What if, once police elicit a false confession from a suspect, it contaminates everything and everyone in touches -- from the prosecutor, the judge, and even the suspect's own attorney all the way to the fingerprint identification and even, perhaps, the DNA match?See the rest of the post for more and also an abstract of the academic article she based it on.
That is the troubling thesis raised by Saul Kassin, a pioneer in the psychological study of false confessions, in an article in the current issue of the American Psychologist.
"Corroboration inflation"
Research shows us that such a contaminating effect is plausible. For example:Such findings may extend to other forensic science that requires subjective judgments, Kassin argues, including comparative analyses of ballistics, hair and fiber, shoeprints, tire tracks, handwriting and even DNA.
- Fingerprint experts who were told the suspect had confessed were more likely to change their opinion and make an incorrect match, as compared with experts who were told the suspect was already in custody at the time of the crime
- Polygraph examiners were significantly more likely to opine that an inconclusive chart showed deception when they were told the suspect had confessed.
13 Ekim 2012 Cumartesi
False confessions and 'corroboration inflation'
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Forensic pscyhologist Dr. Karen Franklin has a thoughtful post on the effects of false confessions on experts' analysis of evidence and on legal actors in the justice system. Yes, she says, false confessions have "produced profound miscarriages of justice," but:
Travis County demonstrating efficacy of personal bonds v. commercial bail
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The Austin Chronicle's Jordan Smith has an extensive piece on Travis County's expanded use of validated risk assessments and personal bonds under Travis County's adult probation chief Geraldine Nagy ("Your word is your bond," Oct. 12), which included these notable figures:
From a mathematical perspective, it makes sense to me that, used widely along with a validated risk assessment, personal bonds would have lower FTA rates. In general, most people will just show up for court, especially if pretrial services supports that tendency with a multimedia program of reminders (phone calls, texts, emails, snail mail, etc.). If the risk assessment can accurately identify folks who are likely to show up anyway, then the bail-bond industry's client pool would consist of people judged by pretrial services to pose a higher risk of flight. Thus, if used widely, you'd expect the FTA rate for bail bond clients - almost by definition, if the risk-assessment instrument is doing its job - to be higher than the lower-risk folks judged eligible for release on their own recognizance. But until Travis County began issuing personal bonds for the majority of defendants (63% in 2010) released pretrial, creating a large enough pool to make a valid comparison, one could only speculate: Someone had to test the theory and document the results. Now Nagy has demonstrated it can work.
One also can see outlines of potential legislative reforms suggested in the story, at a minimum requiring bail-bond agents to produce reporting and documentation on their clients' outcomes comparable to the records published by pretrial services. I've been around these blocks for several years and agree with Nagy that the lack of reporting on the commercial bail side often frustrates any serious mathematical analysis of county-level outcomes. This is a long-standing issue affecting many counties, and generating public data sufficient to make apples to apples comparisons between bail-bond companies and pretrial services could be an important first step toward shifting the debate from the sort of animated hype and misinformation put out by the bail-bond attorneys quoted in the story to a discussion animated by data and outcomes. Hype aside, what works? Is there data to prove it? Nagy's suggestion to require bail agents to submit reporting comparable to reporting requirements for pretrial services is to me a stroke of genius: That would resolve a lot of the confusion surrounding the elusive apples to apples outcomes for pretrial services and commercial bail. ("'Data data, data,' he cried impatiently, 'I cannot make bricks without clay.'")
Excellent reporting from Jordan Smith (read the whole thing), and I hope Dr. Nagy succeeds in making Travis' expanded use of personal bonds a model for its sister jurisdictions around the state. Folks in other Texas counties should pay heed: When administered through a validated risk assessment, personal bonds don't reduce the likelihood defendants appear in court - which after all is the purpose of bail - and save huge sums in reduced incarceration costs at county jails.
In 2010, Nagy's pretrial services staff screened more than 40,000 defendants in the Travis County jail, to determine who might be eligible for a personal bond. Only a discrete class of defendants is automatically ineligible – including those charged with capital crimes and those who've violated parole or forfeited a previous bond. In all, roughly 32,000 of those screened made it to a full-fledged pretrial investigation, for which staff collects references, conducts a background check, and considers a variety of issues – including employment status and family support – that might suggest whether a defendant will show for court or be rearrested. The agency then makes a recommendation to the courts about whether the person should be granted a personal bond. In 2010, 63% of defendants released pretrial were released on personal bond. That same year the agency posted a court failure-to-appear rate of 13% and a rearrest rate of 14%, according to annual reports the agency is required to file. In contrast, that same year defendants released on commercial bond failed to appear in court 20% of the time, according to information collected by Travis County.Attorneys for bail bond companies, who were quoted extensively in the story, claimed their failure to appear (FTA) rate was lower - more like 2% compared to the county's 13%. By contrast, Smith reported, Travis County calculated that clients of commercial bail companies posted failure to appear rates of 20% and 17% in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
Nagy believes the FTA and rearrest numbers will shrink with the introduction in November of a research-based risk-assessment tool, designed and validated specifically for Travis County defendants, in order to help her staff more objectively determine a person's likelihood of success if released on personal bond. "That's really consistent with all the research on decision-making. ... These tools do significantly better than just the person" making a decision, Nagy says. "Making a pretrial decision without risk assessment is like playing golf in the fog."
From a mathematical perspective, it makes sense to me that, used widely along with a validated risk assessment, personal bonds would have lower FTA rates. In general, most people will just show up for court, especially if pretrial services supports that tendency with a multimedia program of reminders (phone calls, texts, emails, snail mail, etc.). If the risk assessment can accurately identify folks who are likely to show up anyway, then the bail-bond industry's client pool would consist of people judged by pretrial services to pose a higher risk of flight. Thus, if used widely, you'd expect the FTA rate for bail bond clients - almost by definition, if the risk-assessment instrument is doing its job - to be higher than the lower-risk folks judged eligible for release on their own recognizance. But until Travis County began issuing personal bonds for the majority of defendants (63% in 2010) released pretrial, creating a large enough pool to make a valid comparison, one could only speculate: Someone had to test the theory and document the results. Now Nagy has demonstrated it can work.
One also can see outlines of potential legislative reforms suggested in the story, at a minimum requiring bail-bond agents to produce reporting and documentation on their clients' outcomes comparable to the records published by pretrial services. I've been around these blocks for several years and agree with Nagy that the lack of reporting on the commercial bail side often frustrates any serious mathematical analysis of county-level outcomes. This is a long-standing issue affecting many counties, and generating public data sufficient to make apples to apples comparisons between bail-bond companies and pretrial services could be an important first step toward shifting the debate from the sort of animated hype and misinformation put out by the bail-bond attorneys quoted in the story to a discussion animated by data and outcomes. Hype aside, what works? Is there data to prove it? Nagy's suggestion to require bail agents to submit reporting comparable to reporting requirements for pretrial services is to me a stroke of genius: That would resolve a lot of the confusion surrounding the elusive apples to apples outcomes for pretrial services and commercial bail. ("'Data data, data,' he cried impatiently, 'I cannot make bricks without clay.'")
Excellent reporting from Jordan Smith (read the whole thing), and I hope Dr. Nagy succeeds in making Travis' expanded use of personal bonds a model for its sister jurisdictions around the state. Folks in other Texas counties should pay heed: When administered through a validated risk assessment, personal bonds don't reduce the likelihood defendants appear in court - which after all is the purpose of bail - and save huge sums in reduced incarceration costs at county jails.
Federal law enforcement grants may become victims of Congressional budget showdown
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According to the Crime Report, federal criminal justice grants to the states might get cut if Congress can't strike a debt ceiling deal include "Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners, various federal juvenile delinquency prevention initiatives, and the National Instant Criminal Background Check System." Reported Ted Gest,
If sequestration goes into effect next year, which is considered likely, all domestic federal discretionary spending--including for criminal justice purposes--will be cut by 8.2 percent at first. Further reductions are required through fiscal year 2021.Depending on what's meant by juvenile grants, that could be a big deal. Here's a link to the most recent quarter's worth of federal Byrne grants issued in Texas by the US Justice Department.
Advocates for federal spending on criminal justice and other domestic issues are trying to convince members of Congress to take a "balanced" approach that does not require continued, large across-the-board cuts in federal aid.
Many argue that while the huge federal deficit makes some spending reductions inevitable, more attention should be given to "entitlements" like Medicare and Social Security payments.
Trista Sutter's silhouette by Dr. Franklin and Cindi Rose by E.D. Woods
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Trista Sutter’s sculpting by Dr. Franklin and Cindi Rose
Lucky for the Bachelorette’s and Bachelor’s that Erica Rose’s father is famous plastic surgeon Dr. Franklin Rose, and her mom is noted silhouette artist, Cindi Rose. It makes the contestants and winners look and stay beautiful. Recently, the first reality Bachelorette, Trista Sutter, met up with Bachelor legal star, Erica Rose, and discussed her wanting an updated look. Although Erica thought Trista looked beautiful, she referred her to her father (who would never operate on his family). Trista had been admiring Emily Maynard’s plastic surgery, and did not want to be Bachelorette history. For her first meeting, in Franklin Rose’s hometown, Aspen, Colorado, Trista drove in from Vail. The petite beauty was met by Franklin and Cindi Rose.
As always, Cindi took out her surgical scissors and in a minute sculpted the world’s darling’s profile. Trista loved it, and signed it with her good-valued signature. Trista commented that her children would love Cindi Rose’s artwork. Her real concerns however was, a drop of fat, droopy eyes, and breasts that were not what they were pre-children.
Franklin Rose, a board-certified MD, who studied at Yale, Manhattan Eye and Ear, and Baylor College of Medicine, booked the soon to be 40 year-old at his doctor owned surgical center, First Street in Houston, Texas.
Trista got small breast implants, and the tired look erased from her lovely blue eyes with upper and lower eye lifts. In her pre and post-op photos it appears that she may have had liposuction. Word is that there is a room in The Rose Home devoted to patient care, and that after a luxurious stay at First Street Hospital (with culinary meals and wait staff), patients recover with Cindi Rose’s low-fat, organic nutritious meals and care. No wonder, the most beautiful men and women in the country get on Bachelor and Bachelor Pad, they have a connection—Erica Rose’s father. Unlike what people would think, Erica’s perfect size 4, 5’ 8” figure is natural. Her mother and grandmother where former beauty contest winners, and it is a natural for Erica. Read Life & Style Weekly to see Trista’s before and after plastic surgery photos and decide yourself, if she did or did not also have liposuction. I think somewhere there is also word that there could be a book coming out about parenting, and being in love, penned by no-other than America’s darling, Trista Sutter!
