Author: Moskos

Good Policing in Chicago

Well done. I wasn’t expecting things to go so well with the NATO summit. But they did. Kudos to Police Superintendent McCarthyand all the men and women of the Chicago Police Department. Lesson can be learned (particularly by West Coast police departments that don’t seem to be so good at this) and proper preparation is…
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“There’s a stigma with these situations”

Sad and yet strangely touching story about dementia and sociologist Irwin (not Erving) Goffman in the New York Times. Once as a cop I remember spending hours with a very nice and well dressed elderly man. He knew all his info except where he lived. I drove him around the neighborhood. I walked with him…
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Help Wanted

My department at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (Law, Police Science, and Criminal Justice Administration) has three full-time assistant-professor tenure-track lines we’ll be hiring for in the fall. Two are for general criminal justice and one is for police. If you know of anybody — a promising PhD candidate or a professor who wants…
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Guardian Angels Stabbed In Chicago

I’ve always admired the Guardian Angels. They made me feel safe when in high school and riding the L alone, late at night. A man was being robbed, and they — unarmed — intervened. They got stabbed. From the Sun Times. Meanwhile in Chicago, a group of 100 white out-of-towners take a stroll through the…
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The right to trial by jury

The Sixth Amendment states, in rather uncompromising terms: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury.” But the system can’t handle those rights. That’s why but a very small fraction of cases is decided by a trial, much less a jury trial (the…
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Off to Charm City

I heading down to Baltimore for the weekend. It’s been awhile. Watch out, because there’s going to be a run on crab cakes and Natty Bo.

A Day at the Races

We in American don’t know about “traveler” culture in Ireland and England. Now I know it’s wrong, but I can’t help but have some respect for people who race horses, harness racing style, down major highways. The full youtube clip has been deleted (it was a long race). But here’s the shortened BBC version.

When Cultures Clash

Thug challenges Mayor Bloomberg to a fight, mano-a-mano. Nice to know the judge released him on his own recognizance since he seems like such a nice chap who will stay out of trouble.

Police layoffs in New Jersey

What is the relationship between (A) number of cops, (B) number of arrests, and (C) crime. When “A” goes down, “B” goes down, and “C” goes up. Sometimes it really is that simple. Here’s the more nuanced story by James Queally in the Newark Star Ledger. [Tip of the cap to Epichorus.]

911 is a very costly joke!

There’s a much delayed and controversial report listing the flaws of New York’s “new and improved” 911 phone system. There are many flaws I won’t get into here, but I would like to point out just the cost. The project has cost $2 billion. The entire annual budget of the NYPD is about $4.5 billion…
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