VA worker reinstated with back pay after missing time due to being in prison for armed robbery

(Hat tip: KimR) - When veterans at the Puerto Rico VA hospital come to the social work department seeking counseling and guidance, the secretary greeting them, Elizabeth Rivera Rivera, will be wearing a GPS monitor ankle bracelet, a condition of her probation. Read more at Hotair.com Read More......

Conservatives Oppose Mass Criminal Release

With the presidential race the focus of most of the media attention, a major division among Senate Republicans over so-called “criminal justice reform” has gotten little attention. But the liberal media are now beginning to notice that conservatives are mounting a campaign to stop a piece of legislation that has been advertised as a major part of President Obama’s left-wing legacy.

Read more at Accuracy in Media
(Hat tip: KimR) Read More......

Sailor faces 30 years in prison for keeping pics of classified submarine equipment

Since the issue of classification has emerged in the past day or so again, it’s worth remembering just how important it is for national security. This news item from the Hartford Courant in Connecticut demonstrates just how seriously officials are supposed to protect classified material and systems. The Department of Justice has charged a former Navy submariner with multiple crimes involving his retention of cell-phone pictures of classified systems on his boat.

Read more at Hotair.com
(Hat tip: KimR) Read More......

Democrats play election-year politics with public safety

OREGON REPUBLICAN PARTY, 2/17/2010, House Republicans Join Crime Victims, Law Enforcement in Calling for Repeal of 2009 Earned Time Law - SALEM: House Republicans today joined Oregon’s crime victims and members of the law enforcement community in calling for the repeal of a 2009 law that has allowed violent criminals to seek- and in many cases win- early release from prison. They opposed the Democrats’ effort (SB 1007) to suspend these early releases until after the November elections have passed. ∴ “The Legislature can’t ‘fix’ the damage that has been done to crime victims by the expansion of the earned time law,” said Rep. Andy Olson (R-Albany). “Suspending this expansion for the campaign season, rather than repealing this flawed policy, is yet another insult to these victims. It is also an insult to Oregon’s law enforcement community that has worked hard to put these criminals behind bars.”

During the 2009 session, Democrats pushed the suspension of Measure 57 and the expansion of the earned time law in order to save $6 million in a $52.9 billion state budget. Since HB 3508 was passed last year, 4,800 early releases have been granted and some of the criminals who’ve been released have already re-offended.

“The horse has left the barn; 4,800 felons have already been granted early release under the 30 percent law,” said State Representative Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer, Newberg, St. Paul). “We’re trying to close the barn doors for a couple of years but that just doesn’t make any sense. It’s bad public policy now and it will continue to be in the future.”

Rather than passing an election-year freeze of the law, House Republicans favor repealing the earned-time portion of the 2009 law and reinstating the maximum 20 percent earned time law that has protected the public for 20 years.

“The Attorney General, Oregon State Sheriff’s Association, Oregon Chiefs of Police and the District Attorney’s Association have begged this institution to repeal this law,” said Rep. Tim Freeman (R-Roseburg). “Unfortunately, this plea has fallen on deaf ears in the Legislature. It is a mistake to destroy truth in sentencing in Oregon and send the wrong message to career criminals.” Read More......