YOU ARE INVITED to Karen and Roland Garcia's Annual Halloween Bash and Light Show - Sat. Oct. 27th, 2012
To contact us Click HERE
YOU ARE INVITED to Karen and Roland Garcia's Annual Halloween Bash and Light Show - Sat. Oct. 27th, 2012
Can you believe it’s Halloween again! Ready for some scary fun?!
You and your guest are invited to Karen and Roland Garcia’s Annual Halloween Bash and Light Show on Saturday, October 27th from 7:00 p.m. to midnight at their home, 46 East Rivercrest, Houston, TX 77042. Costumes are preferred. The light show will start at 8:30 p.m., with different shows every hour. You will not want to miss it! There will be tricks, treats, food, drinks, a photo booth, silhouettes, astrology readings, complimentary valet for parking, and more. Contributions in any amount are encouraged at the door, but are not required, to the Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation, a nonprofit organization which provides help for uninsured and underinsured cancer patients of all ages and genders including psychological support, alternative wellness treatments, free reconstructive surgery and free wigs in the US and globally.
Please RSVP your attendance and the name of your guest to Patty Finch at finchp@gtlaw.com or call Patty at 713-374-3544. We look forward to seeing you on October 27th!
Hope you can come!!
Roland Garcia
Shareholder
Greenberg Traurig, LLP | 1000 Louisiana Street | Suite 1700 | Houston, TX 77002
Tel 713.374.3510 | Fax 713.754.7510 | Cell 713.598.6284 GarciaR@gtlaw.com | www.gtlaw.com
Can you believe it’s Halloween again! Ready for some scary fun?!
You and your guest are invited to Karen and Roland Garcia’s Annual Halloween Bash and Light Show on Saturday, October 27th from 7:00 p.m. to midnight at their home, 46 East Rivercrest, Houston, TX 77042. Costumes are preferred. The light show will start at 8:30 p.m., with different shows every hour. You will not want to miss it! There will be tricks, treats, food, drinks, a photo booth, silhouettes, astrology readings, complimentary valet for parking, and more. Contributions in any amount are encouraged at the door, but are not required, to the Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation, a nonprofit organization which provides help for uninsured and underinsured cancer patients of all ages and genders including psychological support, alternative wellness treatments, free reconstructive surgery and free wigs in the US and globally.
Please RSVP your attendance and the name of your guest to Patty Finch at finchp@gtlaw.com or call Patty at 713-374-3544. We look forward to seeing you on October 27th!
Hope you can come!!
Roland Garcia
Shareholder
Greenberg Traurig, LLP | 1000 Louisiana Street | Suite 1700 | Houston, TX 77002
Tel 713.374.3510 | Fax 713.754.7510 | Cell 713.598.6284 GarciaR@gtlaw.com | www.gtlaw.com
12 Ekim 2012 Cuma
Expanded medical parole would save tens of millions
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At the Austin Statesman, Mike Ward provides the latest data and arguments for expanding use of medical parole for elderly and infirm inmates ("Old, infirm inmates costly to state; officials looking at alternatives," Oct. 3):
With the Legislature certain to face a tight state budget when it convenes next January, state officials confirmed Tuesday they are exploring a plan that could parole many of the most infirm, bed-ridden offenders into secure nursing homes where the offenders could be kept track of by ankle monitoring bracelets.
State records reveal that the 10 sickest convicts alone cost taxpayers more than $1.9 million during 2011, a figure that prison doctors say is growing every year as Texas’ prison population gets older and more infirm.
In all, records show that convicts over age 55 now make up 8 percent of Texas’ prison population, but account for 30 percent of its medical costs. ...
An internal prison report shows health care for the 10 costliest offenders ranged from $331,651 a year for a 48-year-old Houston robber to $131,294 for a drunk driver who died in prison.
At least three others are mostly bedridden with various ailments: A 40-year-old Dallas drug dealer’s health care cost $226,806 a year, a 57-year-old Corpus Christi armed burglar cost $181,779 a year, and a 34-year-old El Paso murderer cost $181,779.
Some prisoners have had open heart surgery, leg and arm amputations, kidney failure, while others have terminal cancer, paralysis and other maladies that have limited their mobility, officials said.
Taking into account the cost of security, [Texas Civil Rights Project attorney Brian] McGiverin estimated that if the state released on parole its terminally ill and infirm convicts, the savings could reach $76 million over two years.See related coverage from the Texas Tribune, where the Texas Public Policy Foundation's Marc Levin provided more conservative savings estimate than McGivern:
Marc Levin, director of the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, agreed that the process is creating needless costs. In a recent report, he noted that granting parole to “infirm” inmates would save the state $42.6 million in 2013, while only adding $1.57 million in parole costs.Most of these high-expense prisoners/patients would be eligible for SSI or SSDI if they were paroled, meaning the feds would pick up their medical tab instead of it coming 100% from the state general fund. If the state is going to do this, though, it would behoove them to assist with eligibility determination for benefits as part of the reentry process so that local hospital districts aren't stuck with the tab for indigent services.
Levin said his organization is planning to propose legislation to simplify the process for medical parole. Levin said time and money are wasted when doctors spend write recommendations for inmates who won’t be considered eligible for medical parole anyway. And, he said, the parole board members don’t likely have the medical knowledge to understand the language in the recommendations.
A single commission with doctors and parole officials “in the same room” discussing cases “would really streamline the process,” Levin said.
Parole revocations decline thanks to expanded programming
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Parole revocation hearings increased last year "due to a lawsuit ruling that mandated increased preliminary hearings - queries designed to determine whether a parolee violated a law," reported the Houston Chronicle ("Parole hearings rise but revocations drop, state says," Oct. 2), but actual parole revocations continued their decade-long decline, "as officials sentenced violators to short-term stays in intermediate facilities or ordered them to attend substance abuse sessions."
Go here for Grits' coverage of the court case that required the parole board to hold so many additional hearings.
The reduction in actual revocations is good news and is largely attributable to expanded programming and construction of Intermediate Sanction Facilities (ISFs) where parolees can be sent for short rehabilitative stints instead of being revoked back to prison for the remainder of their sentences. ISFs were part of the 2007 probation/parole reforms sponsored by state Sen. John Whitmire and Rep. Jerry Madden, and the resulting reduced incarceration is directly attributable to those measures.
In other news, reported the Chronicle:
Go here for Grits' coverage of the court case that required the parole board to hold so many additional hearings.
The reduction in actual revocations is good news and is largely attributable to expanded programming and construction of Intermediate Sanction Facilities (ISFs) where parolees can be sent for short rehabilitative stints instead of being revoked back to prison for the remainder of their sentences. ISFs were part of the 2007 probation/parole reforms sponsored by state Sen. John Whitmire and Rep. Jerry Madden, and the resulting reduced incarceration is directly attributable to those measures.
In other news, reported the Chronicle:
Agency officials also heard promising reports concerning expansion of a program for parole-eligible sex offenders. As many as 27,000 of the state's approximately 152,000 inmates are serving time for sex offenses, and even more are imprisoned for crimes that had a sexual component.
Board member Corinth Davis reported that 2,795 of 2,830 inmates enrolled in a new nine-month program for medium-risk offenders had successfully completed the program. The medium-risk program, which augments similar efforts for low- and high-risk offenders, was created two years ago. Davis said 2,744 of 3,107 inmates successfully completed the program, which consists of individual and group counseling, in its first year.
Inmates must successfully finish the program in order to be paroled.
Arson review 'picking up steam'
To contact us Click HERE
A couple of recent MSM stories focused on the review of arson cases being performed by my employers at the Innocence Project of Texas:
See prior, related Grits posts:
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Oct. 4): Texas forensic panel to hear report on wrongful convictions in arson cases
- Austin American-Statesman (Oct. 5): Review of old arson cases picking up steam
A long-awaited review of old Texas arson cases — an unprecedented search for wrongful convictions based on bad fire investigation science — is picking up speed and will probably produce the first results in January, participants said Friday.The IPOT review has only focused on cases where someone is still in prison based on an arson conviction and their methodology is not comprehensive, basically picking off low hanging fruit. But that's a great start compared to what's going on in other states, and sets a good precedent that, when forensic errors are discovered, old cases where potentially flawed forensics were used should be vetted for viable innocence claims.
One suspect case has been identified and about 26 others are being scrutinized for evidence that investigators relied on now-discredited “myths,” instead of science, to determine that the fires were intentionally set, said Nick Vilbas with the Innocence Project of Texas, which is leading the review.
“We hope to be done pretty soon,” Vilbas told the Texas Forensic Science Commission during Friday’s meeting in Austin.
A panel of fire experts, assembled by new Texas Fire Marshal Chris Connealy, is scheduled to hear details of the first batch of suspect cases in January. Their findings would help determine how each case should proceed in the criminal justice system, Connealy said.
See prior, related Grits posts:
- State fire marshal interview highlights review of arson cases
- State fire marshal pledges to assist in innocence review of old arson cases
- Will review of junk science in arson cases go forward?
- What is the duty to notify defendants of past crime lab errors?
- A 'confluence of interests' supporting debunked arson indicators
- Forensic commission urges review of old arson cases based on junk science
- Forensic commissioner: State fire marshal testimony 'embarrassing'
- Experts: Willingham investigation negligent even by 1991 standards
- The politics of reexamining flawed arson foresics
- If arson science in Willingham case was 'flawed,' what about other, similar cases?
- How best to vet old arson innocence claims?
- Willingham debate not focused on arson science
- Arson cases a tangle of science and supposition
- Arson cases fueling innocence debates
- Many arson convictions based on invalid science
- Arson convictions may be next venue for innocence claims
- College to develop screening processes for vetting old arson cases for bad forensic science
False confessions and 'corroboration inflation'
To contact us Click HERE
Forensic pscyhologist Dr. Karen Franklin has a thoughtful post on the effects of false confessions on experts' analysis of evidence and on legal actors in the justice system. Yes, she says, false confessions have "produced profound miscarriages of justice," but:
What if, once police elicit a false confession from a suspect, it contaminates everything and everyone in touches -- from the prosecutor, the judge, and even the suspect's own attorney all the way to the fingerprint identification and even, perhaps, the DNA match?See the rest of the post for more and also an abstract of the academic article she based it on.
