One Justice's Response

Katrina killed thousands, and destroyed millions (perhaps billions) of dollars worth of property. The massive storm also ravaged the criminal justice system in New Orleans. Now, one judge is releasing prisoners because of non-existent representation from the New Orleans public defender's office.

Judge Steps In for Poor Inmates Without Justice - New York Times

A New Communication Tool for LAPD

The Los Angeles Police Department has increased its electronic profile by initiating a weblog.

LAPD Launches Community Web Log - Yahoo! News

A Different Kind of Death Sentence?

Rather than beign condemned to death, Zacarias Moussaoui has been sentended to life in the federal government's maximum security prison in Florence, Colorado. Life there involves being locked in a 7' x 12' cell for twenty-three hours each day. Moussaoui will join other criminals of note -- including Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski, shoe bomber Richard Reid, and Oklahoma City bombing accomplice Terry Nichols -- in what is considered by many to be the harshest of prison environments.

The Slow Rot at Supermax - Los Angeles Times

Students at California State University Long Beach can read more about the Super Max prisons -- both state and federal -- around the country.

An Innocent Person Executed in Texas?

Cameron Willingham was executed in February 2004 for the deaths of his three children in a fire that Texas officials contended was a case of arson. However four arson investigators, working with Barry Sheck's Innocence Project, now contend that the expert testimony offered at Mr. Willingham's trial was inaccurate.

Panel Says Faulty Arson Evidence Led to Execution - Los Angeles Times

Students of California State University Long Beach can read more about Willingham's trial and emotionally charged execution by using the research database Newspapers (click on the search link).

Drug Legalization to Become Law

Mexican President Vincente Fox is expected to sign a bill into law that will legalize many of the drugs -- narcotics included -- that powerful cartels in that country are trafficking.

Mexico to Allow Use of Drugs - Los Angeles Times