Month: June 2023

Race and policing

NOTE: There are 200 publications based on “Race & Policing” available at the link below – Check it!!!

Again and again the data show that people of color in the U.S. are disproportionately, and systematically, stopped, frisked, arrested, and exposed to the use of force by police. Police departments and communities across the U.S. are struggling with these realities and with what has become a glaring divide in how Americans experience and relate to policing. This special collection includes research from nonprofits, foundations, and university based research centers, who have not only described and documented the issue but who also provide much-needed recommendations for addressing this chronic and tragic problem. More ways to engage: – Add your organization’s content to this collection. – Easily share this collection on your website or app.
— Read on raceandpolicing.issuelab.org/

REPORT OF THE BLUE-RIBBON PANEL on MTA Fare and Toll Evasion

Key Takeaways

The fiscal losses caused by fare and toll evasion are staggering.

  • The MTA’s dollar losses to fare and toll evasion for 2022 were $690 million.
    That includes $315 million in evasion losses on the buses; $285 million on
    the subways; $46 million at the bridges and tunnels; and $44 million on
    commuter rail. On the buses and subways in particular, evasion levels have
    spiked since the pandemic. They show no signs of
    dropping.

This should include improving the measurement of fare evasion on commuter railroads and passing new state legislation to crack down on drivers who use fraudulent and blocked license plates to evade tolls, or who persistently ignore toll bills. Modernizing fare arrays – turnstiles, exit gates, and other physical barriers – is the single most important thing the MTA can do to reduce fare evasion in the subway, saving hundreds of millions of dollars over time. These fare arrays would replace the aging turnstiles with motorized swinging doors or panels. They will also enable the MTA to get rid of the existing emergency gates – the single biggest source of evasion in the subways. About 400,000 riders enter the subway each day without paying – a problem so big that enforcement alone cannot solve it

The Four E’s strategy is based on the idea that new anti-evasion strategies should respond to the reasons why people evade in the first place. For example, evaders (particularly on the subways) typically fall into several general categories:

The opportunistic evader – the person who approaches the subway turnstile with MetroCard or OMNY in hand but evades when they see others entering through an open emergency exit gate. Remedies should focus on taking away the opportunity – the open gate.

The frustrated evader – the person who walks up to a MetroCard machine, cash in hand and ready to pay, but finds the machine’s cash slot has been vandalized. Unable to pay the MTA with cash, they reluctantly resort to evasion through the emergency exit gate – sometimes being forced to pay someone illegally controlling gate entry.

The economically stressed evader – the person who evades the fare because paying it is a true hardship. The panel heard from New Yorkers who feel as if they have to choose between paying the fare and paying for other necessities.  They told us they would much rather be paying customers and they find evasion painful and embarrassing.

The student evader – the young person who evades the fare when their student discount is unavailable.

The determined evader – this category includes the person who simply Is determined not to pay, regardless of subsidies, educational messages or other nudges. This category also includes those who are determined to facilitate and profit from evasion by others. Social media chatter makes clear that many see fare evasion as outright cool or somehow socially justified. It is neither.

Get the full report HERE

Perfect Example of the Damage to Police from a Progressive Prosecutor – Commentary

Incident

This is one copy of the video of the incident found on Twitter. The incident allegedly began with an argument between Jeremy Brown and Carlishia Hood. The argument escalated with Brown punching Carlishia Hood. Apparently Carlishia Hood was able to contact her 14 year old son to bring her firearm and come in the hotdog stand to help her. The son entered the establishment saw the altercation and shot Brown. The according to news reports (below) Carlishia Hood instructed her 14 year old son to go after and continue to shoot Brown and then attack another patron that was laughing during the incident.

The Arrest

There was a decision to Arrest Carlishia Hood and her 14 year old son. I don’t know all the facts in the case but I can see how Chicago PD (CPD) made this decision. The main issue is Carlishia Hood having her 14 year old son shoot Brown and then when the threat stopped have her son continue to pursue Brown and kill Brown. Then if the allegation is true to have he 14 year old son to attack a second person for laughing during the incident, which was asked but didn’t happen.