That is the troubling thesis raised by Saul Kassin, a pioneer in the psychological study of false confessions, in an article in the current issue of the American Psychologist.
"Corroboration inflation"
Research shows us that such a contaminating effect is plausible. For example:Such findings may extend to other forensic science that requires subjective judgments, Kassin argues, including comparative analyses of ballistics, hair and fiber, shoeprints, tire tracks, handwriting and even DNA.
- Fingerprint experts who were told the suspect had confessed were more likely to change their opinion and make an incorrect match, as compared with experts who were told the suspect was already in custody at the time of the crime
- Polygraph examiners were significantly more likely to opine that an inconclusive chart showed deception when they were told the suspect had confessed.
Scroggin, Eddie 'E.S.', Jr (22 May 1919 - 10 Jan 2012) [49765]
To contact us Click HERE
Scroggin, Eddie 'E.S.', Jr, , Record added: Jan 10, 2012, Find A Grave Memorial# 83240776
Eddie "E.S." Scroggin, Jr
Birth: May 22, 1919
Center Ridge
Conway County
Arkansas, USA
Death: Jan. 10, 2012
Little Rock
Pulaski County
Arkansas, USA
Eddie "E.S." Scroggin Jr of Little Rock was born May 22, 1919 in Center Ridge Arkansas to parents Eddie S. Scroggin Sr. and Jewell Dickson Scroggin and passed away on January 10th, 2012 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 70 years Geneva Scroggin with whom he has been reunited; his son Dwayne Scroggin; grandson David Lynn Scroggin and granddaughter Sara Alysha Wilson and a brother Donald Freeman and a sister Lucille Roy
Mr. Scroggin was a veteran of WWll and was a HAM Radio Operator, WN5QAT, which was his favorite pass time. He was also a member of Park Hill Baptist Church.
He leaves to cherish his memory his children David Scroggin of Hot Springs Village; his daughter Deanne Hooker and her husband Mark of Maumelle 8 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends for a Life Celebration from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Friday, January 13th, 2012 at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Road in North Little Rock
Burial:
Unknown
Created by: KL
Record added: Jan 10, 2012
Find A Grave Memorial# 83240776
Scroggin, Eddie 'E.S.', Jr, , Record added: Jan 10, 2012, Find A Grave Memorial# 83240776Eddie "E.S." Scroggin, Jr
Birth: May 22, 1919
Center Ridge
Conway County
Arkansas, USA
Death: Jan. 10, 2012
Little Rock
Pulaski County
Arkansas, USA
Eddie "E.S." Scroggin Jr of Little Rock was born May 22, 1919 in Center Ridge Arkansas to parents Eddie S. Scroggin Sr. and Jewell Dickson Scroggin and passed away on January 10th, 2012 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 70 years Geneva Scroggin with whom he has been reunited; his son Dwayne Scroggin; grandson David Lynn Scroggin and granddaughter Sara Alysha Wilson and a brother Donald Freeman and a sister Lucille Roy
Mr. Scroggin was a veteran of WWll and was a HAM Radio Operator, WN5QAT, which was his favorite pass time. He was also a member of Park Hill Baptist Church.
He leaves to cherish his memory his children David Scroggin of Hot Springs Village; his daughter Deanne Hooker and her husband Mark of Maumelle 8 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends for a Life Celebration from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Friday, January 13th, 2012 at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Road in North Little Rock
Burial:
Unknown
Created by: KL
Record added: Jan 10, 2012
Find A Grave Memorial# 83240776
11 Ekim 2012 Perşembe
Arson review 'picking up steam'
To contact us Click HERE
A couple of recent MSM stories focused on the review of arson cases being performed by my employers at the Innocence Project of Texas:
See prior, related Grits posts:
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Oct. 4): Texas forensic panel to hear report on wrongful convictions in arson cases
- Austin American-Statesman (Oct. 5): Review of old arson cases picking up steam
A long-awaited review of old Texas arson cases — an unprecedented search for wrongful convictions based on bad fire investigation science — is picking up speed and will probably produce the first results in January, participants said Friday.The IPOT review has only focused on cases where someone is still in prison based on an arson conviction and their methodology is not comprehensive, basically picking off low hanging fruit. But that's a great start compared to what's going on in other states, and sets a good precedent that, when forensic errors are discovered, old cases where potentially flawed forensics were used should be vetted for viable innocence claims.
One suspect case has been identified and about 26 others are being scrutinized for evidence that investigators relied on now-discredited “myths,” instead of science, to determine that the fires were intentionally set, said Nick Vilbas with the Innocence Project of Texas, which is leading the review.
“We hope to be done pretty soon,” Vilbas told the Texas Forensic Science Commission during Friday’s meeting in Austin.
A panel of fire experts, assembled by new Texas Fire Marshal Chris Connealy, is scheduled to hear details of the first batch of suspect cases in January. Their findings would help determine how each case should proceed in the criminal justice system, Connealy said.
See prior, related Grits posts:
- State fire marshal interview highlights review of arson cases
- State fire marshal pledges to assist in innocence review of old arson cases
- Will review of junk science in arson cases go forward?
- What is the duty to notify defendants of past crime lab errors?
- A 'confluence of interests' supporting debunked arson indicators
- Forensic commission urges review of old arson cases based on junk science
- Forensic commissioner: State fire marshal testimony 'embarrassing'
- Experts: Willingham investigation negligent even by 1991 standards
- The politics of reexamining flawed arson foresics
- If arson science in Willingham case was 'flawed,' what about other, similar cases?
- How best to vet old arson innocence claims?
- Willingham debate not focused on arson science
- Arson cases a tangle of science and supposition
- Arson cases fueling innocence debates
- Many arson convictions based on invalid science
- Arson convictions may be next venue for innocence claims
- College to develop screening processes for vetting old arson cases for bad forensic science
False confessions and 'corroboration inflation'
To contact us Click HERE
Forensic pscyhologist Dr. Karen Franklin has a thoughtful post on the effects of false confessions on experts' analysis of evidence and on legal actors in the justice system. Yes, she says, false confessions have "produced profound miscarriages of justice," but:
What if, once police elicit a false confession from a suspect, it contaminates everything and everyone in touches -- from the prosecutor, the judge, and even the suspect's own attorney all the way to the fingerprint identification and even, perhaps, the DNA match?See the rest of the post for more and also an abstract of the academic article she based it on.
That is the troubling thesis raised by Saul Kassin, a pioneer in the psychological study of false confessions, in an article in the current issue of the American Psychologist.
"Corroboration inflation"
Research shows us that such a contaminating effect is plausible. For example:Such findings may extend to other forensic science that requires subjective judgments, Kassin argues, including comparative analyses of ballistics, hair and fiber, shoeprints, tire tracks, handwriting and even DNA.
- Fingerprint experts who were told the suspect had confessed were more likely to change their opinion and make an incorrect match, as compared with experts who were told the suspect was already in custody at the time of the crime
- Polygraph examiners were significantly more likely to opine that an inconclusive chart showed deception when they were told the suspect had confessed.
Texas work product overrepresented among fusion-center reports criticized by Senate subcommittee
To contact us Click HERE
Grits mentioned the publication of a rare, bipartisan report (pdf) from a US Senate subcommittee which was highly critical of fusion centers (see additional recent coverage here). Texas now has seven, out of 77 nationally. Perhaps predictably, the local recipients of fusion-center grant funds have spoken out to say all the money they received was well spent and they'd like more of it, please, or that's the gist of Patrick George's piece, "Austin police, DPS defend fusion centers after critical Senate report," published last night on the Austin Statesman site, which opened.
Speaking of which, it should be mentioned that, as if in direct response to Ast. Chief Carter's published remarks, the subcommittee report specifically discussed shortcomings of the "all crimes" approach that Austin PD endorses, lamenting that, “Most [fusion] centers focus on the priority mission of the law enforcement agency that owns/manages them; primarily analytical case support to drug, gang, and violent crime investigations for the geographic area of responsibility,” the report stated. “As a result many centers struggle to build the necessary capabilities required to support federal counterterrorism mission requirements, specifically in the areas of intelligence analysis and information sharing beyond their jurisdictions.” In a subsection titled, "DHS “Success Stories” Do Not Demonstrate Centers’ Value to Counterterrorism Efforts," the report made a point echoed in a recent Grits post:
Will federal budget cutters succeed in scaling back domestic surveillance, forging new political grounds where civil libertarian critics were too tepid to tread? That's my hope after reviewing the subcommittee report.
Either way, the report effectively rebuts the present claims by Col. McCraw and Ast Chief Carter in the Statesman story: Texas' work was analyzed along with everyone else's and in the end, criticisms in the report can't simply be dodged with claims that "we're different" or they"did not get a large enough sample." The comment about sample size was either uninformed or disingenuous: If anything, the main problem with the subcommittee's sample was that they looked at Texas fusion centers' work product perhaps a little too closely.
MORE: See, from Government Executive, "Defenders of fusion centers hit back at Senate panel criticisms."
Law enforcement officials in Austin are defending the use of “fusion centers,” some of which across the country were lambasted by a U.S. Senate subcommittee recently as spending wastefully, being intrusive into citizens’ private lives and producing information of little value for counterterrorism.
Austin is home to two such centers, the Police Department’s Austin Regional Intelligence Center and the Department of Public Safety’s Texas Fusion Center, both of which opened in late 2010. Fusion centers are designed to enable law enforcement agencies to pool and share information with one another.
Responding to the Senate criticism, DPS Director Steve McCraw said in a statement that the report is inaccurate because investigators did not get a large enough sample of how the nation’s 77 fusion centers operate.
“In fact, they did not visit even one of the seven fusion centers operating in Texas, including the state level fusion center,” McCraw said.
Assistant Police Chief David Carter, who oversees the Austin Regional Intelligence Center, said the Senate report mainly focused on fusion centers’ work in counter-terrorism. He said the Austin center was set up from the beginning with an “all crimes” approach and has proved useful in several investigations.While it's true no Texas fusion centers were named, a Texas report was chronicled on p. 33 (p. 39 of the pdf) as an exemplar of the type of a non-actionable HIRs [Homeland Information Reports] that fusion centers pass on to DHS which must be canceled by federal reviewers. So it's not at all accurate to claim the Senate subcommittee didn't closely evaluate the work of Texas fusion centers. Indeed, they studied Texas' work more than any other. From the subcommittee report:
As noted, the Subcommittee investigation reviewed every raw DHS intelligence report drafted on information from state and local fusion centers from April 1, 2009, to April 30, 2010....Contrary to Col McCraw's complaint, Texas' fusion center reporting was closely examined, making up a disproportionate share (32%, or 186 out of 574 unclassified draft reports) of the sample judged by the subcommittee.And how did we fare?
