Justice

[HOOD] Stimulus Package Offers Solutions to Faltering Economy, Rising Crime

Guest column

Crime and the economy. No matter how it's sliced, these two issues are inextricably linked. When we face one problem head on, we also tackle the other. And that is why the President's economic stimulus package is so important. It offers answers to both.

FBI Seeks Cold Case Info

[verbatim]In February 2006, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) enacted an initiative to identify and closely examine all unsolved hate crimes resulting in death that occurred prior to 1970. A review of cold case civil rights matters that met the above criteria was conducted and, with the help of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, as well as community leaders and civic organizations, numerous cases of unsolved violent crimes from the Civil Rights era are now being thoroughly examined and reinvestigated.

New Crime Lab, Please

Attorney General Jim Hood recommended more money for the state crime lab and the Mississippi Medical Examiner's office at a Monday meeting with the House Judiciary Committee.

Jackson's Crime Rate

Jackson's crime rate put Mississippi's capital city at the No. 23 spot of 385 U.S. cities, according to "City Crime Rankings, 2008-2009," released by the CQ Press earlier this month. The city's ranking puts it in a better light than New Orleans, which had the highest crime rate, followed by Camden, N.J., Detroit, St. Louis, Oakland, Calif., and 17 other U.S. cities.

Freedom Van!

The JFP's fourth annual Chick Ball raised $13,000 for CVP, and in September, it was able to purchase a much-needed van to transport women and children.

Fourth Man Exonerated, Registers to Vote

Arthur Johnson, 48, registered to vote this month, after nearly 16 years in prison for a rape he did not commit, and another eight months waiting for Mississippi to officially exonerate him.

Connecticut High Court Throws Out Gay Marriage Ban

In a 4-3 opinion, the Connecticut Supreme Court threw out that state's gay marriage ban today, making Connecticut the third state in the country that will recognize same-sex marriages. Connecticut already had a same-sex civil unions law, but the state's Supreme Court today ruled that the state could not show sufficient evidence why all marriage rights shouldn't be conferred on same-sex couples.

Oakley Still Hurting Children

Students may no longer have to eat their own vomit at Oakley Training School, but the Department of Justice's eighth quarterly monitors' report shows that the school still has a very long way to go.

Senate Passes Emmett Till Act

If there is any doubt that the wheels of power grind slowly, the U.S. Senate proved the point this week, when, after more than three years of delays, it unanimously passed the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, which will strengthen federal and local agencies' abilities to investigate and prosecute unsolved civil rights era murders.

Recycling Crime

U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate has put the clamps on an effort to change a new state law regulating the metal-recycling industry. The law specifically demands scrap buyers keep all scrap purchases on their property for three days, so authorities can check it as potentially stolen merchandise.

Bell Denies Responsibility

Robbie Bell says she was not home on Trawick Drive when her son, George Bell III, raped and then bludgeoned Mary Heather Spencer with a flashlight the night of Sept. 10, 2007. So says her response to Linda Francomb's lawsuit, filed July 23.

UPDATED: Barbour Helps Domestic Killers

At least three of six criminals getting relief from Gov. Haley Barbour killed their former or current wife or girlfriend.

Survivors of Murdered Women File Suit

The families of two women murdered last September by the men who professed their love for them say they have yet to receive justice.

[Sue Doh Nem] Riots, Crime, Etc.

Nurse Tootie McBride: "Live from the Ghetto Science Public Television Studios is 'The Nurse Tootie Show.'

Appeals Allege Federal Tampering

In 2007, a federal jury convicted Mississippi attorney Paul Minor, who had made a name for himself in tobacco and asbestos litigation, of corruption. Last month Minor's lawyers appealed that decision, seeking to vacate the conviction and the sentence and to either dismiss the case or retry it before a new judge.

Ellington