Criminal Law

Treatment is more Effective than Jail Time

Dan Carman · September 10, 2017 ·

The War on Drugs, begun by Richard Nixon and continued and added onto by subsequent presidents, has not been as successful as its supporters hoped when they conceived it. Since its inception in 1971, estimates from different sources, including CNN and the Drug Policy Alliance, state that the U.S. has spent more than $1 trillion. And while the positive results of the war are negligible, what it has done, through mandatory minimum sentencing, harsher laws and other measures, is to help fill up the …

Finding a Job When You Have a Record

Dan Carman · July 28, 2017 ·

One of the most difficult parts of being an inmate comes not in prison, but after release. Adjusting to the world on the outside, after however brief or long a stay in prison, takes massive adjustment. While some of the toughest times are behind the offender, also gone are the regimented lifestyle, the rigid schedule, the provision of food (however bad it is), and having at least some heat in winter. Perhaps, though, the hardest part is simply finding a job that pays enough money to live …

An Effective Alternative to Tougher Laws

Dan Carman · July 17, 2017 ·

In the United States, efforts to curb crime tend to focus on tough policing and harsh penalties. It’s rare to hear a politician speak about a sensitive approach – much more common is rhetoric about punishing offenders and being tough. And, most times, it receives the response the politicians hope for. But the results don’t always follow the actions. The War on Drugs, for example, first initiated by Richard Nixon and expanded since, has spent billions of dollars to fight drugs entering the …

Wise Up on Ineffective Interrogation Techniques

Dan Carman · July 13, 2017 ·

A major change in the way law enforcement organizations operate may come sooner than later and hopefully indicates a positive trend in interrogation techniques. The Marshall Project, a non-profit journalism organization that focuses on the criminal justice system, has reported that Wicklander-Zulawski and Associates, a consulting group that has trained hundreds of thousands of police officers across the country, has suggested they will stop using the Reid Technique for interrogation. The Reid …

Most Dangerous Cities in Kentucky

Dan Carman · June 27, 2017 ·

There is no place that is truly crime free, but the reality is that some places are safer than others. Kentucky is no exception. Based on FBI statistics, several lists have been created that show where crime is most prevalent. Overall, Kentucky is a pretty safe place, compared to the national average. Neighborhood Scout shows that Kentucky’s overall crime rate is an average of 23.96 crimes per 1,000 residents; violent crime affects 2.19 of every thousand residents, compared to a national rate …