The Subcommittee investigation counted that, during that period, DHS intelligence officers at state and local fusion centers around the country filed 610 draft reports to DHS headquarters for dissemination. During that period, the draft HIRs came from fusion centers in just 31 states; fusion centers in 19 states generated no reports at all. In addition, the vast majority of the 574 unclassified draft reports filed came from DHS detailees assigned to fusion centers in just three states – Texas (186 drafts), California (141) and Arizona (89). Meanwhile, fusion centers in most other states produced little to no reporting.
Of the 574 unclassified draft reports field officers filed, the Subcommittee investigation counted 188 marked by DHS reviewers as cancelled, nearly a third. Reviewers recommending cancellation of drafts faulted the reports for lacking any useful information, for running afoul of departmental guidelines meant to guard against civil liberties or Privacy Act protections, or for having no connection to any of DHS’s many missions, among other reasons.To review: Texas provided the largest number of reports of any state in the dataset from which the subcommittee faulted fusion center reporting for "lacking any useful information, for running afoul of departmental guidelines meant to guard against civil liberties or Privacy Act protections, or for having no connection to any of DHS’s many missions, among other reasons." The subcommittee may not have named which specific Texas fusion centers published the most reports that were canceled by DHS reviewers - and granted, the two Austin fusion centers reportedly came on line after the period they analyzed - but they were definitely looking at Texas fusion centers' work product when they made those assessments, as either Col. McCraw or the reporter should have known from reading the report.
Of the 386 unclassified reports published, the Subcommittee investigation counted only 94 which related in some way to potential terrorist activity, or the activities of a known or suspected terrorist. Of those 94 reports, most were published months after they were received; more than a quarter appeared to duplicate a faster intelligence-sharing process administered by the FBI; and some were based on information drawn from publicly available websites or dated public reports. In one case, DHS intelligence officials appear to have published a report which drew from or repeated information in a Department of Justice press release published months earlier. In short, the utility of many of the 94 terrorism-related reports was questionable.
The Subcommittee investigation found that fusion center reporting that attempted to share terrorism-related information was more likely to be cancelled than reporting on other topics. While the overall cancellation rate of draft intelligence reports from fusion centers during the period of review was around 30 percent, the cancellation rate for reports which alleged or indicated a possible connection to terrorism had a higher cancellation rate – over 45 percent.
Speaking of which, it should be mentioned that, as if in direct response to Ast. Chief Carter's published remarks, the subcommittee report specifically discussed shortcomings of the "all crimes" approach that Austin PD endorses, lamenting that, “Most [fusion] centers focus on the priority mission of the law enforcement agency that owns/manages them; primarily analytical case support to drug, gang, and violent crime investigations for the geographic area of responsibility,” the report stated. “As a result many centers struggle to build the necessary capabilities required to support federal counterterrorism mission requirements, specifically in the areas of intelligence analysis and information sharing beyond their jurisdictions.” In a subsection titled, "DHS “Success Stories” Do Not Demonstrate Centers’ Value to Counterterrorism Efforts," the report made a point echoed in a recent Grits post:
On its web site, DHS has devoted a page to fusion center “success stories.” On that page, DHS includes many events unrelated to terrorism in a long list of fusion center “successes.” DHS praises, for example, fusion center efforts that have helped to reduce automobile thefts, apprehend a man suspected of kidnapping and rape, and bust up a drug ring
While those anticrime successes are notable, they do not advance the DHS counter terrorism mission; they do not fulfill the promise federal officials made to Congress and the public that the significant taxpayer support directed to fusion centers would aid in the fight against terror; and they do not meet the expectations set by legislative and executive mandates which make clear both branches expected fusion centers to perform as conduits of terrorism information-sharing to and from the federal government.The feds aren't funding fusion centers just to augment the state's local anti-crime work, in the view of the subcommittee, but based on metrics more at the direct service of federal counter-terrorism efforts. From that perspective, it's easy to see how an "all crimes" or "all hazards" focus of Texas fusion centers doesn't mitigate the Senate subcommittee's negative appraisal, it personifies it. Fusion centers have indulged in massive mission creep, is the federal criticism, and serve little if any anti-terrorism function. DPS and APD would respond, yeah, but we can use that money to go after our own, local bad guys, and when budget times weren't so tight, for years that was enough to justify the grants' rapid expansion. But in budget cutting times, fusion center funding looks like low-hanging fruit that's not fulfilling its mission, from a federal counter terrorism perspective.
Will federal budget cutters succeed in scaling back domestic surveillance, forging new political grounds where civil libertarian critics were too tepid to tread? That's my hope after reviewing the subcommittee report.
Either way, the report effectively rebuts the present claims by Col. McCraw and Ast Chief Carter in the Statesman story: Texas' work was analyzed along with everyone else's and in the end, criticisms in the report can't simply be dodged with claims that "we're different" or they"did not get a large enough sample." The comment about sample size was either uninformed or disingenuous: If anything, the main problem with the subcommittee's sample was that they looked at Texas fusion centers' work product perhaps a little too closely.
MORE: See, from Government Executive, "Defenders of fusion centers hit back at Senate panel criticisms."
Chincing on trooper pay raises leaves DPS salaries uncompetitive
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Texas state troopers are paid 10-20% less than police officers at the state's seven largest agencies, reported the state auditor today. Here's a link to the full report (pdf); see especially the chart ranking Texas cities by police pay level on p. 8 of the pdf. Austin's police remain the highest paid in the state, with state trooper pay maxing out around 61% of a comparable Austin PD officer. Comparing DPS troopers to the metropolitan PD averages, wrote Texas Watchdog's Mark Lisheron:
The market rate in Texas for top officers has mushroomed ever since - for reasons that still baffle me, some seemingly sensible people, against the advice of their better angels, decided to make APD officers among the highest paid police in the western hemisphere. This occurred through a series of negotiated raises outside the regular budget process, under the auspices of a state-authorized "meet and confer" agreement which also controls the authority of the city's disciplinary process, the authority of the city's police monitor, etc., giving the union de facto veto power over their own disciplinary process. DPS needn't follow that self-destructive path to become competitive, but raises are perhaps overdue.
Still, even shooting for the "metropolitan average," as advised by the auditor, would be quite a bump. "The average maximum base pay for officers, corporals and detectives in those departments is $74,543 or 20.6 percent more than the $61,793 average maximum for those ranks in the state Department of Public Safety," wrote Lisheron. We're asking troopers to do a lot these days, including too frequent assignments to overpatrol rural border stretches. So if the current model is to continue, they surely deserve higher pay, and I agree the state benefits from having experienced, job-satisfied state troopers, so I generally support paying them more. The question becomes, is that politically possible?
For the benefit of the betting public, Grits would guesstimate the over-under on DPS trooper raises at 9% - i.e., more than that is about as likely as less. This has been a lingering need and the state will have a little more money than it anticipated, but I don't see the incoming fiscal conservatives going as high as 20%, state auditor's recommendation or no.
DPS sergeants make 18.6 percent and lieutenants 20.2 percent less than their urban counterparts. The maximum base pay of $84,427 for captains is 24.3 percent less than the $104,971 for the police and sheriff’s department captains.This has been a primary gripe from troopers I've spoken with personally who seem to feel left out in the cold when it comes to pay hikes. After all, executives at DPS already got theirs.
The Austin Police Department offers, by far, the highest maximum base pay for each rank, followed by Fort Worth and Dallas. (Please see the chart on page 9 of the report.).
To bring those state salaries in line with the metropolitan average could be accomplished by paying out an additional $51.5 million annually, according to the Auditor’s report.
The market rate in Texas for top officers has mushroomed ever since - for reasons that still baffle me, some seemingly sensible people, against the advice of their better angels, decided to make APD officers among the highest paid police in the western hemisphere. This occurred through a series of negotiated raises outside the regular budget process, under the auspices of a state-authorized "meet and confer" agreement which also controls the authority of the city's disciplinary process, the authority of the city's police monitor, etc., giving the union de facto veto power over their own disciplinary process. DPS needn't follow that self-destructive path to become competitive, but raises are perhaps overdue.
Still, even shooting for the "metropolitan average," as advised by the auditor, would be quite a bump. "The average maximum base pay for officers, corporals and detectives in those departments is $74,543 or 20.6 percent more than the $61,793 average maximum for those ranks in the state Department of Public Safety," wrote Lisheron. We're asking troopers to do a lot these days, including too frequent assignments to overpatrol rural border stretches. So if the current model is to continue, they surely deserve higher pay, and I agree the state benefits from having experienced, job-satisfied state troopers, so I generally support paying them more. The question becomes, is that politically possible?
For the benefit of the betting public, Grits would guesstimate the over-under on DPS trooper raises at 9% - i.e., more than that is about as likely as less. This has been a lingering need and the state will have a little more money than it anticipated, but I don't see the incoming fiscal conservatives going as high as 20%, state auditor's recommendation or no.
Cold case solution found amidst Houston rape kit backlog
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The Houston Chronicle has an update on the evaluation of Houston PD's rape kit backlog, highlighting a cold case solved by testing mislabeled samples ("Mislabeled rape kit from 2003 linked to other assaults," Oct. 10). The article opened:
In August 2003, an elderly woman was paying bills in the dining room of her Braeswood apartment when a man grabbed her from behind, dragged the kicking and screaming woman to her bedroom and raped her.
But just months ago, nine years after the attack, the rape kit used by the Houston Police Department was finally tested, and a man has been charged with aggravated sexual assault in the case. The evidence, stored in the police property room, had been mislabeled, officials said Wednesday.
The kit was one of thousands collecting dust at the HPD facility. Currently, the department's backlog stands at 6,663.
Two months after that 2003 incident, the man charged, Wesley Bernard Gordon, was implicated in another attack - this time in the rape of a homeless woman.
And since 2003, Gordon has been charged with several sexual assaults. Harris County District Attorney Pat Lykos said Wednesday that the 2003 case further exemplifies problems with HPD's crime lab operations.
