Thursday, September 08, 2011

Blackburn on traffic tickets as revenue generators and next steps for innocence reform

My boss Jeff Blackburn from the Innocence Project of Texas was in town today for the Forensic Science Commission meeting and we sat down for a recorded chat, the second-ever Grits podcast, fwiw. A little hissy (your correspondent is much more writer than audio technician), but as always Jeff's views are provocative and insightful, if a little on the cynical and glum side. Go here (about 20 minutes) to listen to what he had to say on the subjects of traffic tickets as revenue generators during the recession and what the Legislature needs to do next to prevent  false convictions and open the door to get more innocent people out of prison.

MORE: By popular demand from the comment section, here's a transcript of the podcast, courtesy of Grits donors and subscribers.

6 comments:

Prison Doc said...

Transcript please!

Gritsforbreakfast said...

I'll see what I can do, PD, but it'll take a lot longer for me to get a transcript than for you to just listen to the podcast!

Atticus said...

I agree with Doc. Maybe Jeff as someone who can do a transcript....

Gritsforbreakfast said...

Done. Here's the transcript (pdf). I used the service iDictate for the job, so if anybody wants to hit the PayPal button to help cover the cost, feel free.

Anonymous said...

Hey Scott! You and Jeff sound just like Rick Perry in his veto statement on why he shot down the bipartisan texting while driving ban bill. Seriously! A crime by definition has to have some punishment prescribed by the State upon a finding of guilty. Fines certainly have their place in the punishment arsenal, correct? Or are you and Jeff wanting to abolish Class C misdemeanors and make everything a jailable misdemeanor or felony? I like Jeff but his sweeping generalizations about local governments and fine-only offenes are ill informed. The Class C misdemeanors have become a galactic universe unto themselves in the last 25 years. Consider interviewing who is more knowledgeable, fair and balanced to talk about Class C misdemeanors than Jeff. The topic is fascinating. Thanks for the transcript!

Gritsforbreakfast said...

9:26, fwiw I agreed with Perry's veto of the texting while driving bill.

Also, I agree Class Cs have become "a galactic universe unto themselves in the last 25 years," I'd just like to see that universe contract instead of expand. Not everything you don't like has to be a crime.