I was just informed that Cop in the Hood won an award. How exciting! I won the 2008 PROSE Award for best book in Sociology and Social Work. PROSE is the Publishers Awards for Professional and Scholarly Excellence. You know… PROSE… recognizing the best books for 33 years and, uh, er, well no, I actually hadn’t heard of them either.…
Month: February 2009
Kindle at last!
No doubt timed to sync with the release of the Kindle 2, Cop in the Hood is finally available via Kindle. Ten dolla. What a bargain! Buy it to-day!
Stop and Frisk
Officially, the NYPD stopped and frisked 531,000 people last year. That’s a lot. They resulted in 31,665 arrests and 34,081 summonses. Because of the 4th Amendment, you need “probable cause” for a search or arrest. A search happens once you go inside pockets or look for anything accept weapons (drugs do come to mind). Because of a Terry v. Ohio,…
Class cancelled
Fewer police is not a good option. If anything is “shovel ready,” the next NYPD academy class sure is! Too bad it’s not going to happen.
New Drug Czar
Do I have faith in any drug czar? No. But who knows. Maybe I’m wrong. This guy is interesting. Especially because of the “jaywalking incident” that got him a vote of no confidence from the police union.
Latin American Panel: Drug War Failing, Honest Debate Needed
The drug war has failed, and its repressive policies are having negative consequences in Latin America, a 17-member commission said today. The Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy, co- chaired by former presidents Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil, Cesar Giviria of Colombia, and Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico called for an “open and honest debate” on the problem.
Cali must free 58,000 inmates
Read the story by Denny Walsh in the Sacramento Bee here.
“You cannot call 911 because you’re unhappy with your burger”
But the truth you can call 911 because you’re unhappy with your burger, or for any other dumb reason. That’s part of the problem. The AP reports: Authorities said a man, 66, was arrested after calling 911 on Saturday to complain that a fast food restaurant ran out of lemonade. After a drive-through employee failed to respond to the man’s…
Broken Windows Works
Researchers, working with police, identified 34 crime hot spots. In half of them, authorities set to work – clearing trash from the sidewalks, fixing street lights, and sending loiterers scurrying. Abandoned buildings were secured, businesses forced to meet code, and more arrests made for misdemeanors. Mental health services and homeless aid referrals expanded. In the remaining hot spots, normal policing…
Was that all a dream? Or Baltimore?
My wife, a friend, and I were on the 10:05 train to Baltimore this morning. Twelve hours and one Bull & Oyster Roast later, we’re back in New York City. It’s a shame we couldn’t stay longer, but a good time was had by all. On the menu: About 2 1/2 dozen delicious Maryland Oysters. 3 deep fried oysters (about…