It makes sense that CPD would arrest Carlishia Hood and her 14 son for the death of Brown and then Carlishia Hood for endangering the welfare of her 14 year old child. Then the prosecutor would prepare a case against Carlishia Hood and then it becomes the defendant’s burden to raise the motion of self-defense and prove it. By the prosecutor dropping the case it opens up the police officers involved and police department to a lawsuit even though they acted lawfully when they made the arrest.

Keep in mind that (this is only looking at the video) Carlishia Hood had to text her 14 year old son to get the gun before she was punched. No one reacted in the video by leaving or running away until the 14 year old son shot Brown. Was anyone in fear of their life?

Video about the arrest: https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/woman-14-year-old-charge-in-fatal-shooting-on-far-south-side/

Charges dropped

This is an example of a slippery slope for police that Progressive Prosecutors artificially create. This is an example of one instance that police act lawfully and the prosecutor should have followed through with the charges, however they drop the charges leaving police officers and the police department exposed to civil liability. It appears that the police officers acted improperly, but they didn’t.

There are other examples like when Progressive Prosecutors make their own special policy on which crimes or under what circumstances they will prosecute arrests. The law hasn’t changed just the prosecutor’s discretion.

For example in New York is a person shoplifts and during the shoplifting crime and the offender’s escape the offender displays a hammer and says “If you try to stop me I’ll smash your head in”. This act would raise the shoplifting to a robbery, but not in Manhattan under DA Bragg. In DA Bragg’s “Day One Memo” he stated:

a) An act that could be charged under PL §§ 160.15 (2, 3, or 4), 160.10(2b), or 160.05 that occurs in a commercial setting should be charged under PL § 155.25 if the force or threat of force consists of displaying a dangerous instrument or similar behavior but does not create a genuine risk of physical harm.

So if the NYPD made the correct arrest they would have arrested the offender for robbery, criminal possession of a weapon, and larceny. Who knows how DA Bragg’s assistant prosecutors would have handled the case. They might drop the whole case which would leave the NYPD and the officers open to a civil lawsuit.

Video about charges dropped: https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/charges-dropped-against-mother-and-14-year-old-son-in-fatal-shooting/

Lawsuit

Video about the lawsuit: https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/mother-in-deadly-maxwell-street-express-shooting-expected-to-speak-after-charges-dropped/

Chicago’s consent decree woes offer a warning as Minneapolis police face federal oversight

As Minneapolis prepares to negotiate a federal consent decree that would install an independent monitor of its embattled police force, potential pitfalls can be sidestepped if officials are mindful.
— Read on www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/chicagos-consent-decree-woes-offer-warning-minneapolis-police-face-fed-rcna90186

Police Operations and Staffing – City and County of Denver

We audited police operations and staffing by the Denver Police Department to evaluate the effectiveness of the department’s recruitment and retention practices and to assess its use of data to ensure effective operations.
— Read on denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Auditors-Office/Audit-Services/Audit-Reports/Police-Operations-and-Staffing

Report shows persistent racial disparities in Kentucky juvenile justice system | WKMS

Despite reforms to Kentucky’s juvenile justice system over the last decade, data shows Black kids continue to disproportionately end up in youth detention compared to white and Hispanic children.
— Read on www.wkms.org/criminal-justice/2023-06-21/report-shows-persistent-racial-disparities-in-kentucky-juvenile-justice-system

Creating a nexus between workload and costs: A case study from Ocean View PD

By analyzing the type and frequency of calls for service, chiefs can ensure they are using resources effectively and efficiently while maintaining officer well-being
— Read on www.police1.com/chiefs-sheriffs/articles/creating-a-nexus-between-workload-and-costs-a-case-study-from-ocean-view-pd-tfQ6Vcx1tUNcNgh7/