tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post4913555528085907047..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: 'Texas parole reforms lowered crime, costs'Gritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-55955266278479997862010-01-09T17:17:52.783-06:002010-01-09T17:17:52.783-06:00Crime and drug/alcohol abuse go hand in hand. I d...Crime and drug/alcohol abuse go hand in hand. I don't agree it's a sickness or mental illness...it's a choice regardless of the reason. Sickness and mental illness are used as excuses for people that just don't want to admit they lack the self control to stop. I agree that treatment of drug and alcohol users is much cheaper for tax payers if it is provided by community based programs; however some will never stop unless they are locked up and can not get access to it. Continuous drug use and other repetitive parole violations must have consequence, otherwise the court order is useless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-50378887458641757952010-01-07T12:32:20.694-06:002010-01-07T12:32:20.694-06:00FairPlay, drug use is increasingly viewed as a men...FairPlay, drug use is increasingly viewed as a mental health issue rather than a crime, as it should be. Treatment is far less expensive and far more effective than incarceration. I suppose I'm glad you are a "former" parole officer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-92068221802687003302010-01-07T10:45:09.124-06:002010-01-07T10:45:09.124-06:00@10:33 - As long as the minority of anons engaged ...@10:33 - As long as the minority of anons engaged in trollish behavior don't mind me pointing out when they're hiding behind anonymity like a coward to take cheap shots, I don't mind letting the majority of anons who contribute constructively do so unimpeded.<br /><br />Actually, even if the trolls DO mind that's the case.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-9973560466529496622010-01-07T10:33:18.549-06:002010-01-07T10:33:18.549-06:00Grits, you seem to have a problem with all of thes...Grits, you seem to have a problem with all of these anonymous posts. It's your blog, don't allow them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-40181023082329195192010-01-07T09:51:41.457-06:002010-01-07T09:51:41.457-06:00sorry, that S. Ct. case is Melendez-Diaz (not Mele...sorry, that S. Ct. case is Melendez-Diaz (not Melendiz-Diaz)Skifoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13699401879404407621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-29017648767060376922010-01-07T09:50:24.913-06:002010-01-07T09:50:24.913-06:00Also, those do-it-yourself drug tests, even when t...Also, those do-it-yourself drug tests, even when they double test, can be successfully attacked in a criminal case.Skifoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13699401879404407621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-60610865996735542492010-01-07T09:47:25.811-06:002010-01-07T09:47:25.811-06:00Mark #1: Interesting. But note the info that the...Mark #1: Interesting. But note the info that they are no longer using lab testing. This might be a big problem in light of a recent S. Ct. case, Melendiz-Diaz, which requires the govt. to present direct testimony from the lab person who tested the drugs (Melendez-Diaz). Yes I know they deemed the Tx law as OK, but a smart defense lawyer could run a big truck through the statute.Skifoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13699401879404407621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-6906412344120863502010-01-07T09:41:22.953-06:002010-01-07T09:41:22.953-06:00The parole conditions say, "Don't commit ...The parole conditions say, "Don't commit new crimes." They also say, "Don't use drugs." There is nothing in the Penal Code charging a crime for "drug use." To charge drug possession, the person must be caught with drugs.Skifoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13699401879404407621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-18266970793746900412010-01-07T09:39:56.523-06:002010-01-07T09:39:56.523-06:00Mark#1, how dare you confuse the issue with actual...Mark#1, how dare you confuse the issue with actual facts! ;)Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-52487312476813811372010-01-07T09:27:47.711-06:002010-01-07T09:27:47.711-06:00My prior post was addressed to the person promotin...My prior post was addressed to the person promoting the charging of persons who test positive for drug use with possession of drugs.Mark #1noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-77876361742824952572010-01-07T09:25:29.725-06:002010-01-07T09:25:29.725-06:00That's all well and good, except that Texas do...That's all well and good, except that Texas doesn't criminalize "use" of prohibited drugs, rather it criminalizes "possession" of prohibited drugs. They are not the same, and a positive urine test merely shows the metabolites raising an inference of "use." Moreover, criminal prosecutions require a "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard; which urine testing cannot hope to demonstrate due to the multitude of factors unrelated to drug use which can lead to a positive result. However, at least one jurisdiction has passed a law criminalizing "use" as demonstrated through a urine test. State v. Schroeder, 674 N.W.2d 827 (S.D. 2004). Maybe you could lead the charge in the next legislature to create yet another felony since we obviously don't have enough?Mark #1noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-6869139737505842962010-01-07T09:16:12.666-06:002010-01-07T09:16:12.666-06:00FairPlay, do you believe dirty UAs should be prose...FairPlay, do you believe dirty UAs should be prosecuted as a new crime? What benefit would that incur for anybody compared to handling them with progressive sanctions?Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-30129880992736431302010-01-07T09:14:55.255-06:002010-01-07T09:14:55.255-06:00One thing I've noticed, 8:56, is that anonymou...One thing I've noticed, 8:56, is that anonymous commenters often say that right up until someone with a community supervision background supports evidence-based practices, then the same folks flame them in blog comments.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-48469412704697591282010-01-07T08:56:37.227-06:002010-01-07T08:56:37.227-06:00One thing I have noticed about the debate around t...One thing I have noticed about the debate around the issue of probation and parole, individuals who supervise offenders seem to have an entirely different perspective than those who write editorials or blog about corrections.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-75938812389470134852010-01-07T07:12:13.871-06:002010-01-07T07:12:13.871-06:00As being a former parole officer, I would not nece...As being a former parole officer, I would not necessiarly agree that parolees are committing less new crimes. Everytime that an offender test positive for drugs means that they had to have drugs in their possession, therefore having committed a new crime. I always thought that it was interesting that the parole division does not allow its officers to charge a parolee for committing a new crime, if they tested positive for drugs. <br /><br />If a parolee test positive for cocaine, it could reasonably be considered that they committed a new felony while they were in possession of the drugs.FairPlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04955165616703696866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-39455982468113011792010-01-07T00:00:05.639-06:002010-01-07T00:00:05.639-06:00I'm glad to see Texas Correctional Industries,...I'm glad to see Texas Correctional Industries, Windham Schools, and Project RIO programs are working. Texas needs to expand the TCI & Windham programs. These programs work by teaching offenders work ethics and basic education skills. A big thanks to the Senate CJ Committee and the House Corrections Committee for making this happen. Too bad the rest of the legislature is asleep at the wheel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-88361466337911016622010-01-06T16:19:10.359-06:002010-01-06T16:19:10.359-06:00New York Times
January 6, 2010
ALBANY — In an u...New York Times <br />January 6, 2010 <br /><br />ALBANY — In an unusually blunt address to the New York State Legislature on Wednesday, Gov. David A. Paterson chastised the lawmakers before him, saying they had spent the state into near fiscal ruin.<br /><br />If you want to lower costs and spending these days you are going against a strong tide.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com