News of the Day, Wednesday, August 29, 2007

• Meth use linked to increased HIV and other STDs? Looks like it in NC. Good thing that state is so unique.
• One of the reasons why CA prison union folks have come around to supporting sentencing guidelines despite predictions to the contrary (uh, not that you ever heard them here) is because of the hard time they've been having just getting current staffs up to capacity, with the resulting endangering of the union members. Now that the state has proposed 53,000 more beds and is claiming it can find people to do the correcting there, the union is calling BS. And it is.
• Remember yesterday when I pointed out that headline on how housing woes in FL causing state budget problems there were actually corrections sentencing woes? Well, look at this headline from FL today: Budget plans would release some prisoners
• Effective reentry program in MI. Could do more with more resources but they're not there. Which makes it a story about practically every state.
• Really thorough story, almost like real journalism, from OR on prison rape, why it's not funny, and PREA, the Prison Rape Elimination Act, which is now taking more time and resources in practically every corrections department.
• "Agents with a regional drug task force raided a man's home in southeastern New Mexico and seized several marijuana plants, sparking the latest debate over the state's new medical marijuana law. Wheelchair-bound and suffering from chronic pain and muscle spasms, Leonard French says he's certified by the state Health Department to possess and smoke marijuana. The 44-year-old lost the use of his legs after a motorcycle crash about 20 years ago." Just one of many folks who pose a terrible, horrific, dangerous threat to this country, planet, and universe. "While no charges have been filed against French, the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force said federal drug charges are possible. A state law that took effect this summer allows marijuana use for pain or other symptoms of debilitating illnesses, such as cancer, glaucoma, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, HIV-AIDS and certain spinal cord injuries."
• Finally, I can hardly wait to see what the guidelines are for this if this guy gets convicted. A judge slapping a bound defendant. Lord knows how many future judges this will affect.