News of the Day, Thursday, March 29, 2007

• Protesters against building new prisons in CA and protesters in the state legis against doing constructive things to address that prison problem, which includes being out of beds completely by the end of the year and pushing everything back down on the jails. Let's hope this isn't the final judgment, so to speak: "Everybody is just waiting for the federal court to take over the system, and they are all polishing their finger getting ready to point it at whoever they plan to blame," said John Lum, former chief probation officer for San Luis Obispo County and a coordinator of Wednesday's event."It's a disgrace. The governor and Legislature keep stuffing people in the prisons but they refuse to take responsibility for the consequences." Think there's a coincidence between that statement and this CA poll finding of general dissatisfaction out there and specific doubt that the state's political leaders are up to the tasks that face them? General perception of legitimacy = acceptance of rules and laws = effectiveness of criminal justice. Simple formula.
• NH dumps on med marijuana despite its neighbors approving their versions. I guess all the potheads will be fleeing the state now.
• I have to admit that I’m baffled that this is even a policy issue. Who would be making rape victims pay for their rape kits at this point in history?