10 Ekim 2012 Çarşamba
Underfunded veterans mental-health care channels them into justice system
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The Texas Tribune reported on a hearing of the House Defense and Veterans Affairs committee related to mental health challenges facing veterans. Notably:
Grits also finds it curious that the Tribune account made no mention of how this subject - as with many corrections-related health matters heading into next year - plays into the debate over the proposed Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act to include adults with incomes up to 133% of federal poverty levels, a matter which Texas must decide in the coming legislative session and which may be informed, one might guess, by the outcome of the national Presidential election.
It's fine to say veterans, the homeless and other special populations should receive mental-health care before they enter the criminal justice system, but the harsh reality of operating those systems doesn't allow for "should bes" but must deal with what actually is. Who will pay for preventive mental health care for the indigent if not Medicaid? Counties? I wouldn't hold my breath. And the state's not likely to pony up. Plus outside the largest cities, there's a stark shortage of behavioral healthcare providers, even if there was money available to pay them. Medicaid would create a market for those services and the hope is providers would follow the dollars.
My own view is that, if Texas would participate in the mostly federally funded (90/10, when it rolls out completely) Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, it would have an enormous palliative benefit for the justice system, particularly as it regards creating a funding mechanism to pay for preventive mental health care for at-risk populations, including but not limited to veterans. It would also make much simpler an array of reentry concerns about continuity of care to have a ready insurance plan available for the 70,000+ people released from Texas prisons each year, not to mention the hundreds of thousands more on the probation rolls.
Right now, the state's approach is mostly to ignore mental health issues until they falls into government's lap via the criminal justice system. Part of the reason the Harris County Jail has become one of the largest mental wards in the nation is that front-end care has been under-valued by legislative budget writers while funding for jails and prisons until very recently was considered sacrosanct. Now the budget crisis has become so severe that even sacred cows like prison and jail funding are on the table for potential reductions, which is a marked change in the terms of debate even from just a few years ago. In that context though, it's also difficult for the state to come up with extra money for up-front care.
Though Governor Perry has already announced his opposition to Medicaid expansion, Grits doesn't for a long shot consider that a fait accompli because of the billions of dollars the state's medical industry would be leaving on the table in the wake of such a decision. Economist Ray Perryman has a column making the rounds in several Texas papers declaring that, from an economic perspective, Texas only has "one rational choice" available, which is taking the money under Obamacare and expanding Medicaid. That's certainly been my view and I suspect once the partisan winds of election season have passed, more than a few Texas legislators struggling with issues like veterans mental health care and recidivism reduction will see the same thing and press to accept the much-needed federal dollars for that purpose.
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/06/28/4067482/on-healthcare-ruling-texans-offer.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/06/28/4067482/on-healthcare-ruling-texans-offer.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/06/28/4067482/on-healthcare-ruling-texans-offer.html#storylink=cpy
See prior, related Grits posts:
Studies by the U.S. military have shown an 80 percent increase in suicides since the start of the war in Iraq in 2003. According to testimony by Lt. Col. Alba Villanueva, the director of joint family support services for the Texas Military Forces, which includes the Texas National Guard, there have been 15 suicides among Texas soldiers in the last three years, and two in the last 30 days.Further,
Suicides and the mental health problems that lead to them are often a matter of untreated post-traumatic stress disorder and the lingering effects of military training.
the mental health problems that persist, others said, are serious even if returning soldiers are far from thoughts of suicide. "Sometimes the problems aren't surfacing for three or four months, whether it’s drugs or the criminal justice system,” said Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Canton, explaining that returning soldiers do not want to seek mental health treatment because they just want to get on with their lives.
“When they come home, they want to go home, they don't want to be involved with the system,” he said.I reference this discussion to point out how disconnected it seems from the reality facing veterans and others suffering from mental illness: An extremely limited base of providers and little public funding for the levels of mental health services needed to play a preventive rather than a reactive role. In the real world, as opposed to some legislative flow-chart, the criminal justice system is the main location where the system proactively provides services to treat serious mental illnesses. So those who most need treatment too often wait until their behavior deteriorates to the point that they wind up in the county jail or a state penitentiary, where mental health care has also been reduced thanks to budget cuts.
“We're going to have to figure out some way to close that gap.”
Mental health problems often stem from the process of reintegrating into civilian life, [Military Veteran Peer Network statewide coordinator [Sean] Hanna said, adding that "it's not until they begin to enact their plan for what their life will look like that they start to face these struggles."
Hanna said the problem can be addressed by “more boots on the ground” — more funding for hired professionals to coordinate peer networks of veterans, because he says many returning soldiers will only seek help if they get advice from other veterans, and in rural areas of the state other veterans may not be nearby.
Grits also finds it curious that the Tribune account made no mention of how this subject - as with many corrections-related health matters heading into next year - plays into the debate over the proposed Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act to include adults with incomes up to 133% of federal poverty levels, a matter which Texas must decide in the coming legislative session and which may be informed, one might guess, by the outcome of the national Presidential election.
It's fine to say veterans, the homeless and other special populations should receive mental-health care before they enter the criminal justice system, but the harsh reality of operating those systems doesn't allow for "should bes" but must deal with what actually is. Who will pay for preventive mental health care for the indigent if not Medicaid? Counties? I wouldn't hold my breath. And the state's not likely to pony up. Plus outside the largest cities, there's a stark shortage of behavioral healthcare providers, even if there was money available to pay them. Medicaid would create a market for those services and the hope is providers would follow the dollars.
My own view is that, if Texas would participate in the mostly federally funded (90/10, when it rolls out completely) Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, it would have an enormous palliative benefit for the justice system, particularly as it regards creating a funding mechanism to pay for preventive mental health care for at-risk populations, including but not limited to veterans. It would also make much simpler an array of reentry concerns about continuity of care to have a ready insurance plan available for the 70,000+ people released from Texas prisons each year, not to mention the hundreds of thousands more on the probation rolls.
Right now, the state's approach is mostly to ignore mental health issues until they falls into government's lap via the criminal justice system. Part of the reason the Harris County Jail has become one of the largest mental wards in the nation is that front-end care has been under-valued by legislative budget writers while funding for jails and prisons until very recently was considered sacrosanct. Now the budget crisis has become so severe that even sacred cows like prison and jail funding are on the table for potential reductions, which is a marked change in the terms of debate even from just a few years ago. In that context though, it's also difficult for the state to come up with extra money for up-front care.
Though Governor Perry has already announced his opposition to Medicaid expansion, Grits doesn't for a long shot consider that a fait accompli because of the billions of dollars the state's medical industry would be leaving on the table in the wake of such a decision. Economist Ray Perryman has a column making the rounds in several Texas papers declaring that, from an economic perspective, Texas only has "one rational choice" available, which is taking the money under Obamacare and expanding Medicaid. That's certainly been my view and I suspect once the partisan winds of election season have passed, more than a few Texas legislators struggling with issues like veterans mental health care and recidivism reduction will see the same thing and press to accept the much-needed federal dollars for that purpose.
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/06/28/4067482/on-healthcare-ruling-texans-offer.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/06/28/4067482/on-healthcare-ruling-texans-offer.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/06/28/4067482/on-healthcare-ruling-texans-offer.html#storylink=cpy
See prior, related Grits posts:
- Medicaid expansion and addressing severe mental illness through the justice system
- Texas decision to reject Medicaid expansion would hasten trend toward using justice system as mental health substitute
- Obamacare provision a boon to budget writers on state prison health costs but complicates UTMB negotiations
- Banking on Obamacare for future prisoner hospital costs
- Will Texas expand Medicaid coverage under Obamacare to include prisoner hospital costs?
Solitary confinement closely examined
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I wanted to point out a couple of recent resources on issues surrounding solitary confinement.
First, Doug Berman recently pointed out "this new report coming from the New York Civil Liberties Union titled "Boxed In: The True Cost of Extreme Isolation in New York's Prisons." This NYCLU webpage, from which the report can be downloaded, provide a summary of its scope and contents."
Meanwhile, the national ACLU has produced a new report on solitary confinement in the juvenile system titled "Growing up locked down: Youth in solitary confinement in jails and prisons across the United States." See a good write-up from Human Rights Watch and coverage from ABC News titled, "Rights groups: Ban solitary confinement of youths."
As always, James Ridgeway's Solitary Watch is the go-to blog source on these topics, and since his name came up, I'd also recommend Ridgeway's recent essay in Mother Jones, "The other death penalty: Aging and dying in prison.?" You can read the full article here, and view an accompanying photo essay by Tim Gruber, shot inside a Kentucky prison’s nursing unit, here.
First, Doug Berman recently pointed out "this new report coming from the New York Civil Liberties Union titled "Boxed In: The True Cost of Extreme Isolation in New York's Prisons." This NYCLU webpage, from which the report can be downloaded, provide a summary of its scope and contents."
Meanwhile, the national ACLU has produced a new report on solitary confinement in the juvenile system titled "Growing up locked down: Youth in solitary confinement in jails and prisons across the United States." See a good write-up from Human Rights Watch and coverage from ABC News titled, "Rights groups: Ban solitary confinement of youths."
As always, James Ridgeway's Solitary Watch is the go-to blog source on these topics, and since his name came up, I'd also recommend Ridgeway's recent essay in Mother Jones, "The other death penalty: Aging and dying in prison.?" You can read the full article here, and view an accompanying photo essay by Tim Gruber, shot inside a Kentucky prison’s nursing unit, here.
Chronicle Radio Ads
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J.R. Gonzales' Bayou City History blog in the Chronicle has another radio related post this week with a picture of a couple of paper boys and 7 radio commercials for the Chronicle, believed to date from the late 1960s. He's asked if anybody can identify the announcer. I wasn't around Houston much in that era and there were many voice on the radio I wasn't familiar with. I've entered a guess, anyway.
Give 'em a listen and see if you can help, or just give 'em a listen.
Give 'em a listen and see if you can help, or just give 'em a listen.
Scroggin, Eddie 'E.S.', Jr (22 May 1919 - 10 Jan 2012) [49765]
To contact us Click HERE
Scroggin, Eddie 'E.S.', Jr, , Record added: Jan 10, 2012, Find A Grave Memorial# 83240776
Eddie "E.S." Scroggin, Jr
Birth: May 22, 1919
Center Ridge
Conway County
Arkansas, USA
Death: Jan. 10, 2012
Little Rock
Pulaski County
Arkansas, USA
Eddie "E.S." Scroggin Jr of Little Rock was born May 22, 1919 in Center Ridge Arkansas to parents Eddie S. Scroggin Sr. and Jewell Dickson Scroggin and passed away on January 10th, 2012 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 70 years Geneva Scroggin with whom he has been reunited; his son Dwayne Scroggin; grandson David Lynn Scroggin and granddaughter Sara Alysha Wilson and a brother Donald Freeman and a sister Lucille Roy
Mr. Scroggin was a veteran of WWll and was a HAM Radio Operator, WN5QAT, which was his favorite pass time. He was also a member of Park Hill Baptist Church.
