Quality Policing Podcast and Blog

Portugal’s Drug Policy

The headline says: “Portugal’s drug policy pays off; US eyes lessons.” Of course it should probably say, “US ignores lessons.” I like pseudo neutral editor’s note: “This is part of an occasional series by The Associated Press examining the U.S. struggles in its war on drugs after four decades and $1 trillion.” The story is…
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Then and Now: Jacksonville

This time from Jacksonville, Florida. It looks like the Hamrock Hotel is a pretty upscale place, with all them nice new Ford motorcars out front! The only old building left is vacant, abandoned, and falling apart. And as usual, business and buildings have been replaced with parking lots and vacant lots. There’s one big new…
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In the Nation’s Service?

Happy Boxing Day (if you’re Canadian). Or Second Day of Christmas (if you’re Dutch). Why don’t we have two-day holidays (especially the Friday after Thanksgiving)? In the news: People in jail recording themselves reading books for their kids to listen to. The DEA is big and scary and still unable to stop world leaders from…
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Fewer Cops, More Crime

Seems to be what’s happening in Newark, which laid off 163 police officers last month.

Mexico

First, as my wife sits near me working on a guidebook to the Yucatan (that’s Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and the Mayan Riviera for you tourists in Mexico), I feel obliged to point out that the Yucatan has a lower homicide rate than Canada. And Canada is safer than America. So not going to Cancun…
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Pat Robertson for Legalized Pot Possession

Stranger things have happened. But I can’t think of when. I saw this the other day watching the 700 Club [not true]. “We’ve got to look at what we’re considering crime.” Robertson also comes out against mandatory sentences. “It’s costing us a fortune and it’s ruining young people.” Preach on, Brother Robertson. [Update: Robertson clarifies…
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What you learn on the job

I compiled a little top ten lost of things police learn on the job. You can see it at Criminal Justice Programs.com. Peter Moskos is a former police officer and author of the popular law enforcement blog, Cop in the Hood (www.copinthehood.com). He is currently a professor of law and police science at New York’s…
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Change is Bad: Poughkeepsie

I like then-and-now shots of life in America. I posted two of Newburgha while back and got some interest. This one of downtown Poughkeepsie, NY, isn’t as dramatic or depressing a change as was Newburgh, but is it really to much to ask for things to be bettertoday than they were 99 years ago? Apparently,…
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Speaking of private justice

Halliburton pays Nigeria $250 million to drop their case against former CEO Dick Cheney… for paying Nigerian official $180 million between 1994 and 2004 to secure a $6 billion contract. So says the BBC.

Private Prisons in Maine

1) Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), the nation’s largest for-profit prison operator, spends $25,000 for Maine Republican candidate Paul LePage. He wins the election. But state law prohibits private prisons. This kind of law is one of the few good things to come from prison guard union lobbying. 2) A few weeks before becoming governor,…
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