Bomb
Attention all parole boards. Attention all governors who may be contemplating year-end commutations of inmate sentences. Also, may I have the attention of all judges who routinely bang the gavel at bail hearings and allow dangerous career criminals back on our streets?
It doesn’t matter how overcrowded our prisons are – it’s time to re-think what you’re doing!
Please, look closely at the recent case of 37 year old Maurice Clemmons, the career criminal who got break after break from civil servants in two states (Arkansas and Washington) and then fell through the cracks of our justice system’s so-called safety net. The end result was an execution style shooting spree in Lakewood, Washington that left four dedicated police officers dead over a coffee shop breakfast table. [click to continue…]
by Diane on November 16, 2009
Contaminated Feed, Contaminated Beef
My husband says I worry too much. Naturally, I don’t agree. But there I was at the grocery store the other day and my mind began to work overtime.
Given the nature of the work I do – writing about crime and justice – I admit my brain doesn’t necessarily think like other people’s brains.
As I went about spending $271.52, which took a while, I noticed an unattended child in the cookie aisle. Fast as a cat he opened a bag, snatched a cookie and shoved it in his mouth. He then expertly sealed up the package again lickedy-split. No one was the wiser except for me.
In retrospect I think I should have stopped the boy, demanded he take me to his mother, been part of the ‘village’ that it takes to raise our children correctly. Honestly, there just wasn’t time, he was that fast.
The kid’s actions left me with the feeling that terrorist attacks on our food supply could also happen that fast. [click to continue…]
by Diane on September 27, 2009
Terror Suspect Najibullah Zazi
Crime happens when we least expect it. Criminal activity festers in places we can’t imagine and in the minds of those we least expect. We should not be surprised when it is discovered.
The recent arrest of three seemingly low-key, non-descript men on charges of lying to federal agents about a plot to blow up American targets sounds like the stuff Hollywood makes movies about. But these arrests were all too real and should go to remind us that America’s fight against terrorism is far from over. The battlefield is worldwide.
These most recent suspects … [click to continue…]
by Diane on September 14, 2009
Finally, A New Approach
Have you gone into a bank lately and noticed anything different?
During my recent travels I noticed a bank in Albuquerque invited me, via a sign on the door, to “Please remove your sunglasses so we can smile at you!” At a bank in Los Angeles I was greeted by not one but three employees who looked me directly in the eye and chanted a hearty, “Good afternoon!” Maybe you have noticed how suddenly friendly and accommodating your bank staff has become.
Why is that? Have banks suddenly realized that to engage the unfamiliar customer might be a good way of thwarting robberies? [click to continue…]
by Diane on August 3, 2009
Professor Gates Under Arrest
There is still an intolerable amount of racism in America. There are too many people in the U.S. who are bigoted and downright dismissive of those who don’t look like they do.
That said, let’s all admit something. Some of us see racism behind every act – and that in itself becomes a sort of racism too.
The catalyst for writing this week’s column is, of course, the recent disorderly conduct arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts following a concerned citizen’s report that two men appeared to be trying to break into a home.
There’s no need to rehash all the over-analyzed facts of this case but … [click to continue…]
by Diane on July 13, 2009
Jon and Maureen in Happier Days
How many times have you heard about a missing person case? To be sure there are hundreds of thousands of Americans reported missing every year. Some come right back home. But too often families of the missing either get the horrible news that their loved one’s body has been found or they continue to suffer with the quiet torment of no news at all. Then there is the group of missing people who aren’t really missing at all. They are hiding. They’re called the “maliciously missing” by a woman who knows the subject all too well. Her name is Maureen Reintjes and on May 19, 2005 she kissed goodbye her husband of 24 years at their new home in Las Vegas, Nevada and he disappeared. No warning, no reason, he was just gone. [click to continue…]
by Diane on June 30, 2009
Mom and the King of Pop - but not the Pop of the Kids
Those of us who’ve covered the Michael Jackson beat have long known that Michael Jackson’s children are NOT biologically related to him. I’ve been saying that on national television since the death of the King of Pop. I think the kids now deserve to know their true lineage. A few of us reporters actually knew the identity of the sperm donor who entered into a three way agreement with Jackson and Debbie Rowe to create the two oldest Jackson children. On Entertainment Tonight and the Insider I challenged the sperm donor to come forward and help out the children since biological Mom Debby Rowe seems disinterested in them. Today the latest bombshell in this fast moving story….Us Weekly Magazine and a team of reporters and editors had the guts to go for it. [click to continue…]
by Diane on June 29, 2009
Mel Hall the Rapist
I am sick of it. I am sick to my core with professional athletes who escape true justice when they break the law.
Some of these guys project such a powerful image no one dares report their criminal behavior. A recent case in point is former major league baseball player Mel Hall who dodged charges of sexual assault against young girls for years. Finally, a Texas jury found him guilty of the decade old rape of a 12 year old girl. At least 3 other females testified at trial that Hall also sexually assaulted them when they were underage. Hall has now been sentenced to 45 years in prison.
For every Michael Vick who goes to jail there are countless other athletes who get the kid-glove treatment in court [click to continue…]