He leaves to cherish his memory his children David Scroggin of Hot Springs Village; his daughter Deanne Hooker and her husband Mark of Maumelle 8 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends for a Life Celebration from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Friday, January 13th, 2012 at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Road in North Little Rock
Burial:
Unknown
Created by: KL
Record added: Jan 10, 2012
Find A Grave Memorial# 83240776
Scroggin, Eddie 'E.S.', Jr, , Record added: Jan 10, 2012, Find A Grave Memorial# 83240776Eddie "E.S." Scroggin, Jr
Birth: May 22, 1919
Center Ridge
Conway County
Arkansas, USA
Death: Jan. 10, 2012
Little Rock
Pulaski County
Arkansas, USA
Eddie "E.S." Scroggin Jr of Little Rock was born May 22, 1919 in Center Ridge Arkansas to parents Eddie S. Scroggin Sr. and Jewell Dickson Scroggin and passed away on January 10th, 2012 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 70 years Geneva Scroggin with whom he has been reunited; his son Dwayne Scroggin; grandson David Lynn Scroggin and granddaughter Sara Alysha Wilson and a brother Donald Freeman and a sister Lucille Roy
Mr. Scroggin was a veteran of WWll and was a HAM Radio Operator, WN5QAT, which was his favorite pass time. He was also a member of Park Hill Baptist Church.
He leaves to cherish his memory his children David Scroggin of Hot Springs Village; his daughter Deanne Hooker and her husband Mark of Maumelle 8 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends for a Life Celebration from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Friday, January 13th, 2012 at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Road in North Little Rock
Burial:
Unknown
Created by: KL
Record added: Jan 10, 2012
Find A Grave Memorial# 83240776
FamilySearch Bloggers' Dinner at FGS2012
To contact us Click HERE
Greetings from Birmingham, Alabama where I am for the 2012 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference.
On Tuesday night, I was invited to a bloggers' dinner by FamilySearch. They provided a good meal and shared some of the latest FamilySearch news. It is always a good time.
Here are some of the main points of the evening that may be of interest:
FamilySearch is looking for "records preservation volunteers" to assist in their global digitization efforts. Volunteers can serve at home or abroad, and no special skills are needed. You do not need to be a member of the LDS church to participate. For more information, contact TomlinsonKL@familysearch.org .
The 1940 Census project was a huge success. 165,000 people indexed and arbitrated. A record of 10 million indexed records in a single day was set. 434 societies participated. The 1940 census project was completed three months ahead of schedule. Nice job!
Just because the 1940 census is done doesn't mean the work is finished. FamilySearch wants to carry that volunteer spirit over to their U.S. Immigration and Naturalization project. Mobilize your society members and get going.
What's next for FamilySearch? They're going to put more images online and put more digitizing cameras in the field (meaning around the world). They are digitizing books now. Look for digital check-out options in the future, just like checking out an e-book at your library. There are also efforts behind the scenes to improve searching records at FamilySearch including options for alternative spellings.
FamilySearch Family Tree *is* coming...or so I've been told. I am very interested in this, so I will be pestering the FamilySearch booth at the exhibit hall for more details.
Sincere thanks to the FamilySearch team for the dinner, fellowship and informative presentation. I am passing the information they shared because it is of interest to my genealogy pals.
Now back to the conference...
On Tuesday night, I was invited to a bloggers' dinner by FamilySearch. They provided a good meal and shared some of the latest FamilySearch news. It is always a good time.
Here are some of the main points of the evening that may be of interest:
FamilySearch is looking for "records preservation volunteers" to assist in their global digitization efforts. Volunteers can serve at home or abroad, and no special skills are needed. You do not need to be a member of the LDS church to participate. For more information, contact TomlinsonKL@familysearch.org .
The 1940 Census project was a huge success. 165,000 people indexed and arbitrated. A record of 10 million indexed records in a single day was set. 434 societies participated. The 1940 census project was completed three months ahead of schedule. Nice job!
Just because the 1940 census is done doesn't mean the work is finished. FamilySearch wants to carry that volunteer spirit over to their U.S. Immigration and Naturalization project. Mobilize your society members and get going.
What's next for FamilySearch? They're going to put more images online and put more digitizing cameras in the field (meaning around the world). They are digitizing books now. Look for digital check-out options in the future, just like checking out an e-book at your library. There are also efforts behind the scenes to improve searching records at FamilySearch including options for alternative spellings.
FamilySearch Family Tree *is* coming...or so I've been told. I am very interested in this, so I will be pestering the FamilySearch booth at the exhibit hall for more details.
Sincere thanks to the FamilySearch team for the dinner, fellowship and informative presentation. I am passing the information they shared because it is of interest to my genealogy pals.
Now back to the conference...
9 Ekim 2012 Salı
Scroggin, Eddie 'E.S.', Jr (22 May 1919 - 10 Jan 2012) [49765]
To contact us Click HERE
Scroggin, Eddie 'E.S.', Jr, , Record added: Jan 10, 2012, Find A Grave Memorial# 83240776
Eddie "E.S." Scroggin, Jr
Birth: May 22, 1919
Center Ridge
Conway County
Arkansas, USA
Death: Jan. 10, 2012
Little Rock
Pulaski County
Arkansas, USA
Eddie "E.S." Scroggin Jr of Little Rock was born May 22, 1919 in Center Ridge Arkansas to parents Eddie S. Scroggin Sr. and Jewell Dickson Scroggin and passed away on January 10th, 2012 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 70 years Geneva Scroggin with whom he has been reunited; his son Dwayne Scroggin; grandson David Lynn Scroggin and granddaughter Sara Alysha Wilson and a brother Donald Freeman and a sister Lucille Roy
Mr. Scroggin was a veteran of WWll and was a HAM Radio Operator, WN5QAT, which was his favorite pass time. He was also a member of Park Hill Baptist Church.
He leaves to cherish his memory his children David Scroggin of Hot Springs Village; his daughter Deanne Hooker and her husband Mark of Maumelle 8 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends for a Life Celebration from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Friday, January 13th, 2012 at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Road in North Little Rock
Burial:
Unknown
Created by: KL
Record added: Jan 10, 2012
Find A Grave Memorial# 83240776
Scroggin, Eddie 'E.S.', Jr, , Record added: Jan 10, 2012, Find A Grave Memorial# 83240776Eddie "E.S." Scroggin, Jr
Birth: May 22, 1919
Center Ridge
Conway County
Arkansas, USA
Death: Jan. 10, 2012
Little Rock
Pulaski County
Arkansas, USA
Eddie "E.S." Scroggin Jr of Little Rock was born May 22, 1919 in Center Ridge Arkansas to parents Eddie S. Scroggin Sr. and Jewell Dickson Scroggin and passed away on January 10th, 2012 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 70 years Geneva Scroggin with whom he has been reunited; his son Dwayne Scroggin; grandson David Lynn Scroggin and granddaughter Sara Alysha Wilson and a brother Donald Freeman and a sister Lucille Roy
Mr. Scroggin was a veteran of WWll and was a HAM Radio Operator, WN5QAT, which was his favorite pass time. He was also a member of Park Hill Baptist Church.
He leaves to cherish his memory his children David Scroggin of Hot Springs Village; his daughter Deanne Hooker and her husband Mark of Maumelle 8 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends for a Life Celebration from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Friday, January 13th, 2012 at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Road in North Little Rock
Burial:
Unknown
Created by: KL
Record added: Jan 10, 2012
Find A Grave Memorial# 83240776
Trista Sutter's silhouette by Dr. Franklin and Cindi Rose by E.D. Woods
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Trista Sutter’s sculpting by Dr. Franklin and Cindi Rose
Lucky for the Bachelorette’s and Bachelor’s that Erica Rose’s father is famous plastic surgeon Dr. Franklin Rose, and her mom is noted silhouette artist, Cindi Rose. It makes the contestants and winners look and stay beautiful. Recently, the first reality Bachelorette, Trista Sutter, met up with Bachelor legal star, Erica Rose, and discussed her wanting an updated look. Although Erica thought Trista looked beautiful, she referred her to her father (who would never operate on his family). Trista had been admiring Emily Maynard’s plastic surgery, and did not want to be Bachelorette history. For her first meeting, in Franklin Rose’s hometown, Aspen, Colorado, Trista drove in from Vail. The petite beauty was met by Franklin and Cindi Rose.
As always, Cindi took out her surgical scissors and in a minute sculpted the world’s darling’s profile. Trista loved it, and signed it with her good-valued signature. Trista commented that her children would love Cindi Rose’s artwork. Her real concerns however was, a drop of fat, droopy eyes, and breasts that were not what they were pre-children.
Franklin Rose, a board-certified MD, who studied at Yale, Manhattan Eye and Ear, and Baylor College of Medicine, booked the soon to be 40 year-old at his doctor owned surgical center, First Street in Houston, Texas.
Trista got small breast implants, and the tired look erased from her lovely blue eyes with upper and lower eye lifts. In her pre and post-op photos it appears that she may have had liposuction. Word is that there is a room in The Rose Home devoted to patient care, and that after a luxurious stay at First Street Hospital (with culinary meals and wait staff), patients recover with Cindi Rose’s low-fat, organic nutritious meals and care. No wonder, the most beautiful men and women in the country get on Bachelor and Bachelor Pad, they have a connection—Erica Rose’s father. Unlike what people would think, Erica’s perfect size 4, 5’ 8” figure is natural. Her mother and grandmother where former beauty contest winners, and it is a natural for Erica. Read Life & Style Weekly to see Trista’s before and after plastic surgery photos and decide yourself, if she did or did not also have liposuction. I think somewhere there is also word that there could be a book coming out about parenting, and being in love, penned by no-other than America’s darling, Trista Sutter!
Beginning Genealogy Advice
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Genealogy is fun and it gives us a greater sense of purpose and meaning. If you've just started your family history journey, then congratulations! You're in for a wild and rewarding ride. Our ancestors weren't as boring as we thought they were.
