(My discussion of hate crimes arises against the background of Bush's veto of a new federal hate crimes bill, but I'm not discussing that bill at all.) A few days ago I blogged about hate crime laws. These laws increase the punishment for "hate crimes," which are crimes that are motivated by bigotry. Beat a guy because he cut you off in traffic, that's an ordinary crime. Beat … [Read more...] about Second Thoughts on Hate Crimes
Meanwhile, In Other Embarassing Chicago Police News…
William Hanhardt wants a new trial. I guess if I were a 78-year-old former Chicago Police Chief of Detectives who got sent away for 12 years for running a jewelry theft ring, I'd want a new trial too. Although...I'm not sure "new trial" is the right term when you plead guilty the first time. I suspect that pleading guilty makes it hard to find grounds for a retrial so, … [Read more...] about Meanwhile, In Other Embarassing Chicago Police News…
Technology and the Prosecutor
Sarena Straus has a post about the lack of technological support she had as a sex crimes prosecutor. In my first year at the DA’s office, I shared my desk with five other ADAs and my phone with 7 in a windowless room aptly called, “The Barn.” By my last year at the office, only supervisors and a select few felony prosecutors that could prove a need even had computers. The … [Read more...] about Technology and the Prosecutor
Des Plaines TIF: Jimmy’s Restaurant
The Des Plaines TIF is so huge that I've got to start posting more pictures or I'll never get done. So here's a few pictures from Jimmy's Restaurant, another property threatened by eminent domain in the Des Plaines Five Corners/River-Rand TIF District.Jimmy's Restaurant As you can see, Jimmy has been pretty active in the TIF opposition effort. There may be some … [Read more...] about Des Plaines TIF: Jimmy’s Restaurant
Fibbing to Organ Donors
Given all that they ask of other people, the venality of the organ transplant business amazes me. I've already complained about their willingness to pay everyone involved in a transplant operation except the person who actually has the organ to be transplanted. To the surprise of nobody who understands economics, there's an organ shortage. Here in Illinois they've decided to … [Read more...] about Fibbing to Organ Donors