Beginning genealogists often get started because they have a question about their family or they want to prove a tale that's been passed down for generations. All genealogists starting out have eager expectations and common reactions. Genealogy can be a wild ride. Here's some beginner's advice for the trip:
You're probably not related to that famous person.
About half of the research issues, cases and queries I receive come with the belief that a person's family tree includes a connection to a famous historical figure. I've yet to find a famous ancestor for anyone. Maybe you will, but you should lower your expectations. Even if you don't have a branch of notoriety, chances are that your "regular" ancestors have some fascinating stories of their own. Go forth and find them.
Great-great grandma probably wasn't an Indian princess.
Many people claim to have Native American blood in their veins, even the tiniest bit because of stories passed down by grandma about that one unknown ancestor who was in that one tribe. Without some sort of documentation or specific details, it is very hard to make a connection to Native American heritage. If you're confident and want to give it a go, research backwards starting with you, using traditional genealogy resources. This will help you when you reach the point in your ancestral timeline to search Native American resources. Oh and if you are doing this so you can join a tribe and reap financial benefit, it doesn't work that way.
Slow your roll. Do more sideways research.
It is very tempting to collect names and move back in your family tree generation after generation. However, if you do it that way, you're going to get stuck at some point. Take the time to do more "sideways" research instead of moving back in time immediately. Even if you know the birth/marriage/death dates and parents of great-grandpa, study the other records of his life. Censuses, city directories, church records, news articles, etc. all tell a bigger story and they may provide clues to questions down the line. Search all your ancestors' siblings, too. Sometimes the person you're looking for was living in another person's house. Also, be sure to research the spinster aunts. They might be alone, but their records often hold good clues. Don't hurry through genealogy. Enjoy the ride. You'll be glad you did.
All houses have dark closets.
Family history research is very rewarding, but it has it's dark spots, too. Be prepared to discover not-so-pleasant facts about your ancestors. They were human just like we are. Also know that all families have these secrets...even the horrible, unspeakable events. You don't have to publicly broadcast what you discover and record, but you don't have to be ashamed of it either. It's history, plain and simple.
Talk to the old people. Do it now.
The elders in your family have the knowledge, experiences and information you need to search your family history. Do not wait until Christmas to gather information. Call up family members and chat. It may take several calls to get the memory gears going, but trust me they will get going. Ask multiple people the same questions and you'll get more perspectives and details about your ancestors. Bring photos to family gatherings to refresh memories. Don't forget to label those photos because it's very easy to forget names.
I cannot stress how important it is to talk to the old people. Every genealogist has the "if I only asked sooner" regret. This is your chance to avoid that while you spend time with your relatives and build your family tree.
Hopefully this reality check doesn't deter you. Famous ancestor or not, your family tree holds exciting stories of triumph, tragedy, courage and the occasional criminal. Do genealogy for your ancestors, but also do it for yourself. The stories you discover will shape your sense of self and give roots to your life's purpose. Plus you might have a horse thief or bootlegger in the tree and wouldn't that make a good story?
Beginning genealogists often get started because they have a question about their family or they want to prove a tale that's been passed down for generations. All genealogists starting out have eager expectations and common reactions. Genealogy can be a wild ride. Here's some beginner's advice for the trip:
You're probably not related to that famous person.
About half of the research issues, cases and queries I receive come with the belief that a person's family tree includes a connection to a famous historical figure. I've yet to find a famous ancestor for anyone. Maybe you will, but you should lower your expectations. Even if you don't have a branch of notoriety, chances are that your "regular" ancestors have some fascinating stories of their own. Go forth and find them.
Great-great grandma probably wasn't an Indian princess.
Many people claim to have Native American blood in their veins, even the tiniest bit because of stories passed down by grandma about that one unknown ancestor who was in that one tribe. Without some sort of documentation or specific details, it is very hard to make a connection to Native American heritage. If you're confident and want to give it a go, research backwards starting with you, using traditional genealogy resources. This will help you when you reach the point in your ancestral timeline to search Native American resources. Oh and if you are doing this so you can join a tribe and reap financial benefit, it doesn't work that way.
Slow your roll. Do more sideways research.
It is very tempting to collect names and move back in your family tree generation after generation. However, if you do it that way, you're going to get stuck at some point. Take the time to do more "sideways" research instead of moving back in time immediately. Even if you know the birth/marriage/death dates and parents of great-grandpa, study the other records of his life. Censuses, city directories, church records, news articles, etc. all tell a bigger story and they may provide clues to questions down the line. Search all your ancestors' siblings, too. Sometimes the person you're looking for was living in another person's house. Also, be sure to research the spinster aunts. They might be alone, but their records often hold good clues. Don't hurry through genealogy. Enjoy the ride. You'll be glad you did.
All houses have dark closets.
Family history research is very rewarding, but it has it's dark spots, too. Be prepared to discover not-so-pleasant facts about your ancestors. They were human just like we are. Also know that all families have these secrets...even the horrible, unspeakable events. You don't have to publicly broadcast what you discover and record, but you don't have to be ashamed of it either. It's history, plain and simple.
Talk to the old people. Do it now.
The elders in your family have the knowledge, experiences and information you need to search your family history. Do not wait until Christmas to gather information. Call up family members and chat. It may take several calls to get the memory gears going, but trust me they will get going. Ask multiple people the same questions and you'll get more perspectives and details about your ancestors. Bring photos to family gatherings to refresh memories. Don't forget to label those photos because it's very easy to forget names.
I cannot stress how important it is to talk to the old people. Every genealogist has the "if I only asked sooner" regret. This is your chance to avoid that while you spend time with your relatives and build your family tree.
Hopefully this reality check doesn't deter you. Famous ancestor or not, your family tree holds exciting stories of triumph, tragedy, courage and the occasional criminal. Do genealogy for your ancestors, but also do it for yourself. The stories you discover will shape your sense of self and give roots to your life's purpose. Plus you might have a horse thief or bootlegger in the tree and wouldn't that make a good story?
1000!
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This is my 1000th blog post! Cue the music! Drop the confetti! Is this where someone hands me a big check?
No? Ok. It just felt like after writing 999 blog posts, I should observe this milestone.
Let's take a look back.
Very First Blog Post
Here is my very first blog post. I kept it simple. I tell new genealogy bloggers to do the same. There's no need to write a complex essay as your introduction into blogging. Just say hi.
Posts With Most Views
Jump Start Your Genealogy Blog: 52 Ideas, 52 Weeks. I'm not surprised by this. The post is optimized nicely in search engines and it's consistently a top traffic-getter week to week. Hopefully it helps people get started on their blogs, too.
Rejected Genealogy Conference Proposals. Based on the emails and phone calls I got (including one Very Important Genealogist who swore me to secrecy), many of you feel this satire isn't too far from the truth. Two Very Important Genealogists urged me to submit this as an actual conference session, but I don't know if it would play as well in front of a live audience.
If Genealogists Ran Hollywood. Sometimes I like to imagine what life would be like if genealogy was more mainstream.
Posts With Most Comments
A Comment on Comments. Turns out a lot of you have comments about blog comments.
If Genealogists Ran Hollywood. Lots of laughs...or you guys are just really polite.
Genealogy Videos: Family History in 3 Minutes. Fun to make videos, even more rewarding to help others learn to do the same.
Author Favorites
Looking for Sgt. Jones Part 1 and Part 2. Once you read these posts, you'll understand why they are memorable to me.
Call Me Ahab. A post about the thrill of the genealogical hunt and victory when you finally capture your white whale.
Edna Ferber, White Hats and My Family Tree. An example of a possible brush with literary fame.
Oklahoma Road Trip (parts 1-8). A chronicle of a memorable road trip in search of my roots.
Holiday of Horrors! Proof I'm not playing with a full deck. And judging by the comments, many of you aren't either.
1000 Thank Yous
I started writing this blog for myself, but along the way people started reading it. Some of those people commented. Many of those commenters became real-life friends I've met at conferences and out in the real world. To those pals I say "thank you for being a friend." Also, I'm sorry I put that Golden Girls song in your head.
To this day, I'm still surprised people read my blog. Thank you to each and every one of you: the regular readers, RSS subscribers, email receivers, and even the ones that visit once and never come back. I appreciate each and every comment. I also need to thank those that visit every single day and never leave a comment. Didn't think I'd notice, did ya? You're special, too. Drop me a line and introduce yourself. We're all genealogy friends here.
State of the Blog
So what's the plan for the next 1000 posts? The second verse is the same as the first: a little bit of everything. This is my genealogy coffee table. Now pull up a chair and let's chat some more about family trees...
No? Ok. It just felt like after writing 999 blog posts, I should observe this milestone.
Let's take a look back.
Very First Blog Post
Here is my very first blog post. I kept it simple. I tell new genealogy bloggers to do the same. There's no need to write a complex essay as your introduction into blogging. Just say hi.
Posts With Most Views
Jump Start Your Genealogy Blog: 52 Ideas, 52 Weeks. I'm not surprised by this. The post is optimized nicely in search engines and it's consistently a top traffic-getter week to week. Hopefully it helps people get started on their blogs, too.
Rejected Genealogy Conference Proposals. Based on the emails and phone calls I got (including one Very Important Genealogist who swore me to secrecy), many of you feel this satire isn't too far from the truth. Two Very Important Genealogists urged me to submit this as an actual conference session, but I don't know if it would play as well in front of a live audience.
If Genealogists Ran Hollywood. Sometimes I like to imagine what life would be like if genealogy was more mainstream.
Posts With Most Comments
A Comment on Comments. Turns out a lot of you have comments about blog comments.
If Genealogists Ran Hollywood. Lots of laughs...or you guys are just really polite.
Genealogy Videos: Family History in 3 Minutes. Fun to make videos, even more rewarding to help others learn to do the same.
Author Favorites
Looking for Sgt. Jones Part 1 and Part 2. Once you read these posts, you'll understand why they are memorable to me.
Call Me Ahab. A post about the thrill of the genealogical hunt and victory when you finally capture your white whale.
Edna Ferber, White Hats and My Family Tree. An example of a possible brush with literary fame.
Oklahoma Road Trip (parts 1-8). A chronicle of a memorable road trip in search of my roots.
Holiday of Horrors! Proof I'm not playing with a full deck. And judging by the comments, many of you aren't either.
1000 Thank Yous
I started writing this blog for myself, but along the way people started reading it. Some of those people commented. Many of those commenters became real-life friends I've met at conferences and out in the real world. To those pals I say "thank you for being a friend." Also, I'm sorry I put that Golden Girls song in your head.
To this day, I'm still surprised people read my blog. Thank you to each and every one of you: the regular readers, RSS subscribers, email receivers, and even the ones that visit once and never come back. I appreciate each and every comment. I also need to thank those that visit every single day and never leave a comment. Didn't think I'd notice, did ya? You're special, too. Drop me a line and introduce yourself. We're all genealogy friends here.
State of the Blog
So what's the plan for the next 1000 posts? The second verse is the same as the first: a little bit of everything. This is my genealogy coffee table. Now pull up a chair and let's chat some more about family trees...
FamilySearch Bloggers' Dinner at FGS2012
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Greetings from Birmingham, Alabama where I am for the 2012 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference.
On Tuesday night, I was invited to a bloggers' dinner by FamilySearch. They provided a good meal and shared some of the latest FamilySearch news. It is always a good time.
Here are some of the main points of the evening that may be of interest:
FamilySearch is looking for "records preservation volunteers" to assist in their global digitization efforts. Volunteers can serve at home or abroad, and no special skills are needed. You do not need to be a member of the LDS church to participate. For more information, contact TomlinsonKL@familysearch.org .
The 1940 Census project was a huge success. 165,000 people indexed and arbitrated. A record of 10 million indexed records in a single day was set. 434 societies participated. The 1940 census project was completed three months ahead of schedule. Nice job!
Just because the 1940 census is done doesn't mean the work is finished. FamilySearch wants to carry that volunteer spirit over to their U.S. Immigration and Naturalization project. Mobilize your society members and get going.
What's next for FamilySearch? They're going to put more images online and put more digitizing cameras in the field (meaning around the world). They are digitizing books now. Look for digital check-out options in the future, just like checking out an e-book at your library. There are also efforts behind the scenes to improve searching records at FamilySearch including options for alternative spellings.
FamilySearch Family Tree *is* coming...or so I've been told. I am very interested in this, so I will be pestering the FamilySearch booth at the exhibit hall for more details.
Sincere thanks to the FamilySearch team for the dinner, fellowship and informative presentation. I am passing the information they shared because it is of interest to my genealogy pals.
Now back to the conference...
On Tuesday night, I was invited to a bloggers' dinner by FamilySearch. They provided a good meal and shared some of the latest FamilySearch news. It is always a good time.
Here are some of the main points of the evening that may be of interest:
FamilySearch is looking for "records preservation volunteers" to assist in their global digitization efforts. Volunteers can serve at home or abroad, and no special skills are needed. You do not need to be a member of the LDS church to participate. For more information, contact TomlinsonKL@familysearch.org .
The 1940 Census project was a huge success. 165,000 people indexed and arbitrated. A record of 10 million indexed records in a single day was set. 434 societies participated. The 1940 census project was completed three months ahead of schedule. Nice job!
Just because the 1940 census is done doesn't mean the work is finished. FamilySearch wants to carry that volunteer spirit over to their U.S. Immigration and Naturalization project. Mobilize your society members and get going.
What's next for FamilySearch? They're going to put more images online and put more digitizing cameras in the field (meaning around the world). They are digitizing books now. Look for digital check-out options in the future, just like checking out an e-book at your library. There are also efforts behind the scenes to improve searching records at FamilySearch including options for alternative spellings.
FamilySearch Family Tree *is* coming...or so I've been told. I am very interested in this, so I will be pestering the FamilySearch booth at the exhibit hall for more details.
Sincere thanks to the FamilySearch team for the dinner, fellowship and informative presentation. I am passing the information they shared because it is of interest to my genealogy pals.
Now back to the conference...
8 Ekim 2012 Pazartesi
Woman forced to become drug snitch in aftermath of petty traffic stop
To contact us Click HERE
How can a traffic stop for failing to signal a lane change result in an otherwise law abiding becoming a confidential informant doing controlled drug buys for police? Here's how it happened in Friendswood, according to a remarkable story from KTRK-TV:
Florida in 2009 passed legislation dubbed "Rachel's Law" which required law enforcement to "Provide a person who is requested to serve as a confidential informant with an opportunity to consult with legal counsel upon request before the person agrees to perform any activities as a confidential informant." That sort of protection would almost certainly have prevented this situation from ever happening.
During the traffic stop, Friendswood police officers found a brand new glass pipe in her car with a price tag attached and they returned it to her. They also found a bottle of her prescription medication Suboxone, an anti-addiction medication. She was prescribed Suboxone after getting off Vicodin for dental pain.Good heavens! That's one of the ugliest snitching stories Grits has ever heard, and I've heard a few. Takeaway lessons: This is why drivers should refuse to grant consent to search their vehicles, even when they think they have nothing to hide, and why Rick Perry was wrong to veto legislation in 2001 disallowing police from making arrests for Class C traffic tickets.
After the stop, officers took the woman to a Friendswood police station, put her in a holding cell and strip searched her.
"She made me bend over, she looked everywhere, she didn't find anything," the woman said.
It'd been four hours since she left her son without adequate supervision while she went to get dinner. She was only supposed to be gone 15 minutes.
"I actually begged and begged and begged and begged for them to let me call my mom to go get my son," the woman said.
Police offered her a deal.
"I had two choices, that they were going to either arrest me, or I could agree to do some controlled buys for him," the woman said.
From single mom without a stain on her record to drug snitch in just a few hours. The next day she made that undercover buy alone, nervous, scared for her safety, and, she says, without any way to communicate with a police officer outside in case something went bad.
"I was scared for my safety," the woman said.
She got $100 worth of meth, turned it in to cops and then called a lawyer to get her out of a deal she now knows she never should have made in the first place.
But when the lawyer started pushing to get that woman out of the undercover deal, the Friendswood Police Department pushed back, essentially threatening to give her name to the drug dealer.
"He would make sure to get an affidavit and the warrant to arrest the girl. He would try to bust her and he would make sure to tell her that I was the one who ratted her out," the woman said.
It's hard to believe, but a text message from the Friendswood detective says it would be up to the Brazoria County DA if they would have to name their source. He said it on the phone with the woman's defense attorney as well. The lawyer recorded that call and gave it to us.
"We can go ahead and just file a warrant, based on the one controlled buy that she did and name her in the warrant," said Friendswood Police Chief Bob Wieners on the recording.
Police officers haven't yet and now say they won't. But they do say this is a common practice in Friendswood, turning traffic tickets into drug informant deals.
"We work plenty of Class C contracts," Wieners said.
They do about one a month, the chief told us on the phone, deals his city prosecutor knows nothing about. Chief Weiners confirmed the deal he made with this woman but said we don't know the whole story.
"But please don't think that you telling me you have a side of the story without divulging any of it is somehow clearing the air," we told Weiners.
Florida in 2009 passed legislation dubbed "Rachel's Law" which required law enforcement to "Provide a person who is requested to serve as a confidential informant with an opportunity to consult with legal counsel upon request before the person agrees to perform any activities as a confidential informant." That sort of protection would almost certainly have prevented this situation from ever happening.
Arson review 'picking up steam'
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A couple of recent MSM stories focused on the review of arson cases being performed by my employers at the Innocence Project of Texas:
See prior, related Grits posts:
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Oct. 4): Texas forensic panel to hear report on wrongful convictions in arson cases
- Austin American-Statesman (Oct. 5): Review of old arson cases picking up steam
A long-awaited review of old Texas arson cases — an unprecedented search for wrongful convictions based on bad fire investigation science — is picking up speed and will probably produce the first results in January, participants said Friday.The IPOT review has only focused on cases where someone is still in prison based on an arson conviction and their methodology is not comprehensive, basically picking off low hanging fruit. But that's a great start compared to what's going on in other states, and sets a good precedent that, when forensic errors are discovered, old cases where potentially flawed forensics were used should be vetted for viable innocence claims.
One suspect case has been identified and about 26 others are being scrutinized for evidence that investigators relied on now-discredited “myths,” instead of science, to determine that the fires were intentionally set, said Nick Vilbas with the Innocence Project of Texas, which is leading the review.
“We hope to be done pretty soon,” Vilbas told the Texas Forensic Science Commission during Friday’s meeting in Austin.
A panel of fire experts, assembled by new Texas Fire Marshal Chris Connealy, is scheduled to hear details of the first batch of suspect cases in January. Their findings would help determine how each case should proceed in the criminal justice system, Connealy said.
See prior, related Grits posts:
- State fire marshal interview highlights review of arson cases
- State fire marshal pledges to assist in innocence review of old arson cases
- Will review of junk science in arson cases go forward?
- What is the duty to notify defendants of past crime lab errors?
- A 'confluence of interests' supporting debunked arson indicators
- Forensic commission urges review of old arson cases based on junk science
- Forensic commissioner: State fire marshal testimony 'embarrassing'
- Experts: Willingham investigation negligent even by 1991 standards
- The politics of reexamining flawed arson foresics
- If arson science in Willingham case was 'flawed,' what about other, similar cases?
- How best to vet old arson innocence claims?
- Willingham debate not focused on arson science
- Arson cases a tangle of science and supposition
- Arson cases fueling innocence debates
- Many arson convictions based on invalid science
- Arson convictions may be next venue for innocence claims
- College to develop screening processes for vetting old arson cases for bad forensic science
False confessions and 'corroboration inflation'
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Forensic pscyhologist Dr. Karen Franklin has a thoughtful post on the effects of false confessions on experts' analysis of evidence and on legal actors in the justice system. Yes, she says, false confessions have "produced profound miscarriages of justice," but:
What if, once police elicit a false confession from a suspect, it contaminates everything and everyone in touches -- from the prosecutor, the judge, and even the suspect's own attorney all the way to the fingerprint identification and even, perhaps, the DNA match?See the rest of the post for more and also an abstract of the academic article she based it on.
That is the troubling thesis raised by Saul Kassin, a pioneer in the psychological study of false confessions, in an article in the current issue of the American Psychologist.
"Corroboration inflation"
Research shows us that such a contaminating effect is plausible. For example:Such findings may extend to other forensic science that requires subjective judgments, Kassin argues, including comparative analyses of ballistics, hair and fiber, shoeprints, tire tracks, handwriting and even DNA.
- Fingerprint experts who were told the suspect had confessed were more likely to change their opinion and make an incorrect match, as compared with experts who were told the suspect was already in custody at the time of the crime
- Polygraph examiners were significantly more likely to opine that an inconclusive chart showed deception when they were told the suspect had confessed.
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